23/08/2025

Jenny Mitchell – The Tuning Fork: August 22, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)

Jenny Mitchell brought her band, her friends, her songs and her Forest House Tour to Auckland’s Tuning Fork last night.

Although sisters Nicola and Maegan and dad Ron…all of whom appear on Jenny’s Forest House album, were not in the house, this evening still felt, very much, like a family affair.

Katie Thompson

And the evening got off to an early start with one of Jenny’s “Besties”, Katie Thompson, from Christchurch. Sadly, I didn’t get the memo that this was an early show and so missed Katie’s set…a shame really, as we enjoyed her visit to The 13^th Floor a few years back.

Fortunately, award-winning photographer Azrie Azizi was on the ball, and sent through those photos. And lucky for me, Katie showed up later in the show…

Jenny Mitchell

Jenny, and her sisters, haven’t been favourites at the 13^th Floor for several years now. So, it was a pleasure to witness this show, which seemed like a celebration…not only of the excellent new album, but Jenny’s success across the ditch.

That’s right, Jenny just wrapped a 32-date Australian tour, supporting Kasey Chambers, who, as Jenny told us, has become a fan, thanks to the recommendation of “Shane and Jay”.

Jenny gushed that this had been “an absolute year of dreams” and that “my soul had left my body” when she spied Kasey singing along to her songs at a gig.

Jenny also that the new iHeartCountry Radio station for playing her songs and brought up old friend Mikey Hood…”the first member that I ever had”…to sing Wildflowers with her.

Jenny’s band consists of Michael Muggeridge on mandolin and electric guitar, bass player Ryan Fisherman and Joe McCallum on drums.

After five of her own songs, including four from the new album, Jenny stopped down to tell us over her adventures in Australia and then to sing Kasey Chambers’ Not Pretty Enough.

Then came the Mikey Hood duet.

Katie Thompson returned, Jenny took a break and we were treated to Straight Talkin’ Woman.

With Jenny back behind the mic, we were introduced to Where The Winter’s Cold…”a song about Gore” and “the challenge of small towns”.

Then a solo spot…a beautiful reading of Heart Like A house…before the band returned for a gospel-tinged version of Tom Waits’ Come On Up To The House.

I’m pretty sure everyone in the room was smiling by the end of that one.

The set closed with Sister and then another sisterly tune for the encore…Snakes In The Grass.

Jenny was in top voice and the band was in top form. Who could ask for more?

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Azrie Azizi: