Persuaded to go on earlier than planned, when no one else would, Joni Mitchell got a lot of credit for hanging in there at the Isle of Wight festival, 50 years ago in August 1970.
In an impressive display of composure, Joni survived an initially restless crowd and a stage invasion early in her set. By the end she was given a standing ovation by the estimated 600,000 crowd and was called back for an encore.
The tension in the crowd was caused by an us-and-them anti-establishment vibe from the thousands of non-ticket holders camped on the hillside overlooking the festival. The free festival anarchists among them did their best to undermine the good vibes, bringing down fences and clashing with police.
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| The massive crowd at the IOW festival |
Her IOW show is remarkable because it demonstrates not only Joni's qualities as an exceptional songwriter and performer, but her determination to win over a hostile crowd.
Joni was visibly upset by the bad vibes from a section of the crowd, some of whom just wanted to hear the rock bands. Then there were the freeloaders, who thought it was all too corporate and should be put on for nothing.
She admits, in the interview accompanying the film of her IOW show, Both Sides Now, that she wanted to run, but didn't feel like she could.
To her great credit, she toughed it out, enduring a stage invasion by one of the disgruntled hippies and telling the audience at one point that they were behaving like unruly tourists.
She admits, in the interview accompanying the film of her IOW show, Both Sides Now, that she wanted to run, but didn't feel like she could.
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| An unwelcome interruption |
To her great credit, she toughed it out, enduring a stage invasion by one of the disgruntled hippies and telling the audience at one point that they were behaving like unruly tourists.
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| Joni scolds the audience |
As one of the people who commented on my Facebook link to this blog noted, "She gets passionate!"
"Will ya listen a minute!!," she yells at the crowd.
"A lot of people get up here and it's fun, you know? But you've got your life wrapped up in it. It's very difficult to come out here and lay something down....Give us some respect!".
After that, she noted that the crowd settled down, as if a different mood had passed back through the crowd from the front rows. She had won them over with her "peerlessly beautiful songs" - as the Melody Maker report put it - even getting called back for an encore.
Neil Young
had also planned to appear, but he didn't like the festival vibe and retreated. Other performers, notably Kris Kristofferson, survived a hostile reception and he even
returned for a second show later in the weekend.
"Will ya listen a minute!!," she yells at the crowd.
"A lot of people get up here and it's fun, you know? But you've got your life wrapped up in it. It's very difficult to come out here and lay something down....Give us some respect!".
After that, she noted that the crowd settled down, as if a different mood had passed back through the crowd from the front rows. She had won them over with her "peerlessly beautiful songs" - as the Melody Maker report put it - even getting called back for an encore.
The trouble at the festival shouldn't detract from the fact that this was one of the great musical gatherings of the time - certainly one the biggest, larger than Woodstock it is claimed.
The festival featured landmark performances by some of the top bands of the time, including The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Free, and several of the acts that had been highlights of the Woodstock festival the previous year, including Sly & The Family Stone, Ten Years After, Joan Baez and Richie Havens. Emerson, Lake & Palmer made their debut there and Miles Davis's 38 minute set is held up as a prime example of his new electric jazz direction. All in all, as fine a collection of performances as you will find at any of the late 60s/early 70s festivals.
The festival featured landmark performances by some of the top bands of the time, including The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Free, and several of the acts that had been highlights of the Woodstock festival the previous year, including Sly & The Family Stone, Ten Years After, Joan Baez and Richie Havens. Emerson, Lake & Palmer made their debut there and Miles Davis's 38 minute set is held up as a prime example of his new electric jazz direction. All in all, as fine a collection of performances as you will find at any of the late 60s/early 70s festivals.
More on the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival here: https://bangnzdrum.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-verdict-on-5-days-of-high-drama-at.html
Further reading on this blogsite:
Dylan, Joan and Joni on The Rolling Thunder Tour
https://bangnzdrum.blogspot.com/2019/07/five-reasons-why-you-should-watch-bob.html
Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell interview from 1974
https://bangnzdrum.blogspot.com/2019/01/court-and-spark-joni-mitchell-interview.html
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell - Hejira
http://bangnzdrum.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/joni-mitchell-in-1970s-3-hejira.html
Joni Mitchell - Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
https://bangnzdrum.blogspot.com/2012/08/joni-mitchell-in-1970s-4-don-juans.html
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