Description
Joni Mitchell stunned the Newport Folk Festival audience last summer when she gave a surprise performancenbspndash her first in 20 years ndash delivering a heartfelt set filled with some of her greatest songs. Mitchellrsquos triumphantnbspreturn to the stage on 24th July, 2022, will be featured on a new live album, AT NEWPORT. Produced by closenbspcollaborator Brandi Carlile, along with Mitchell.Mitchell was joined on stage at the Newport Folk Festival by a starstudded band led by Carlile, the 9xnbspGRAMMYregwinning singersongwriter. Other performers included Carlilersquos bandmates Phil and TimnbspHanseroth, Wynonna Judd, Marcus Mumford, Celisse, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius, TaylornbspGoldsmith of Dawes, and more.Mitchell delighted the audience, blending her voice with the other singers on stage on classics like ldquoBignbspYellow Taxi,rdquo ldquoA Case Of You,rdquo and ldquoBoth Sides Now.rdquo For good measure, she even flashed her guitarnbspprowess, playing a solo instrumental version of ldquoJust Like This Train.rdquoIn his liner notes for AT NEWPORT, Cameron Crowe writes about Mitchellrsquos arduous and miraculous recoverynbspfrom a lifethreatening brain aneurysm in 2015, that led to her emotional return at Newport.ldquoMitchell emerged from the side of the stage, swaying smoothly, in fine summerstyle with beret and sunglasses. Her goodnatured mood instantly set the tone. This performance would be an intimate gathering of friends, not unlike the Joni Jams shersquod been hosting in her own living room over the last few years of recovery. Smiling broadly, Mitchell made her surprise appearance, taking her onstage seat alongside Carlile. Within minutes, the news had rocketed around the globe. Mitchell was back, sparkling with enthusiasm, delivering a tender and passionate set of 13 songs, ending with a joyful singalong of lsquoThe Circle Game.rsquordquo
