Joni Mitchell Performs First Public Headline Show In 20 Years

Joni Mitchell played her first ever publicly announced concert in over 20 years on Saturday at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington. 

You might remember that Mitchell played her first full-length set since 2002 at the Newport Folk Festival last year. 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. She subsequently announced a standalone headlining show as part of Brandi Carlile’s three-night concert event, Echoes Through the Canyon.

That standalone show took place last night, with Mitchell presenting a 24-song performance that featured some of her most enduring hits, alongside many friends to help with the performance. 

She kicked off the show with Big Yellow Taxi from Ladies of the Canyon. Marcus Mumford accompanied her on Come in From the Cold, and Blake Mills sat it on Amelia.

Annie Lennox joined Mitchell on Ladies of the Cannon, and Sarah McLachlan accompanied her on Blue. Other notable performances included A Case of You with Mumford and Carlile; Cactus Tree with Lucius; Young At Heart with Allison Russell, and A Strange Boy with Wendy & Lisa.

Saturday’s performance was modelled after the Joni Jams Mitchell hosts at her home in Los Angeles. As such, the stage was set up in the style of Mitchell’s living room with couches, a lamp, a bottle of pinot grigio, and photos of her pets, notes The Guardian. 

Both these performances are indeed special occasions, as Mitchell suffered a life-threatening aneurysm in 2015, which left many believing that she would never play again. Read more about it here.

You can view part of the concert below alongside the full setlist of the show. 

Washington Setlist: 

Big Yellow Taxi

Night Ride Home

Raised on Robbery (with Celisse Henderson)

Come in From the Cold (with Marcus Mumford)

Amelia (with Blake Mills)

Carey

Sex Kills (with Celisse Henderson)

Summertime (George Gershwin cover) (with Ben Lusher)

Ladies of the Canyon (with Annie Lennox)

Help Me (with Celisse Henderson)

Where There’s A Will There’s A Way (Rick Whitfield cover) (with Rick Whitfield)

Love Potion No. 9 (The Clovers cover)

A Case of You (with Marcus Mumford and Brandi Carlile)

A Strange Boy (with Wendy & Lisa)

Cactus Tree (with Lucius)

California (with Marcus Mumford)

Blue (with Sarah McLachlan)

Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers cover)

Shine (with Brandi Carlile)

Both Sides Now

The Circle Game

Encore:

Just Like This Train

If Young At Heart (Frank Sinatra cover) (with Allison Russell)