At The Festival: Girls Just Wanna Weekend 6
Welcome to “At the Festival,” a blog series where I share my personal music festival experiences, with a focus on the performances of women and gender-diverse artists (that means I’ll be there early and might just completely skip the headliners). I’ll also be connecting with fellow festival-goers and sharing their stories, giving a crowd-sourced perspective of what makes each festival special. The goal is twofold: to share and spotlight often-overlooked artists, and to illustrate the power of music festivals in bringing people together and fostering communities.
Last month, I was fortunate to attend the 6th (and my 6th!) Girls Just Wanna Weekend Music Festival at the all-inclusive Barceló Maya Resort in Tulum, Mexico. If you aren’t familiar, the festival was created by Brandi Carlile and first announced in the summer of 2018 (just several months after Book More Women started). Inspired by her own experiences as both a fan in the Lilith Fair era and a touring artist in today’s musical climate, Brandi was determined to provide a proof of concept festival. An example that women could not only power a massive lineup and move tickets, but at the same time create an environment that fosters creativity, inclusion, and community.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16th
The Barceló resort is made up of six hotels, with three of them becoming the festival-attendee-only “Brandi Land” during the event. The resort has tons of dining options, recreation and entertainment, a shopping mall and market, too many pools to count, and over a mile of white sand beach. This was the event’s second year at the resort, after spending the first four at the Hard Rock resort a few miles away. The change may have sacrificed some sense of intimacy, but allowed for a bigger experience, ultimately.
This year, that experience would officially begin on Thursday night with Xiomara Padamsee, board member of Brandi’s Looking Out Foundation, giving us an introduction of Verónica Ocampo, who returned for her second year to give a beautiful, grounding land acknowledgement.
Then it was time for the opening toast: Brandi and her forever bandmates, twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth, took the stage and as usual, hyped us all up with a runthrough of everything we’d experience in the coming days. But unlike other years, Brandi took a bit longer to speak about what the festival was about beyond the music and the beach. She assured us that Girls Just Wanna Weekend is “not a check your feelings at the door kind of place.” She invited us to be our whole selves in this place and in this community, including all the anxieties, fears, and sadness we’ve all been carrying. She invited us to “break it apart in tiny pieces and hand a little bit of it to each and every one of us to help you bear that burden.” And she instructed us to use this weekend to “fill up and go home and do whatever you can do for your community to make sure that next year doesn’t feel like the one we just went through.”
And then she gave the traditional Girls Just Wanna Weekend toast: “Bottom’s up Bitches!”
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, and Tim Hanseroth at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
BRANDY CLARK — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
The music was kicked off by world-class songwriter Brandy Clark, making her third straight appearance at the festival. Her fourth and most recent studio album was produced by Brandi Carlile, a fellow northwest native. Brandy and her band played an hour of stories, including the live debut of a new song potentially titled “More Than Friends” that segued into a version of “Something to Talk About” (which served as the first appetizer for the upcoming “Night of the Living ‘90s” set).
Artists debuting never-before-heard songs on the GJWW stage has become a regular event over the years. Two years ago, Brandy’s duet with Brandi, “Dear Insecurity” made its live debut at the fest. A year later, they would win the Grammy for Best Americana Performance together for the song. Brandy and band ended their set with “Stripes,” joking that she had gotten an alarming amount of requests for the would-be-murder ballad by Just Wanna Weekend attendees.
Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
Before Brandi’s scheduled headline set could start, we were ordered to evacuate the venue due to incoming severe weather. Updates continued to come through the night, but despite their obvious efforts and willingness to make the set happen, the weather won out. At about 1 AM, they informed us of a revised schedule for the next day with something we had yet to see in six years of the festival: a Brandi Carlile set at the pool stage.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17th
On Friday morning, I attended one of the many artist-led activities held throughout the weekend: Cooking Class with Arroba Nat. She made her debut at GJWW last year, becoming the first Mexican artist to join the lineup. Arroba prepared her favorite dish, chilaquiles, inviting audience members to help chop vegetables or taste-test her sauces. Her personality really shined and in the end, the class ended up being half comedy show (a soaked recipe paper, forgotten garlic, the audience collectively yelling “LID!” JUST in time before she ran the blender”).
