Joni Mitchell 1970 Isle of Wight Show: Watch

Share This:

On Sept. 14, Eagle Vision will release Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival on Blu-ray and Digital Video.

A July 16 press release announcing the title notes: “In 1970, the Isle of Wight Festival was one of the largest musical events of its time. Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the island. Many of those without tickets set up camp on a hill overlooking the festival site, opposing the consumerism of the event and intent on ‘taking the music back’ by any means necessary. It was a celebration of hippy counter-culture gone awry, and in Joni’s words ‘they fed me to the beast.’

“Joni Mitchell took to the stage to deliver an outstanding performance against all odds,” the release continues. “At times, it was a battle against the audience, as they tore down barriers and shouted obscenities. Her set was interrupted multiple times, including one man invading the stage to try address the crowd. She later commented, ‘It seemed like an appropriate time to flee…’ but still the seemingly fragile folk-rock singer stood her ground. Instead she returned to her piano, sitting on a fold-up wooden chair, and made an impassioned plea for respect from the audience, continuing her set with ‘My Old Man,’ she won over the crowd and the atmosphere softened.”

Watch the trailer for the release

Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Murray Lerner, who sadly passed away shortly after the film’s completion, Both Sides Now: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival features new interviews with Mitchell, discussing her recollections of the event intercut with festival footage, both onstage and behind the scenes, offering a fascinating insight into the concert from the artists’ point of view and putting the events of the day into context. Alternatively, fans can enjoy the uninterrupted live concert footage featuring classic songs such as “Woodstock,” “Both Sides Now” and “Big Yellow Taxi.”

Watch Joni sing “Big Yellow Taxi” at the Isle of Wight festival from the new release