On a rousing 'Carey' here, Carlile takes the lead vocal, her warm, brassy tone giving her the air of a rousing storyteller, but then gets out of the way so Mitchell can have the last word: 'I said, 'Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but you're out of sight.' ' The gesture gives 'Carey' the feel of a piece of family lore that's passed down between generations. Vocally, her interpretation exudes sharp-edged anguish and longing, stretching out the song's flirtatious lyrics ('I think I'm falling / In love with you / Are you going to let me go there by myself') with delicious tension.Ĭarlile especially is her idol's vocal shadow, a fitting position considering her history with Mitchell's music among other things, she's booked full-concert cover performances of 1971's Blue. Guitarist Celisse Henderson, meanwhile, takes the vocal and instrumental spotlight on the standout 'Help Me,' transforming it into a more languid, blues-oriented number with spacious arrangements. At various times, she's joined by Lucius, Marcus Mumford on percussion, Wynonna Judd on backing vocals, Allison Russell on clarinet, Carlile's collaborators Tim and Phil Hanseroth, and the band SistaStrings.Ī gorgeous, sparse 'Amelia' features prominent contributions from Blake Mills and Dawes' Taylor Goldsmith buoyed by the crew of onstage vocalists, together the pair nail the searing guitar melodies and lyrical desolation. It was common knowledge that Mitchell also sang at these get-togethers, although it was never clear whether she'd ever sing in public again.īut At Newport isn't just about welcoming Mitchell back to the stage - it's also about showing Mitchell's legacy in action and how younger generations of musicians carry forth her spirit of imagination and fearless reconfiguration. Mitchell's Sunday night set at Newport had been advertised in advance as 'Brandi Carlile + Friends.' This was technically true, as Carlile introduced the onstage hootenanny as a recreation of the invite-only Joni Jams - the recurring private gatherings in Mitchell's Southern California living room where guests such as Carlile, Harry Styles, Dolly Parton and Chaka Khan came together for joyful, restorative singalongs. At the end of the song, Mitchell laughs and laughs merrily - clearly delighted to be back onstage surrounded by friends and music. On this night, she fronted a group of musical admirers in a sing-along of 'The Circle Game,' taking lead vocal on the verses - timeless meditations on the little milestones that mark the passage of time - in a low, velvety voice. Wearing a jaunty blue beret and sunglasses, her cornsilk-white hair tied into elegant pigtails, Mitchell sat on a plush, gold-trimmed chair as the performer of honor. Mitchell's presence was a complete surprise, as she had retreated from the spotlight after a 2015 aneurysm additionally, the Newport gig was her first full-length concert since 2000.Īt Newport feels like a celebration of her public return - an exuberant and supportive performance resembling a well-rehearsed jam taking place at a party. When Mitchell finally returned to the Newport Folk Festival on July 24, 2022, after a 53-year absence - a performance documented on the new live album At Newport - she also ended her set with 'The Circle Game.' Decades later, however, the crowd responded to her presence uniformly positively - with awe, gratitude, excitement and even tears. The trade magazine Cash Box complimented Mitchell's set and astutely noted 'she is on her way to becoming a star.' However, a review from the Hartford Courant noted that this burgeoning popularity came at a price: 'Hecklers in the back' specifically 'urged Miss Mitchell to sing 'Circle Game' over and over.' No doubt much to the dismay of these critics, Mitchell played the song to close out her set. Bootlegs reveal a luminous performance driven by mellifluous vocals and aching acoustic guitar, and highlighted by a stunning piano version of 'For Free.' Several months removed from releasing her second LP, Clouds, she landed a coveted Saturday night performance slot along with Arlo Guthrie. When Joni Mitchell appeared at the Newport Folk Festival in 1969, she was on the precipice of a breakthrough.

Under a blood red sky live