Watch Joni Mitchell Perform First Headline Concert in Over 20 Years

Special guests at Washington's Gorge Amphitheatre included Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Sarah McLachlan and Annie Lennox

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jun 12, 2023

Following her surprise Newport Folk Festival set last year, Joni Mitchell returned to the stage this past weekend for her first official headlining performance in over two decades.

On Saturday (June 10), the nearly three-hour "Joni Jam" took place at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, WA, at which the songwriting icon performed beloved hits, deeper cuts from her celebrated catalogue, and cover songs with a group of special guests.

Throughout the evening, Mitchell was joined onstage by newly minted Exclaim! cover star Allison Russell, Sarah McLachlan, Annie Lennox, Brandi Carlile, Marcus Mumford, Lucius, Blake Mills and more.

Mitchell herself performed standards like "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess, Leiber and Stoller's "Love Potion No. 9," Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?," and "Young at Heart," made famous by Frank Sinatra — the last of which she sang with Russell.

Fan-shot footage from the evening has been circulating online, and you can find clips of the performances alongside the complete Gorge Amphitheatre Joni Jam setlist below.

"What happened last night was beyond my wildest dreams," Carlile wrote on Instagram following the performance. "Joni, I am so proud of you. Your strength, resilience, talent and tenacity is an inspiration to us all. You raised the bar my friend. You let your light shine and over 20,000 people shined their lights back on you like a fallen constellation. Your voice is still echoing through the canyon. 'Love Wins' said Joni Mitchell, the champion of the world."












Joni Jam 2023 Setlist:

"Big Yellow Taxi"
"Night Ride Home"
"Raised on Robbery" (with Celisse Henderson)
"Come in from the Cold" (with Marcus Mumford)
"Amelia" (with Blake Mills)
"Carey"
"Sex Kills" (with Celisse Henderson)
"Summertime" (George Gershwin cover)
"Ladies of the Canyon" (with Annie Lennox)
"Help Me" (with Celisse Henderson)
"Where There's a Will There's a Way"
"Love Potion No. 9" (The Clovers cover)
"A Case of You" (with Marcus Mumford & Brandi Carlile)
"A Strange Boy" (with Wendy & Lisa)
"Cactus Tree" (with Lucius)
"California" (with Marcus Mumford)
"Blue" (with Sarah McLachlan)
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers cover)
"Shine" (with Brandi Carlile)
"Both Sides Now"
"The Circle Game"
"Just Like This Train"
"If"
"Young at Heart" (Frank Sinatra cover) (with Allison Russell)

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