Joni Mitchell plays first headline show in over two decades with host of special guests

12 June 2023, 10:50 | Updated: 15 September 2023, 13:51

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Joni Mitchell continues one of the most glorious and unexpected comebacks in musical history.

One of the most unlikely and triumphant musical comebacks of all time continued on Friday (June 10) when Joni Mitchell topped the bill at the Joni Jam show in George, Washington.

The folk icon had made a surprise return to the live stage last July at the Newport Folk Festival, but last week's star-studded performance was her first full headline show in over 20 years, when she was touring her Both Sides Now album in spring 2000.

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As well as host and MC Brandi Carlile, the "Joni Jammers" lineup backing Mitchell included the likes of Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan and Marcus Mumford, among others.

The setlist included a mix of Joni's own massive hits – some sung by Joni herself and some by her superstar guests – as well as covers of classic standards.

After seemingly taking a step back from touring at the turn of the century and playing only a couple of birthday shows in 2013, it was feared Mitchell may never play live again when she suffered a brain aneurysm in 2015 and lost the ability to walk and talk.

On April 1, 2022, she made a shock return to live performance as part of a collective performance at the MusiCares Person of the Year 2022 concert.

That was followed by her Newport festival set and a couple of special, short performances at the Library of Congress and the Gershwin Prize 2023 ceremony.

During the show, Joni shared stories of her years in the music business, including her interactions with the likes of Van Morrison and Bob Dylan.

The full setlist of her headline set at Echoes Through The Canyon was as follows:

1. Big Yellow Taxi
2. Night Ride Home
3. Raised on Robbery (with Celisse Henderson)
4. Come in From the Cold (with Taylor Goldsmith)
5. Amelia (with Blake Mills)
6. Carey
7. Sex Kills (with Celisse Henderson)
8. Summertime (with Ben Lusher)
9. Ladies of the Canyon (with Annie Lennox)
10. Help Me (with Celisse Henderson)
11. Where There's A Will There's A Way
12. Love Potion No. 9
13. A Case of You (with Marcus Mumford + Brandi Carlile)
14. A Strange Boy (with Wendy & Lisa)
15. Cactus Tree (with Lucius)
16. California (with Marcus Mumford)
17. Blue (with Sarah McLachlan)
18. Why Do Fools Fall in Love
19. Shine (with Brandi Carlile)
20. Both Sides Now
21. The Circle Game
    Encore:
22. Just Like This Train
23. If
24. Young At Heart (with Allison Russell)