14 May 2026

BISS List 5.14.26 Spotlight on Sonoma Wild + The Best of BISS This Week and More

Happy Golden Road Week, BISS Listers!

I’m currently somewhere on the literal road to Golden Road Gathering in Placerville, California, dictating this as I drive with the van packed to the brim, Hedgie the rainbow sparkle road hog riding shotgun. Honestly, I’m ready! This weekend is stacked with two sets of Lettuce on Friday, two sets of STS9 on Saturday, and Leftover Salmon closing things out on Sunday. If that alone doesn’t convince you, view the full lineup here. I’ll personally be running the Golden Ticket VIP program this weekend alongside an incredible crew of 35 humans helping take care of more than 200 VIP guests.

I want to give a huge congratulations to the semifinal winners so far in the High Sierra Band Contest. Congrats to Hunting Knuckles for taking the win at HopMonk, and congrats to Andre Cruz for winning at The Chapel. The level of talent in this competition has been ridiculous.

There are still a few more band contests left, including tonight at the Ivy Room and next Thursday, 5/21 at Crystal Bay in Nevada. While I love all the bands playing Crystal Bay, I especially have to shout out my guy Lantz Lazwell and LAZWELL. For those in the area, please show up loud, cheer your hearts out, and help get them onto that High Sierra Music Festival stage! Speaking of High Sierra, make sure you’ve got it on your calendar. It’s coming up fast on July 2nd.

Another great festival you should have on your calendar is Sonoma Wild on June 6th. I’ll be running the VIP program there as well. Beautiful setting, beautiful people, beautiful vibes. Proceeds will support local environmental organizations. Read all about it in the spotlight below, for the lineup and a chance to win tickets.

For this week’s Best of BISS picks, make sure to check out the full Hot List reel we posted on IG! And here are a few that should especially be on your radar.

Fri 5/15 – Sun 5/17: Golden Road Gathering @ El Dorado County Fairgrounds
Fri 5/15: Wreckless Strangers @ Golden Gate Park Bandshell (FREE)
Sat 5/16: Wavy Gravy’s 90th Birthday ft Steve Earle, Todd Rundgren, Ricky Lee Jones, Cat Power, Peter Rowan, Lebo, and more @ The Masonic (*WIN*)
Sat 5/16 APE w/ DJ Otto Von Stroheim @ Cafe Du Nord (*WIN*)
Tue 5/19: The Afghan Whigs w/ Mercury Rev @ The Fillmore (*WIN*)

Now I’m going to let Natalie take it away for Mark Your Calendar…

5/21: High Sierra Band Contest: Semi-Finals ft LAZWELL, Ginger Molasses, Bahena, & Phat Mark @ Crystal Bay Casino (Nevada)
5/23: SambaDa @ HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol (*WIN*)
5/24: ALO w/ Greg Loiacono & Stingray @ HopMonk Tavern Novato (*WIN*)
5/27: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey @ The Chapel (*WIN*)
5/28: House of Love 3 ft Casa Del Sol & Tree Adams + Special Guests @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*)
6/6: Sonoma Wild ft Elephant Revival, Sam Grisman Project, Mikaela Davis, Hot Buttered Rum & more @ SOMO Village Event Center (*WIN*) – more info in the Spotlight below.

Also coming up later this month, the first installment of this summer’s Terrapin Roadshow series kicks off in Monte Rio on May 30th & 31st. BISS Contributing Editor Garbriel David Barkin met with Grahame Lesh to chat about the Terrapin Roadshow, Midnight North, and the legacy of his father’s music. Check out the interview here: This Music Can’t Be Stale”:
An Interview with Grahame Lesh.

There is always more on Best of BISS, below or on the site, and on the full calendar. Plus don’t miss your opportunity to win tickets!

Wherever this finds you, I hope your week includes a little music, a little community, and maybe a little dust on your shoes. Hope to see some of you this weekend in beautiful Placerville at GRG. Come find me somewhere between VIP check-in, the lounge, and the dance floor.

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

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SPOTLIGHT ON SONOMA WILD

Sonoma Wild

June 6th @ SOMO Village Event Center

A family friendly musical event in celebration of Sonoma County’s wildlands! Featuring Elephant Revival, Sam Grisman Project, Mikaela Davis, Hot Buttered Rum, MaMuse, Danny Goldberg’s Sound Immersion Experience, and more special guests. There will be environmental information booths and presentations focusing on local issues, an eclectic assortment of craft and food vendors, art, kids’ activities, and more! Proceeds will benefit local environmental organizations.

Experience a day of inspiration, rhythm, and community connection with offerings like a Sound Immersion circle led by Danny Goldberg, a conversation on Environmental Activism from Julia Butterfly Hill, Basic Human Needs from Wavy Gravy, family fun from Big Fun Circus, and more workshops and presentations from local activists & community organizers.

BISS INTERVIEW

This Music Can’t Be Stale: An Interview with Grahame Lesh

The music never stops for Grahame Lesh. With a slew of bookings over the next five months with his band Midnight North, a smattering of Grahame Lesh & Friends appearances, several shows costarring Daniel Donato, and a sequence of symphonic gigs featuring civic orchestras playing alongside Lesh and fellow musicians including Melvin Seals and Tom Hamilton. Lesh is also a pivotal performer in a number of Terrapin Roadshow events scheduled throughout the summer. More than just another musical tribute, these shows are a direct outgrowth of the post-Grateful Dead environment planted and nourished by the Lesh family. BISS Contributing Editor Garbriel David Barkin met with Grahame Lesh to chat about the Terrapin Roadshow, Midnight North, and the legacy of his father’s music.