BRANDI CARLILE — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
Making up for the cancelled headlining set from the night before, Brandi and the twins played their first ever set on the pool stage, which generally hosts daytime sets from the lineup’s rising artists. They played a seven song career-spanning set under the sun to a massive pool-full of people. It was standing room only with no room for floats this time. The set was bookended by singalongs “You and Me on the Rock” and “The Story.”
It was cool to see them rock the smaller stage for the first time, an idea that Brandi attributed to her daughter, Evangeline, who reacted to the shoutout with a thumbs up from deep in her hammock side-stage. Though it’s never fun to lose sets when we have such a short time together, standing under the sunny sky, Brandi remarked “some things are just meant to be.”
Brandi Carlile at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025 (Yes, there’s a pool under there!)
I returned to the theater to catch another artist activity, a Songwriting Workshop with Brandy Clark. I’m not much of a musician myself, but the opportunity to listen to someone as accomplished as Brandy speak on their process was awesome. Attendees could drop their name in a cup prior to the workshop and Brandy would pull a name and write a song front to back with the participant. The lucky winner was Ann, who said she began writing songs in the ‘80s but had been stuck for about the last ten years. Watching Brandy work was remarkable. She invited and encouraged ideas from Ann and the rest of the crowd, interpreting them in the best way, and adding in her own magic when called for. Coming from Boston in January, it’s not easy to sacrifice any of my sun time. But the panels and activities at Girls Just Wanna Weekend have never left me disappointed. This was probably one of the best yet.
BRITTNEY SPENCER — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
Friday night was Country Night at GJWW, and the crowd was ready, with glowing cowboy hats everywhere. The night began with three-time attendee and star on the rise, Brittney Spencer. She’s had quite a year after releasing her debut studio album in early 2024. She appeared on Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter, singing backing vocals on the profound version of Blackbird, and performed the song with Beyoncé at the halftime of the Christmas NFL game. Before playing her own version of the song, Brittney addressed Beyoncé, saying “thank you for letting me stand in your light.” She then gave a shout-out to the lighting folks at the festival, because standing in their light was amazing too.
Graduating to the main stage for the first time this year, Brittney performed largely from her debut album, showcasing her upbeat songs like “Night In” and “First Car Feeling” (during which a fan held up what Brittney excitedly said was her first ever crowd sign!), as well as the slower ones, including “Slow Dance” which appears on the bonus version of the album. As another appetizer for the ‘90s set, she also played “Cowboy Take Me Away.” Plus, she gave GJWW another new song debut to add to the list. I can’t wait to keep watching Brittney rise.
Brittney Spencer at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
MAREN MORRIS — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
Next up was close friend of Brittney’s, Maren Morris, returning for her fourth Girls Just Wanna Weekend. Four years ago, Maren debuted her eventual #1 country single “GIRL” on the Just Wanna Weekend stage. This time she returned unbound from the country music machine. She played from her 2024 EP “Intermission” and across her catalog, including one of her first country hits “My Church,” during which she was joined by fellow Highwomen Brandi Carlile and Brittney Spencer.
Foreshadowing a more eclectic future was a cover of “Dancing With Myself” and the MUNA-co-written “push me over.” Maren introduced the song, saying, “This is about... how I joined your team,” and the crowd took a split-second to react, but the cheering and laughing was raucous. She brought out Katie Gavin from MUNA to sing it with her, marking the first time they’ve done so. I’ll just say the crowd ate that one up completely. Her last two songs exemplified her capability to get people singing regardless of genre, with Zedd collab, smash hit “The Middle” and one of her first country radio hits, “‘80s Mercedes.” Maren’s set left me so excited to see what’s next for her, and hopefully we won’t have to wait too long, as she did let us know her next album is complete.
Maren Morris at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
SHANIA TWAIN — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
The headliners at Girls Just Wanna Weekend have grown over the years, in a way that made it seem impossible to imagine something bigger. Last year’s performance by Janelle Monae was a groundbreaker for the festival, and many of us wondered who Brandi could possibly bring next. After a longer wait than usual for the lineup this year, it was revealed: ‘90s country pop superstar Shania Twain.
This festival has a way of revealing a lot about an artist who may not already be largely known to the Bramily. Every artist has given great performances, but those who throw themselves fully into the “land of misfit toys” as Brandi calls it, regardless of how big an artist they are, what genre they typically play, or how they identify themselves, are the ones who win over hearts. Of course Shania Twain needed no introduction, but admittedly many of us hadn’t known more than a handful of her hits.
