Review: The Songs of Joni Mitchell, Komedia, Bath October 16th 2025.

It is quite a nice day here, so I’ve got to get myself back to the garden before the rain arrives, but first I just thought I’d tell you quickly about a most enjoyable concert that me and my sister Margaret went to at the Komedia in Bath in Bath on Thursday night. It was called The Songs of Joni Mitchell, a celebration of Joni’s music featuring Kate Stables, Jesca Hoop and Lail Arad, accompanied on piano by Richard Sears. Sadly, Lail wasn’t able to sing on the night due to laryngitis, but she bravely played guitar on several of the songs. I have become quite a fan of Kate Stables in the last few years after buying two albums Bashed Out and Careful Of Your Keepers, and you may recall I wrote a review of her band This Is The Kit when they played in Frome last year. 

I knew a little about Jesca Hoop before this concert because a while ago a friend sent me a compilation CD featuring one of her songs which encouraged me to listen to more. Interestingly, I found out recently that Jesca used to work as a nanny for Tom Waits children, and Tom and his wife Kathleen became her early mentors. Tom described her voice as, ‘like a four-sided coin. She is an old soul, like a black pearl, a good witch or a red moon. Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night’. I have looked at Kate and Jesca from both sides now, but I really don’t know Lail at all. However, I think she is the organising power behind this tour where all three have taken time out from their own projects to celebrate the huge influence of Joni on their lives. We had much better seats in this intimate little venue than when I saw Nick Lowe here earlier in the year. 

Kate

The show began promptly at 8.00 with just Jesca and her guitar performing an exquisite Morning Morgantown from Ladies Of The Canyon. This was followed by one of Joni’s lesser-known songs That Song About The Midway from the Clouds album. Then she was joined by Kate for This Flight Tonight from one of the greatest albums ever recorded which is Blue. One of my highlights of the evening was Kate performing California and proving what a great multi-instrumentalist she is, accompanying herself on the dulcimer just like Joni. Kate then explained that Lail was unable to sing and introduced Richard who demonstrated what a great electric piano player he is. Jesca then sang another aviation inspired song Amelia from Hejira, a Joni album that passed me by when it was released in 1976, but as I’m now realising contains some of her greatest songs. Before the interval there was another song, but I didn’t recognise it.

Jesca

After the break Jesca and Richard performed another song that I didn’t know, but it might be Night Ride Home because it mentioned the 4^th of July. It was excellent anyway. Free Man In Paris from Court & Spark featuring all the ensemble was performed sublimely. I filmed most of their splendid version of Woodstock which you can see below. Shine from 2007 is a lesser-known Joni song but the lyrics referring to such horrors as evaporating seas and Frankenstein technologies are very powerful and relevant to today’s world. The sombre tone of that song was uplifted with Carey which is a mean old song, but it’s out of sight. A seasonal song from Blue is River which reminds us that soon it will be Christmas, and they will be cutting down trees. Due to gaps in my Joni knowledge I think I haven’t mentioned some songs because I didn’t know them. The evening ended with Both Sides Now which was wonderful, and the audience were encouraged to sing along with some of the verses.

Lail.

At the end of the song Kate, Jesca, and Lail applauded the audience. At the merchandise table on the way out I bought a recent EP they have recorded of Joni songs containing Raised On Robbery, Morning Morgantown, Big Yellow Taxi, and A Case Of You which I am listening to at this very moment. I also bought Margaret a poster of the evening to thank her for getting me a ticket. Kate, Jesca & Lail all signed it for me, and I thanked them for a nice evening. What lovely people they are!. Then we headed for the train station. I hope there will be more gigs, and plenty, before this revolving year is through. 

Jesca, Kate & Lail at the merch table.

 

Kate Stables, Jesca Hoop, & Lail Arad. Woodstock.