Joni Mitchell will release her comeback Newport Folk Festival performance as a live album.
The singer-songwriter returned to the stage for a surprise set at the New York gathering, teaming up with pal Brandi Carlile on a 13-song ‘Joni Jam’.
Featuring classic cuts such as A Case of You, Big Yellow Taxi, and Both Sides Now, along with a guitar solo of Just Like This Train, it marked the music icon’s first headline performance in two decades.
Speaking in an interview with Elton John on his Rocket Hour radio show for Apple Music, Joni opened up on plans to release the concert audio.
“I’ve seen you through music, and of course your incredible rehabilitation, but music has helped you so much and it’s beautiful to watch you evolve,” said Elton. “And people out there, you haven’t heard things from the Newport Folk Festival yet, but I think there’s going to be an album coming out of that one?”
The Carey singer replied, “Yeah, we’re trying to put that out,” revealing “didn’t have any” rehearsals ahead of the performance.
Speaking about standing up to play the guitar during the performance, she added: “Yeah, that I had to figure out what I did. And I couldn’t sing the key, I’ve become an alto, I’m not a soprano anymore, so I couldn’t sing the song.
“I thought people might feel lighted that if I just played the guitar part but I like the guitar part to that song. So anyway, it was very well received, much to my delight.”
