Joni Mitchell Plays First Full Show Since 2002 At Newport Folk Festival

Joni Mitchell has played her first full-length set since 2002 at the Newport Folk Festival over the weekend.  The ten-time Grammy Awarding-winning singer-songwriter was joined by country musician and friend Brandi Carlile for the 13-song performance, which included several of Mitchell's most notable works. The surprise set was listed on the bill as Brandi Carlile and Friends.

Mitchell and Carlile treated Newport Folk Festival attendees to renditions of Mitchell's hits A Case Of You, Both Sides Now and Big Yellow Taxi. The set also featured Mitchell playing the guitar on Just Like This Train, to a massive ovation from the crowd. Mitchell had previously lost the ability to play the instrument after suffering a life-threatening aneurysm in 2015.

Mitchell and Carlile were joined on the Newport Folk Festival stage by a cracking live band featuring Marcus Mumford, Wynonna Judd, Blake Mills, Jess Wolfe, Holly Laessig and Mitchell’s longtime bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth and Celisse Henderson. 

Alongside Mitchell's tracks, the group also performed a selection of covers including Summertime by Gerswhin,  Why Do Fools Fall in Love by Frankie Lymons and Love Potion No by Lieber and Stoller. 

You can watch a video of the performance of Both Sides Now below.

Mitchell has since appeared on US TV show CBS Mornings to discuss the performance, explaining that she relearned the ability to play the guitar by watching "videos on the net".  The Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer also reflected on her first appearance at Newport Folk Festival since 1969 and her first full-length show of any kind since November 2002. You can watch the full CBS Mornings segment below.