Joni Mitchell sings, steals show with surprise.

 brought the 78- time-old legend back for a major set to close the Rhode Island fest this time. The first was Judy Collins, who invited a also- undiscovered Mitchell to join in an autumn celebrating arising songster- songsmith so in folk music, alongside other unborn icons like Leonard Cohen. On Sunday night, Brandi Carlisle was the force behind Mitchell's return to the stage. The crowd was beyond enraptured as the voice behind classics like" Both Sides Now" graced Fort Adams for the first time since an evening appearance there in 1969, in what was her first full- length public musicale anywhere since 2000. The evening began with Carlisle pressing the crowd to believe in the power of folk music and the community it creates. Members of her own inner circle entered and formed a phalanx around a Louis XIV- style president arranged as a throne. The guests included her band mates Phil and Tim Hanser other and Celia see Henderson, and musketeers Allison Russell, Jess Wolfe and Holly Lessing of Lucius, Blake Mills, Taylor Goldsmith, Marcus Mumford and Winona Judd." This scene shall be ever known hereafter as the Joni Jam!" Carlisle declared, pertaining to the important- bandied informal gloaming s she and other top- shelf musicians have participated at Mitchell's Los Angeles home as the elder songster set up her way back to performance.

Eventually, Carlisle blazoned Mitchell's appearance at center stage. She took her place in that cathedra, wearing spangling globules, a beret and a slate- toned satin pants ensemble. The set began as a group sing-along

with" Carey," the cherished rollick from Blue. The stars on stage supported Mitchell, who only took a many single lines. But soon, befitting a woman known for her strength of will, Mitchell completely claimed her place at the evening's center.