Shania threw herself fully into the GJWW world, singing a massive 20-song set, inviting out collaborators, singing impromptu covers, all while playing enthusiastically to a crowd that might be unlike any she’d ever played for. Shania surely won over hearts that night. She was joined by Maren Morris for “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” with Shania changing her line to: “Ok, so you’re Maren Morris. That IMPRESSES ME MUCH!” As much fun as we were having, I couldn’t help but get a little emotional wondering what that moment meant for Maren. It was another piece of magic that could only happen at this place on this stage.
Later Shania sat on a stool with her acoustic guitar and brought Brandi out for a couple duets. First, she addressed Brandi, thanking her for inviting her and congratulating her for what she’s accomplished with Girls Just Wanna Weekend (In the meantime, Shania’s earring became stuck in her hair, and as Brandi attempted to help her untangle it, Shania led the crowd in a quick “That’s What Friends Are For.”). They then did two planned songs together, “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and “This Moment On.” Because she was having the time of her life, Shania wouldn’t let Brandi go and asked if she’d sing another with her. I have seen a lot of Brandi Carlile, at her own shows, at GJWW, at Newport, at other festivals, and I have maybe once thought she seemed nervous. But at that moment, she looked nervous. Then Shania asked if she had ever sang the Dolly version of “I Will Always Love You” before. Brandi answered, without elaborating: “Once.” If you know, you know. They then got the full band going again and performed a super fun “Party For Two.”
When the final song came, we finally heard Shania Twain say the magic words we’d been waiting for: “let’s go girls!” Hearing “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” on that stage felt surreal. Shania and the band sounded incredible, and the crowd was electric. It felt like thousands of bucket lists being checked off at once.
Shania Twain at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18th
SISTASTRINGS — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
Saturday was kicked off by perennial favorites SistaStrings. Sisters Chauntee and Monique play violin and cello respectively, as well as sing, and were voted “best instrumentalist” at the Americana Honors & Awards in 2023. Whether playing with Brandi, Allison Russell, Brandy Clark, or on their own stage, sisters Monique and Chauntee have become GJWW MVPs and the life of the party. They’ve crushed the double duty of providing incredible, beautiful string arrangements but also being kicked out of pools for late night noise.
This year, they played their own set at the pool stage, highlighting that same duality in their music. The first half included some of the stunningly beautiful string arrangements we’ve come to know them for, including a beautiful cover of Blackbird. In the second half, they debuted a new dance-infused style that had everyone in the water moving. I can’t wait to hear what they do next.
SistaStrings at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
LUCIUS — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
The night shows on Saturday kicked off with the only band besides Brandi’s to play every Girls Just Wanna Weekend to date, Lucius (who also happen to be my favorite band). They are yet another to have debuted music on this stage, giving us new songs from their last album, the Brandi Carlile co-produced Second Nature in 2022. This year, they once again gave us new songs! They played tracks from their upcoming self-titled album, releasing May 2nd.
The real highlight though, came before and during setlist mainstay “Dusty Trails.” Before the song, co-lead singer Jess revealed, to perhaps the only audience she would have done so, a personal tragedy that occurred a year before at this exact festival. It was a raw and emotional moment, and I was in awe listening to her speak to this experience that is experienced by so many, but not talked about very often. As she said, many in that very audience had probably gone through it themselves.
The heartbreaking revelation was followed with the ultimate heartburst moment with the reveal that her 9-week old baby Leo was healthy and in attendance. As they prepared to sing the already emotional “Dusty Trails,” Brandi Carlile walked slowly out from side-stage with a sleeping, headphoned little Leo in her arms. The collective crowd noise was a loud part aww, part screaming, part sobbing. I have a recording, but there were a lot of noises coming from me at once, no one else is hearing that. It had been a bit since I cried to Dusty Trails, I finally sort of immunized myself (sort of). But needless to say, it was all over this time. I eventually recovered, Lucius covered “Wonderful” by My Morning Jacket, and tagged “Pink Pony Club” onto the end of their song “Tempest.” Jess and Holly ended the set in the crowd, singing “Two of Us On the Run,” as they have so many times, harkening back to their earier career.
Lucius and Brandi Carlile with Leo at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
MUNA — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
Like Shania the night before, MUNA were all in on the GJWW ethos. They graciously gave up their headlining slot to Brandi and her band so they could play a full makeup set for the rained out night 1. So at 8pm, they took the stage, and took full advantage of playing to the one of a kind audience. It seemed split about 25/75 between already devoted fans and folks unaware they were about to become devoted fans. The band played largely from their latest, self-titled album, including kicking off perfectly with the be-the-fully-unfiltered-version-of-you banger “What I Want.” Singer Katie Gavin clearly got a kick out of performing for this crowd in particular, at one point noting that she thought she really pulled one over on Brandi because “I would have performed for a crowd of older lesbians for free.”
Later on, the crowd showed the love back, coming prepared with no less than 15 Staceys (the recurring inflatable horse MUNA releases into the crowd during “Anything But Me”). Afterwards Katie remarked “that was maybe the most Staceys I’ve ever seen” which personally made me laugh so hard. After a cover of “A Thousand Miles” that could not have gone over better, they ended with their oldest hit “I Know a Place” and their biggest “Silk Chiffon,” joined by fellow LA native Jensen McRae to sing the second verse (originally recorded by Phoebe Bridgers). MUNA performed at Girls Just Wanna Weekend y’all!
MUNA at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
BRANDI CARLILE — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
Brandi Carlile and band closed the night with their full band set, leading with a cover of “Going to California” dedicated to anyone from LA affected by the fires that still burned as they played. They launched into their typical powerhouse set, full of favorites new and old. They also added a couple covers that were newer to the setlist. “Long Long Time” by Linda Rondstadt and “Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead, which they had never played live before.
In the encore, they debuted a new song, at least tentatively titled “Human.” Brandi explained that she wrote it at the piano at 2 am on the morning of the 2024 election. It sent my mind reeling to think that we were hearing it for the first time now less than 36 hours before the inauguration. The song marked not only another live debut for the GJWW stage, but also a first for Brandi and the twins at this stage in their career, sharing a potentially unfinished song for a full audience, and as such, she graciously asked the crowd not to record it. If “Human” is representative of the future, I think it’s safe to say Brandi and the twins are not done finding new heights to push for.
The set ended with “Hold Out Your Hand” a jump-along sing-along that harkened back to Brandi’s festival-opening speech. It’s a set staple, but at that moment, it felt more prescient than ever. It’s a frantic song about the state of the world. It reminds us that while the devil doesn’t take a break, neither do we. It’s a plea to reach out when the weight is too much. To reach out and to dance. “We have to find joy where we can find it,” Brandi told us. Despite the general state of my knees this far in, I jumped and sang the whole way through and tried to lock that feeling in. There’s no doubt I’ll need it.
Brandi Carlile at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19th
Sunday was another sunny day, and I think we all needed that more than any day of this festival before. I had a meal at the buffet consisting only of chilaquiles and deserts for the [redacted]th time. There was an incredible slate of activities on Sunday including: a Journal Workshop with Jensen McRae, a screening of filmmaker Alex Hedison’s documentary ALOK, and a live taping of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach. But given my pre-sadness for the festival’s end, having to soon return to 20°F, and the unknown chaos looming, I skipped them for needing to stay in the sun as much as I possibly could.
MARSHGRASS MAMAS — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM
The Marshgrass Mamas were up first at the pool stage, and though they formed all the way back in 2001, they may have been made for Girls Just Wanna Weekend. Their website bio even ends: “If “girls’ weekend” was a band…it’d be the Mamas.” The Mamas are seven South Carolinian mothers, including one you might be familiar with: Shovels and Rope singer/songwriter Cary Ann Hearst. But the rest of the Mamas bring their own talents, resulting in an Appalachian-inspired sound and a unique songwriting mix of humor and sincerity.
I would have stayed the full hour just listening to their stage banter. Requirements for joining the band reportedly include attending a weekly rehearsal, with instruments optional and wine non-negotiable. They joked they were the least ambitious band on the planet, playing only a handful of shows a year, never having officially recorded any of their music, and getting much of their music from the Shovels & Rope “trash heap”.
Their songs were memorable regardless, and by the end of many of them, the crowd was singing along despite never having heard them before. The hilarious standout “Laundry Sucks” couldn’t have gone over better with the GJWW crowd. The more sincere “Dolores,” dedicated to the women back home holding down the world while we partied, got an equally enthusiastic response. They ended appropriately with an upbeat “Sail Away Ladies” that had the pool looking more like a honky-tonk. I feel pretty confident that this was not the last Just Wanna Weekend for these Mamas.
