Brandi Carlile and Marcus Mumford joined Mitchell on stage for her first Newport show in 20 years this weekend.
The "Big Yellow Taxi" singer surprised the Newport Folk Festival crowd on Sunday (July 24) with her first full-length live show in over two decades.
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell made her first appearance at the annual event since 1969, and her 13-song set, which included a procession of special guests, was the first time she had appeared since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015.
Some of Mitchell's favourite musicians, including Marcus Mumford, Wynonna, Blake Mills, Lucius, and Taylor Goldsmith (who recently went solo), reportedly backed her up on some of her most well-known songs.
Mitchell opened the show singing along to Blue's "Carey" with Carlile and Dawes' Goldsmith's "Come in From the Cold," as well as some well-known pop renditions by the Persuasions and the Clovers, including "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" and "Love Potion No. 9."
“No one brings folk singers together like the humility of trying out a new song in front of Joni f–king Mitchell,” said Carlile
The pair cooperated on Mitchell's renowned 1969 song "Both Sides Now," playing a hushed version of the ballad while the stage full of artists sat in amazement. Video of the concert caught country singer Wynonna dabbing away tears during the poignant performance.
Mitchell looked and sounded like a queen in her first full-length public concert since 2000, sitting on her majestic throne with dark shades, a beret, and a bright satin outfit..
Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius and vocalist Celisse Henderson performed "Big Yellow Taxi" during the rapturously received set, which also included a group chorus to "Carey" from 1971's legendary breakup album Blue and runs through "Amelia," "Help Me," "Shine," and "Summertime"
Mitchell hauled out an electric guitar and sang a solo over "Just Like This Train" from her 1974 album Court and Spark before finishing the set with "The Circle Game."
Mitchell was honoured in April at the annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala. John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Sara Bareilles, Leon Bridges, Yola, and others performed at the event.
This weekend's festival also featured a surprise set from one of Mitchell's contemporaries, Paul Simon, who made a rare, unscheduled public appearance at the end of a homage to his music organised by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.
Simon, 80, who retired from touring in 2018, played a four-song set on Saturday night that included “Graceland,” “The Boxer,” “American Tune” (with Rhiannon Giddens on vocals) and a solo finale of “The Sound of Silence.”