For the second year in a row The Unofficial Archivist is ‘connecting the dots’ of all the artists appearing in the 5th edition of “Brandi Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend”.
As most of the ‘Bramily’ know by now – the artists are usually all connected and orbit around each others musical artistry. Let’s take a look at the connections.
(note: this is not a wiki of everything these artists have ever done!, more like a ‘how are they all connected musically?’ overview.)
Featuring artists ordered by appearance at GJWW 5:
Thursday January 18th
Allison Russell
2nd appearance at GJWW. (2023).
Allison Russell is a Canadian Singer Songwriter, living in Nashville. After featuring in a number of musical groups, Allison Russell released a ground-breaking debut solo album Grammy nominated Outside Child in 2021. This was followed up in 2023 by The Returner which is up for 4 Grammys in 2024. By now a friend of Brandi and the band, and has appeared on stage at all three Joni Mitchell / Brandi Carlile concert events. Brandi Carlile and Allison Russell released a version of You’re Not Alone, and they both provided backing vocals on Amy Ray’s If It All Goes South album from 2022. Brandi provided BVs on Requiem from Allisons recent album The Returner.
Friday January 19th
Smalltown Strings
3rd appearance at GJWW (2023)
After a massive year of touring – a lot following around the Brandi Carlile tour in 2023, but also on their own, this band features the core members of Brother (Jay), Neice (Caroline) and Nephew (Jayjay). They’ve been playing together for several years, most recently joined by Phil & Tiffany Hanseroth’s daughter Josephine, and some of their younger siblings on ocassion. Their first proper release outside of a couple of digital singles is due in 2024.
Tish Melton
2nd appearance at GJWW (2023)
Tish Melton – this new young artist first performed last year at GJWW 4, and is set to release her new Brandi Carlile produced album in 2024. Already a couple of singles have been released and Tish has been doing a few shows around LA. Tish is the daughter of Glennon Doyle, a friend of the Carliles. Glennon is featured in one of the Looking Out Foundation events during the weekend. Tish Melton releases her new single on this same day as her appearance at GJWW5 -“Damage”.
KT Tunstall
4th time at GJWW
An OG performer at GJWW having performed at 1, 2, 3 – (not last year).
A long time friend of Brandi Carlile’s with a similar artist timeline with both artists featuring on many song compliations releases over the past 10-15 years. They’ve never released anything together as far as we can tell.
Celisse
Celisse is a brilliant guitarist and performer who has joined Brandi Carlile on stage many times, specifically during the 2022/3 tour where the band performed the Radiohead cover – Creep. Celisse’s guitar solo was featured many times during that live performance. Celisse is also part of the OG Joni Jam, and has joined the live performances at Newport and The Gorge.
Janelle Monae
Janelle was a “main character” in the famous live performance of Brandi Carlile’s The Joke during the 2019 The Grammys. Brandi said in the post Grammy interview room that during the peformance she was so nervous and she “looked up and saw one person with total piece on her face, and it was Janelle Monae, and it really touched me and I lost all my nervousness and I just sang it to her” (watch that interview here)
Saturday January 20th
Corook
A singer songwriter based in Nashville. They have been compared to Pheobe Bridgers and bring a unique storytelling style of pop. There is little musical connection yet to be found but is around the Nashville scene where so many of the bands connections are from. Corook is part of the LGBTQ+ family and identifys as non-binary.
The Titans of American Including;
Brandy Clark
2nd time at GWWW (2023)
Brandi Carlile produced the 2023 self titled Brandy Clark album (and provided vocals on tracks.) The album is up for several Grammys in 2024. Brandi Carlile also producer of her Grammy nominated Same Devil in 2021. Brandy Clark was also a co-writer of the Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile song – A Beautiful Noise
Kim Richey
Kim Richey has been singing and writing in Nashville and the American scene for many years. The band know her and it’s fantastic she’s appearing in this special line up. There are no obvious co-writes or recorded performances that we know of between Brandi Carlile and Kim Richey. Brandi has said that she’s been so influenced by her as a songwriter. In this video clip from 2019 Brandi invited Kim up on stage to perform one of her songs.
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Brandy Clark supported Mary Chapin Carpenter on tour this year. Mary has also been performing for many years on the Americana and folk circuit and is a titan of Americana 🙂 . Brandi Carlile has toured with Mary (and Shawn Colvin) in 2012 and shared many a mic or stage with her over the past 20 years.
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah needs no introduction and was the found of the OG all female line up festival Lilith Fair, of which GJWW is based on. Sarah has joined Brandi Carlile at the Gorge in 2022 and then in 2023 to join the Joni Weekend.
Special Guest – Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox was not announced until Thursday 18th 2024 (first day of the GJWW) and was the surprise special guest. Annie joined Brandi Carlile for the entire weekend of The Gorge featuring Joni Mitchell in 2023, including guesting on stage on the first night with Brandi Carlile and the 2nd night with Joni Mitchell. On the third night Annie sat in the wings watching The Highwomen.
Sunday January 21st
Sistastrings
2nd time at GJWW
Monique and Chauntee Ross (Sistastrings) who originally joined GJWW with Allison Russell’s band and now have their own set this year. Brandi Carlile hired them as part of her touring band in the past year, and will be producing their new album due out in 2024.
They also joined Brandy Clark on tour, and provide strings and arrangements on her self-titled album produced by Brandi Carlile.
Monica Martin
A folky, poppy singer originally from the band PHOX. We can’t find any real dot’s to connect here. Let us know if you know any!
Lucius
5th time at GJWW
Lucius are a four piece indie pop band with the core members being Jess Wolfe & Holly Laessig. Their 2021 album Second Nature was produced by Brandi Carlile. Lucius also provided backing vocals on the Brandi Carlile track “You and Me On The Rock” on the 2021 album In These Silent Days as well as supporting the band on a few dates during the 2022 tour.
Lucius featured prominantly on vocals during Joni Mitchell’s 2022 return to the Newport Folk Festival and have joined again at further Joni Jam live performances including The Gorge and the The Hollywood Bowl. They also featured on “Tell her you don’t love her” on Brandy Clark’s album.
Lucius have traditionally hosted the infamous “hot tub time machine” pool party to close out GJWW and will do so again this year.
A note on the Looking Out Foundation – the NFP of the band.
For the first time the Looking Out Foundation, will be at the GJWW hosting several events, including panel discussions and giveaways. They are partnering with PSYDEY [See-Day], an NGO that works with rural and indigenous women in Hidalgo, Mexico. As well they’ve partnered with Propeller to give away a limited edition gold-foil signed poster and signed set list.