ALLISON PONTHIER — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
I ran into Allison Ponthier on the beach the day before her set, and talked to her for a minute. She could not have been kinder. She told me that even though she had just arrived, and hadn’t played yet, GJWW was already her favorite festival. She recounted being younger and feeling like she was the only person on the planet who felt like she did, and though time has passed since then, being in the Just Wanna Weekend bubble around so many people with similar stories was surreal.
On Sunday, the country-tinged singer/songwriter was joined on stage only by guitarist Kristen Castro, but their stripped back sound was perfect for the chill, breezy vibes at the pool stage on that final day. They played songs from a series of three EPs released over the last five years, and a fun cover of one of the biggest songs of 2024, Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather.” The standout for me was the yet-to-be released “Everywhere Isn’t Texas,” a song about her experience growing up in Texas, a state she loves, but that she hadn’t felt allowed to be herself in. The performance displayed the wit and relatability that had won over some of her more well-known fans.
Allison ended up in the ear of one of her heroes, Elton John, a few years ago and subsequently appeared on his Apple Music radio show. Elton passed his recommendation to Brandi, who then messaged her, inviting her to play the festival. The invite came at one of Allison’s lowest points, having just been dropped by her major record label. But she told us that when she read that message, it was then that she knew she’d be ok. I’m super excited that she has recently posted parts of a demo of a new song on her socials, and can’t wait to see what’s next for this incredibly talented artist.
Allison Ponthier at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
There was a slight delay in the gates opening Sunday night for weather, but I don’t think many of us were nervous, it felt like the magic would keep any threats away. Walking into the concert area is always a thrill on the last night, though for the first time, the typical neon, fishnet, and high ponytails were replaced by flannel, overalls, and choker necklaces. The ‘80s had given way to the ‘90s and there were at least 15 yellow-plaided Chers in attendance to prove it.
JENSEN McRAE — TIKTOK INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE
If you don’t know singer/songwriter Jensen McRae, get on board now! Jensen’s biggest song to date, titled “Massachusetts” was released last year after her unfinished verses went viral on TikTok. This quickly led to opening arenas for Noah Kahan and signing to indie label Dead Oceans. Knowing the audience would lover her, I’ve requested Jensen on the GJWW post-festival survey for the last three years. I was beyond psyched to see her on the lineup for year 6.
It takes guts to play on a massive stage to an audience largely unfamiliar with your work with just an acoustic guitar and your voice. Jensen has guts. Her set largely consisted of stripped-down songs from her debut album, 2022’s Are You Happy Now? and 2023’s Youtube-only visual EP It Wasn’t Supposed To Be Like This…. The GJWW magic also had to squeeze in one more live debut for us. Halfway through her set Jensen introduced “Praying For Your Downfall,” a song with a brilliant personal growth arc, the release of which seems to be being teased on social media as I write this. UPDATE 2/17: Release date is Wednesday 2/19!
Jensen is an immense talent. Her voice goes deeper than you think possible, then jumps louder and more powerful than you can believe. If the crowd did ever chatter a bit, it was never for long. She commanded a crowd of thousands with just her voice and her words, both of which frequently sent a “how did she do that” cheer or murmur through the audience.
Jensen remarked that she was “humbled, honored, and flabbergasted” to be performing at Brandi’s festival, explaining: “one of the live performances that…completely changed the structure of my life was watching Brandi perform “The Joke” on the Grammys in 2019. My life is cleaved into before and after [that moment]. So being a part of this is truly nothing short of miraculous.”
