Joni Mitchell surprises fans with her first public performance since 2002
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(Photo by Carlin Stiehl for The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Joni Mitchell surprised fans as she took the stage for the first time in nine years and her first full-set show in nearly two decades.
Here is everything you need to know.
Joni Mitchell floored the fans with her performance in 20 years
Joni Mitchell returned to the stage for the first time since she was diagnosed with a debilitating brain aneurysm in 2015. The performance also marked her first full live public concert since 2002.
The 78-year-old artist thrilled the fans as she performed 13 of her hit tracks at Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island on Sunday. Her last performance at the Newport Folk Festival was in 1969 when she was 25 years old.
The set included her iconic releases such as Big Yellow Taxi, and A Case of You along with a cover of Why Do Fools Fall In Love. She also performed songs like Carey, Both Sides Now, and Circle Game.
Marcus Mumford and Wynonna Judd of the folk band Mumford & Sons tagged along with Mitchell on the stage.
Other stars such as Blake Mills, Jess Wolfe, Holly Laessig, Celisse Henderson, and Phil and Tim Hanseroth also joined the 10-time Grammy-winning musician.
Joni Mitchell talks about her comeback performance
Joni Mitchell sat down with Anthony Mason from CBS News on Monday following her performance.
While talking she mentioned, ‘I’ve never been nervous about being in front of an audience. But I wanted it to be good. And I wasn’t sure it could be. But I didn’t sound too bad tonight!’
The singer-songwriter continued, ‘I’m learning. I’m looking at videos that are on the net to see where I put my fingers.’
She further said, ‘ It’s amazing what an aneurysm knocks out- how to get out of the chair! You don’t know how to get out of bed. You have to learn all these things by rote again.’
The superstar added, ‘I was into water ballet as a kid, and I forgot how to do the breaststroke. Every time I tried it, I just about drowned, you know?. So, a lot of going back to infancy almost. You have to relearn everything.’
Meanwhile, Amy Karibian who was one of the lucky ones to attend Mitchell’s surprise concert shared the videos of her performance on her YouTube channel. Furthermore, the clips left many fans of the singer in tears.
One fan wrote, ‘I can’t stop crying! This moved me immensely. I love the delight that radiated from Joni as the crowds cheered her on.’
no words pic.twitter.com/IIkpIJmk6O
— Jonathan Bernstein (@jonbern) July 25, 2022
