Brianna Mai Colliard and the Desert Marigolds are a folk rock band based out of Carmel Valley/Salinas, California. Front woman Brianna Mai Colliard hails from deep in the mountains of Carmel Valley, where off-grid country living provided the opportunity and inspiration to hone her voice and begin to write original music. Although, most of this was done in secret because she suffered from severe stage fright about singing and performing in public. However, slowly but surely, Brianna learned to overcome the fear, and after graduating with a degree in Music Performance from Cal State Monterey Bay in 2021, she began performing at small gigs and bars in Salinas. In fact, at Brianna’s very first gig, she met Ino Botello (lead guitar), and at her second she met Vince Contreras Iniguez (bass), who was so enamored that they’ve been a couple ever since. Brianna and Vince then played together as a duo, all the while building a friendship with Ino, who hosts a local open mic night where they all performed. The trio officially formed their band in January 2024, and within 3 months they were already playing their first bluegrass festival, where Brianna was invited to sing alongside Peter Rowan. In January 2025, they were joined by Jaimason Berkheimer (mandolin, drums), a musical jack of trades and fellow Carmel Valley native.
The band is a true amalgam of each member's distinct musical taste and experience. The boys (as Brianna fondly refers to them) are all seasoned musicians and self proclaimed music nerds, who’ve played in multiple bands since their formative years. Brianna on the other hand, was always a vocalist first, inspired by any great voice- from Beyonce to Joni Mitchell. However, when she began learning guitar in 2020, it helped her solidify what type of genre her original music would become: a type of folk rock that draws inspiration from the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Fairport Convention and Juice Newton.
For a couple of newcomers, they’ve accomplished a lot in the last year. Now, work is underway to finish their first full length album, expected to be released this year.
