For the first time since 1969, Joni Mitchell returned to the stage at the Newport Folk Festival — and it wasn’t just a single song, but a full set of 13 pieces, which came to be called the “Joni Jam.” This was Mitchell’s first public performance in over 20 years and her first full festival appearance since the late 1990s.
Rather than a formal solo concert, the evening was crafted as a joyous musical circle. Mitchell — seated amid a group of friends and fellow artists like Brandi Carlile, Marcus Mumford, Wynonna Judd, Taylor Goldsmith, and indie duo Lucius — recreated an atmosphere similar to the intimate “Joni Jams” she hosts at her home, where collaborators sit together and play through songs in a relaxed, living-room-style vibe.
One moment in particular etched itself into the memories of everyone present: when Joni Mitchell stood and played “Just Like This Train.” Originally from her 1974 album Court and Spark, the song’s live rendition was presented as a guitar instrumental — a commanding expression of her unique style and rhythmic play.
Written in Mitchell’s signature open tunings, the track evokes the motion and pulse of a train — a fitting metaphor for life’s journeys. At Newport, this instrumental version became a symbolic moment: the crowd’s biggest roar came not from Mitchell’s voice, but from her electric guitar interlude, where she plucked out intricate runs with an intensity and spirit that felt like rediscovery.
Fans were electrified — some even emotionally overwhelmed — seeing a musical icon reclaim a piece of her artistry live after years away from public performance.
