Joni Mitchell Attends 7th Annual Luminato Festival Today

Luminato Festival Artistic Director Jorn Weisbrodt today confirmed that the legendary Joni Mitchell will attend this year's 7thAnnual Luminato Festival.

Joni Mitchell is confirmed to participate in an onstage TimesTalks Luminato tonight, June 16 at 6pm. Originally programmed as a "multi-artist appreciation of Joni Mitchell," the TimesTalk will now feature Ms. Mitchell with drummer/bandleader Brian Blade, one of the Grammy Hall of Fame winner's frequent collaborators, in conversation with New York Times chief pop music critic Jon Pareles.

All TimesTalks Luminato programs will be web-cast live at luminatofestival.com and nytimes.com/artsbeat.

Joni Mitchell will also attend the world premiere of JONI: A PORTRAIT IN SONG - A BIRTHDAY HAPPENING LIVE AT MASSEY HALL, a celebration of her artistry and her upcoming 70th birthday on Tuesday, June 18 and Wednesday, June 19.

New additions to the all-star lineup of musicians and vocalists interpreting the songs of this brilliantly original artist include American jazz/R&B singer and composer Lizz Wright and singer-songwriter and musician Kathleen Edwards joining the previously announced line-up of multiple Grammy Award-winner Chaka Khan; Grammy, Tony and Academy Award-winner Glen Hansard (Once); and acclaimed singer/songwriter and Festival fave, Rufus Wainwright. In addition, musician and actor Liam Titcomb and singer-songwriter Cold Specks will each perform one song on each evening; and Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding and 14-time Grammy Award-winning icon Herbie Hancock (River: The Joni Letters) will both perform June 19.

"With Joni coming to Luminato Festival, the tribute concert celebrating her art, life and 70th birthday has climaxed and reached its completion! Everything I dreamed of when we started this journey, immediately after last year's celebration of Kate McGarrigle's music at Massey Hall, has come true. We have an incredible line-up of singers that will interpret the timeless songs of one of the most important artists of our time. We have the band of Joni's dreams with Brian Blade on drums, Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet, Bill Frisell on guitar and many others playing in the most revered hall in Canada. Joni has been a great partner in shaping this evening and I am incredibly honoured that she has decided to attend our Festival," said Luminato Artistic Director Jorn Weisbrodt.

Photo by Jack Robinson,1968; The Jack Robinson Archive, LLC