For the forth year in a row The Unofficial Archivist is ‘connecting the dots’ of all the artists appearing in the 7th edition of “Brandi Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend”. We like to call it the Brandi Bubble Map. Includes links to all the performers websites.
As the Bramily understand – the artists performing in this event are connected and orbit around each others musical artistry and often, queer identity. Let’s take a look at the connections.
Featuring artists ordered by appearance at GJWW 7:
Thursday January 15th
Joy Oladokun
2nd appearance at GJWW.
Joy Oladodun is an American singer-songwriter based in Nashville. She has released three albums and has collaborated with Brandi Carlile on the Lucie Silva song “We Don’t Know We’re Living. She has supported Brandi Carlile at Red Rocks, and first performed at GJWW in 2023. Read about other Joy Oladokun and Brandi Carlile connections.
Friday January 16th
Autumn Nicholas
1st appearance at GJWW
This is the first time Autumn Nicholas is appearing at GJWW although they did make an appearance at Brandi Carlile’s Mothership festival in May 2025. A songwriter who has released several singles and an EP (Shades of Beige) in 2020. In 2024 Autumn Nicholas and Sista Strings collaborated on a couple their songs.
Sistastrings
4th time at GJWW
Monique and Chauntee Ross (Sistastrings) originally joined GJWW with Allison Russell’s band and now are a permanent part of Brandi Carlile’s string section. In 2023 they joined part of the Brandi Carlile touring band, and Brandi Carlile is producing their new album due out in 2026.
Jensen McRae
2nd time at GJWW
Jenson McRae is a folk singer and songwriter and actress, who has released several EPs and 2 albums, her most recent in April 2025. Fellow GJWW artist Joy Oladkun and Jensen McRae collaborated on a song “Which You The Best”. Jensen is returning to GJWW for the second time.
CMAT
1st time at GJWW
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (CMAT) is an Irish singer & musician who has released three studio albums, the most recent (Euro-Country) released in March 2025. This is her first time at GJWW.
The Chicks
1st time at GJWW
The Chicks need no introduction. But given Brandi and friends have covered the Chicks over the years, we are here for Night of the Living 90’s.
Saturday 17th Jan
Arroba Nat
2nd appearance at GJWW
This is the 2nd time Arroba Nat is appearing at GJWW. Arroba Nat is a rising Mexican singer songwriter. You can visit her website here.
The Carlile Family Band
5th appearance at GJWW
After a massive few years of touring -this band features the core members of from Brandi Carlile’s extended family – Brother (Jay), Niece (Caroline) and Nephew (Jayjay). They’ve been playing together for several years, regularly joined by Phil & Tiffany Hanseroth’s daughter Josephine, and some of their younger siblings on occasion. The band renamed themselves in 2024, to The Carlile Family Band, and in early January 2025 released their first official EP – which can be streamed everywhere. Support them here.
Jasmine Cruickshank is a British indie rock singer. She’s signed to Pheobe Bridges label Saddest Factory Records, and has supported Boy Genius’s Lucy Dacus on tour as well as collaborated on a song with Julien Baker. (is she the secret forth member?) She released her debut album You Are the Morning in 2025
Brandi Clark (as part of Titans of Americana)
4th appearance at GJWW.
Brandi Carlile produced the 2023 self titled Brandy Clark album (and provided vocals on tracks.) The album was nominated for several Grammys and won Best Americana Performance : Brandy Clark ft. Brandi Carlile – for Dear Insecurity. The first appearance at GJWW for Brandi Clark, featured the premiere of this iconic song. Brandi Carlile was 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. This year for the 2nd time Brandi joins the Titans of Americana.
Tish Melton (as part of Titans of Americana)
4th appearance at GJWW
Tish Melton – this singer songwriter artist first performed at GJWW 4, and in 2024 released her Brandi Carlile produced EP. 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 of GJWW 7.
Shawn Colvin (as part of Titans of Americana)
2nd time at GJWW
This is the 2nd time Shawn Colvin has played at Girls Just Wanna Weekend – the first being the original in 2019. Brandi Carlile supported Shawn Colvin over 15 years ago and has played along side her on stage many times. Shawn Colvin has released 12 studio albums.
Sam Smith
1st time at GJWW
This is the first appearance by the super star British artist Sam Smith. They collaborated on Brandi Carlile’s song from By The Way I Forgive You “Party of One” – to support WarChild. Most recently Brandi made a guest appearance in New York at Sam Smith’s residency at The Warsaw in Brooklyn, in November 2025.
Sunday 18th Jan
The Marshgrass Mamas
2nd time at GJWW
The Marshgrass Mamas have been stomping and performing together since 2001. (!). You can find out more about them here at their website. This is their second appearance at GJWW.
August Ponthier
2nd appearance at GJWW
August Ponthier is an indie – folk singer and released their 3rd EP in 2024, with Interscope records. In 2022 they toured with Jack Antinoff on the Bleachers tour as support. August (previously appeared at Allison Ponthier in GJWW) supported Brandi Carlile at Red Rocks this year. August is releasing a new album in February which you can pre-order here.
Kristin Key
2nd appearance at GJWW
Kristin Key is a musical commedian – who has the viral lesbian song “I drive a Subaru”. Look it up. 🙂 – Funny AF but also a great singer. The Brandi Carlile Family band have supported Kristin Key in concert
Lucius
6th time at GJWW
One of the OG’s of 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. Website is here.
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.
AT GJWW 7 there are side activities :
ACTIVITIES WITH BRANDI
Brandi-oke with Brandi Carlile and The Hanseroth Twins, hosted by Kristin Key*
So Gay For You: In Conversation with Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig, moderated by Brandi Calile
SPECIAL GUESTS
Soccer Tournament with Abby Wambach*
Come See Me in the Good Light Documentary Screening, Poetry Reading and Q&A feat. Megan Falley and Glennon Doyle
Drag Bingo with Anania
Girls Just Wanna Dance with Kristin Sudeikis
HANG WITH GJWW7 ARTISTS
Karaoke with CMAT
Hot Tub Time Machine with Lucius
Loud and Proud with Jensen McRae and Xiomara Padamsee
LOF’s Rooted In Resilience with Outright International and Casa Frida feat. Joy Oladokun
Costume Contest with SistaStrings*
We’re Only Human: The Carlile Family Band & Lindsay Wheeler on Mental Health & Authenticity
Art of the Storyteller with Brandy Clark and a special surprise guest!
Trans & Non-Binary Affinity Gathering featuring Jasmine.4.t
Day of Service Benefitting Keeping Kids in School with August Ponthier
Tour Trivia with The Hanseroth Twins
Fan Jam with Autumn Nicholas
Tequila Tasting with The Marshgrass Mamas and Cooking Class with Arroba Nat