Jensen McRae at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
NIGHT OF THE LIVING ‘90s
Then it was down to the set of all sets. In the first five years of Girls Just Wanna Weekend, the final set was dubbed “Ladies of the ‘80s.” It started the first year as a 15-song tribute to the female-powered power ballads and dance pop hits from the ‘80s. The artists went all-out with outfits and took turns at vocals while Brandi’s band held down the music. By year five, the set was a 26-song no-holds behemoth of big hair and big emotions. Over the years, KT Tunstall, Ruby Amamfu, Lucius, Indigo Girls, Yola, Sheryl Crow, Allison Russell, Sara Bareilles, Gina Gershon, SistaStrings, Sarah McLachlan, Annie Lennox, and so many more lead the crowd to massive singalongs of Cyndi, Madonna, Whitney, and just about every other Lady of the ‘80s you can think of. Each year, at the end of the set, with artists and crowd at their loosest, stage full of singers and family, all having screamed and danced for hours, our fearless leader Brandi Carlile would bring it all home, somehow still having the voice to deliver “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
To be honest, I wasn’t ready to move on. Technically the ‘90s are more mine. I wasn’t even alive in the ‘80s. But for one, I wasn’t sure I could make it through the year without the catharsis of screaming at the absolute top of my lungs: “Forever’s gonna start tonight!” When it seemed inevitable the ‘90s were coming, I decided the only acceptable replacement was for Brandi to end with “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”
Much to my surprise, the set, dubbed “The Night of the Living ‘90s” dove in head first and started with Celine. I heard that first piano chord and I was not prepared! How could my high point come first!? I’m not a dancer. I don’t (can’t) sing in public. I’m an introvert’s introvert. I am not dramatic. But this… I live for this. My sister and I had the time of our lives singing, screaming, and miming the full 7 minute song (no radio edit here). I felt every feeling and let them all go. I truly hope nobody near me was recording. When it was over, someone behind me tapped me on the shoulder and gave me this:
“Be Bold” Friendship Bracelet from Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
There’s no way they could have ever guessed by how I was acting during that song that I needed that little gesture more than I could explain…
I’ll leave most of the emotion with that (if for whatever reason you enjoy my more personal blabbering, a part 2 blog will follow this one eventually in the form of a no-emotions-held retrospective of 6 years of GJWW). But I needed to explain that part just in case Brandi happens to read this: I know you told Chris Willman “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” was a one time thing, but please don’t let it be. We need the release.
Next up was Brittney Spencer with “No Scrubs” and from there, the genres bounced around, just scratching the surface of everything the ‘90s has to offer with the 22-song setlist. Not many were actually crossed off my ideal playlist, given how many options there are in a fresh decade and since they didn’t limit to songs only by women this time around.
The highlights for me, beyond Celine, included: MUNA and Brandi doing Meredith Brooks’s “Bitch” to maybe the loudest singalong of the set, Solomon Dorsey (who has become a perennial MVP) leading a boy band including Tim, Phil, Brandi’s brother Jay Carlile, and Brandi’s vocal coach Robert J Stevenson) through “End of the Road,” and Six-time GJWW artist Ruby Amanfu performing a stirring, visceral “Zombie.” Check out my reel with clips of all the performances here!
Then finally, the set would end with Ironic, led by Tish Melton and Brandi, and backed by just about everyone else. And with that, the set wrapped up around 12:30 in the morning, now on the day of, and less than 12 hours from the inauguration. As the applause and cheers rained down and we celebrated what these amazing humans had just accomplished, Brandi had just one reminder for us at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 6: “Be strong.”
Oh yeah, and then: “See you at the hottub bitches!”
Finale of The Night of the Living ‘90s Set at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
Because luckily, Girls Just Wanna Weekend isn’t quite over when the music ends, and we have Lucius to thank for that. At the very first GJWW, the ladies of Lucius joined fans for an impromptu late-night sing-along in the resort’s nightclub following the final set (I don’t want to talk about it 😔). The next year, they were joined by Brandi and other artists. The third year, it became an officially sanctioned event, now held outside to accommodate the crowds.
The Hot Tub Time Machine is the true end of Just Wanna Weekend, a late-night pool dance party where Brandi crowd surfs, Jess and Holly pour tequila directly into open mouths in the pool below, the band can finally let go and no one wants to go home - especially this year. At nearly 3 am, there was some back and forth with the venue on getting to play one more song to end the night on. And so finally, after the splashiest sing along of Bohemian Rhapsody you could imagine, the most stubborn of us stumbled or shivered our way back to our rooms.
Hot Tub Time Machine at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2025
Honestly, I got a little emotional (you’ve probably realized I’m very emotional at this point) during “You’re Still the One,” but probably not for the typical reason. This festival is special. The people who make it are special. The community it brings together is special. It’s not perfect, but it’s only gotten better. Brandi - I know there’s nothing easy about putting this together. We can never thank you enough for doing the work.
Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin’...
Thank you, thank you, thank you, to Brandi Carlile, Brandi’s team, everyone at Girls Just Wanna Weekend and 100x. Muchas gracias al increíble personal del resort Barceló Riviera Maya.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of my Girls Just Wanna Weekend recap, in which I potentially foolishly publish all the emotional and personal musings that I had to take out of this one, and share some of my best memories from all six years.
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