Joni Mitchell Stages Star-Studded ‘Joni Jam,’ 1st Headline Concert In Over 20 Years, At The Gorge

Joni Mitchell delivered her first announced headlining performance in 23 years at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington on Saturday. Part of Brandi Carlile‘s Echoes Through The Canyon weekend at the scenic venue, Mitchell’s career-spanning concert on saw support from Carlile who also joined Mitchell for her set along with an impressive group of “Joni Jammers.”

The concert got underway with a set from Carlile, who then introduced Mitchell. Before the legendary singer-songwriter’s set started with her beloved classic “Big Yellow Taxi,” the “Joni Jammers” were announced including Lisa Coleman, Taylor Goldsmith, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth, Celisse Henderson, Mark Isham, Annie Lennox, Lucius (Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig), Ben Lusher, Sarah McLachlan, Wendy Melvoin, Blake Mills, Marcus Mumford, Josh Neumann, Allison Russell and Rick Whitfield. Several of the participants reprised their role backing Mitchell for her surprise set at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival, her first public performance in two decades which is set for a live release, Joni Mitchell At Newport, on July 18 via Rhino.

Following “Big Yellow Taxi,” Mitchell’s first headline performance in two decades continued with the title track from her 1991 album, Night Ride Home. Celisse Henderson then joined on guitar for “Raised On Roberry” off 1974’s Court and Spark. Next, Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith added to Night Ride Home’s “Come in From the Cold.” Blake Mills then picked up Joni’s electric guitar for “Amelia” from 1976’s Hejira.

The classic “Carey” from Joni’s landmark 1971 album, Blue, came next before Celisse stepped back into the spotlight for “Sex Kills,” which appears on the 1994 LP, Turbulent Indigo. Ben Lusher then played piano on the first cover of the evening, the Gershwin standard “Summertime.” Next, Eurythmics’ Annie Lennox helped out on the title track from Joni’s 1970 album Ladies Of The Canyon. Celisse would once again shine on Court and Sparks’ “Help Me.”

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Rick Whitfield helped Joni unveil his “Where There’s A Will There’s A Way” next ahead of a cover of “Love Potion No. 9.” The beloved Blue song, “A Case Of You,” saw Brandi Carlile and Marcus Mumford reprising their role on the song At Newport. Hejira’s “A Strange Boy” then boasted contributions from the duo Wendy (Melovin) & Lisa (Coleman). Lucius then added to “Cactus Tree” off Joni’s 1968 debut album, Song to a Seagull. Next, Mumford stepped up once again for Blue’s “California” before Sarah McLachlan delivered piano and vocals to the album’s title track.

The oldie “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” counted as the penultimate cover of the evening before Brandi and her mentor teamed up for “Shine” from Mitchell’s 2007 album of the same name, which counts as her latest studio album. A group effort then followed for Joni classics “Both Sides Now” and “The Circle Game” to wrap the set.

As she did at Newport, Mitchell played lead guitar on an instrumental version of Court and Spark’s “Just Like This Train.” Joni would also play guitar on Shine’s “If” before the historic concert came to a close with an unexpected performance of the Frank Sinatra-popularized, “Young At Heart,” which saw Allison Russell adding clarinet. Watch that performance and more from the triumphant concert below:

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