In stores today (Friday, July 28) is At Newport, the chronicle of Joni Mitchell's surprise performance at last year's Newport Folk Festival. Held July 24, 2022, the Joni Jam was produced by Mitchell with Brandi Carlile and featured performances of 11 songs — including “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Both Side Now” and “The Circle Game” — accompanied by Carlile, Marcus Mumford, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, Wynonna Judd and others. It was Mitchell's first performance in 20 years and a rare public appearance after suffering a brain aneurysm rupture during March of 2015, after which she went through intense therapy.
Her return buoyed her many musical friends — including former boyfriend Graham Nash, who told us this earlier this year:
“I love it to death. I mean, we almost lost her. She's alive and she's coming back to life, and I have to really give a shout-out to Brandi Carlile for helping Joan and loving her and encouraging her to make music again. It's fabulous to see her coming back to life.” :21 (OC: coming back to life)
Mitchell's last album, Shine, came out during 2007, and she collaborated with Herbie Hancock on a version of her “Tea Leaf Prophecy” from his Grammy Award-winning River: The Joni Letters the following year. Mitchell received a Kennedy Center Honor during 2021 and four months later won a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album for Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967). In March of this year was honored with the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize For Popular Song, where she was feted by Nash, Carlile, Hancock, James Taylor and others.
A Joni Jam 2 took place on June 10 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Gorge, Wash.
TL;DR:
- In stores today (Friday, July 28) is At Newport, the chronicle of Joni Mitchell's surprise performance at last year's Newport Folk Festival.
