Joni Mitchell Announces Joni Jam Show At The Hollywood Bowl Featuring Brandi Carlile  

In her 1970 song “The Circle Game,” Joni Mitchell sings “And the seasons they go round and round / And the painted ponies go up and down /  We’re captive on the carousel of time.” Well, things are definitely looking up for Joni Mitchell fans with news that she would make her first-ever appearance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday – and that she’s announced her first show in Los Angeles in 24 years. The “Joni Jam” is set to return in October featuring Brandi Carlile. 

Promoted by Live Nation-Hewitt Silva, the special performance is scheduled Oct. 19 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The famed venue is nominated for the Red Rocks Award / Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year at the Pollstar Awards.  

A presale for the Joni Jam at the Hollywood Bowl starts Wednesday, Jan. 31 and the general onsale begins Friday, Feb. 2 via Ticketmaster. 

On Sunday Mitchell will perform at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. The beloved singer/songwriter is up for Best Folk Album for the live album Joni Mitchell at Newport, which was released in July 2024 by Rhino Records. Mitchell received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 in celebration of her works as “one of the most important female recording artists of the rock era.”

Joni Mitchell at Newport documents her entire set at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival during a surprise performance at the Newport, Rhode Island, festival billed as “Brandi Carlile and Friends.” 

Mitchell and Carlile were joined on stage for the historic performance at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, by a group of musicians that included Wynonna Judd, Marcus Mumford, Celisse, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, Allison Russell, Lucius, Blake Mills and Carlile’s bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth.

Carlile explained in an interview with CBS Mornings that the performance was inspired by the “Joni Jams” that Mitchell has hosted the past few years at her California home.

“She just wants to sit there and drink her wine and listen, right? But it didn’t turn out like that. She started singing and then she started playing,” Carlile said.

Carlie has been a champion of Mitchell’s work for many years including performing Mitchell’s 1971 masterpiece Blue in its entirety at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2021.

Following the triumphant festival appearance, Mitchell took part in her first ticketed performance in 23 years with “Joni Jam” at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington on June 10, 2023.

Featured guests included Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan, Marcus Mumford, Wynonna Judd, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, Wendy and Lisa of Prince’s Revolution, Lucius and more. The show lasted nearly three hours, with Mitchell playing classics including “Both Sides Now,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “California,” “Blue,” and “A Case Of You,” along with covers including “Love Potion No. 9,” and “Summertime.” 

The 2023 Joni Jam was part of Carlile’s annual “Echoes Through the Canyon” event at the Gorge Amphitheatre with Carlile headlining June 9 (joined by special guests Marcus Mumford and Allison Russell), the Joni Jam June 10 and The Highwomen supergroup (featuring Carlile, Amanda Shires, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby) with special guest Tanya Tucker June 11.