12 February 2026

BISS List 2.12.26 Spotlight on Cafe Istanbul Nightfest NOLA + The Best of BISS This Week

Happy National Make a Friend Day, BISS Listers!

With Valentine’s Day floating around this month, not everyone is feeling the pressure to make it a thing. National Make a Friend Day feels like a better reminder of what really matters. Next time you’re at a show, say hi to the person dancing next to you. A shared song, a quick laugh, a moment in the music. That’s usually how the best connections start.

Last Week in Review:

2/4: Andy Frasco & the U.N. @ The Independent – Andy Frasco asked the room to drop everything and be here now, and the crowd answered. Pure joy, full presence, and a perfect full-circle ending when opener Lonesome Joy returned to sit in. Check out these clips.
2/5: Grace Bowers @ The Independent – Fearless, locked in, and completely commanding the room. Big tone, deep pocket, and the kind of authority you feel instantly. One of those sets that makes you stop and pay attention. Here are videos from the night.
2/6 Dark Star Orchestra @ Fox Theater – DSO recreated the Feb 17, 1979 show, Keith and Donna’s final performance. A meaningful night captured beautifully by BISS community member Corey Sadd. Check out the setlist & media.
2/7: Ramble on Haight @ Love on Haight party ft Grahame Lesh & Friends – More than a show, this was a full experience that flowed from live music under my apt window into an intimate private party inside the store. Two great sets, seamless energy, and a room full of joy. Proud to have been a part of the production team that made this happen! Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the performance.
2/7: Dark Star Orchestra @ Fox Theater – Thank you to BISS contributing editor Gabriel David Barkin for this beautiful review and photo gallery from Dark Star Orchestra’s sold out night at the Fox in Oakland. A deeply moving show featuring rare acoustic guitars once played by Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, plus a powerful onstage donation to the Rex Foundation. Here is the link to the full review & gallery.
2/7: Steve Poltz @ Felton Music Hall – Thank you to BISS staff photographer Davin White for capturing the night. Equal parts heart and humor, the night’s warmth and connection shine through in this photo gallery.

On My Radar: Different rooms. Different scenes. Plenty of ways to make a friend this week.

Thurs 2/12: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country @ The Independent
Fri 2/13: Warren Haynes @ The Fillmore
Fri 2/13: The Humidors + Rob Phillips Funktet @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*)
Fri 2/13: Grateful Voodoo @ Peri’s Tavern (*WIN*)
Fri 2/13: Marmot King’s Game Night @ Manny’s Cafe
Sat 2/14: Ladies Night w/ Topaz and DJ Juan Lo @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*)
Sun 2/15: Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse ft DJ Logic & Friends (Bob Weir Tribute) @ The Midway (*WIN*)
Tue 2/17: Cyril Neville Mardi Gras Celebration @ The Freight
Tue 2/17: Van Morrison w/ Shana Morrison @ Palace of Fine Arts
Tue 2/17: Rebirth Brass Band Fat Tuesday Celebration @ The Chapel (*WIN*)

Mark Your Calendar: Festival season is upon us, stretching from New Orleans to wine country and straight into summer.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (4/23 – 5/3) – The season kicks off with Jazz Fest in New Orleans
Cafe Istanbul NOLA Nightfest (4/23 – 5/3) – Check out the spotlight below to see what Poolside Presents has in store for you this year during Jazz Fest NOLA nights!
Golden Road Gathering (5/15 – 5/17) @ El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville – ft STS9, Lettuce, Leftover Salmon, Hip Abduction, Brothers Comatose, Cimafunk, Polish Ambassador, Boombox and more
BottleRock (5/22 – 5/24) @ Napa Valley Expo – ft Lorde, Lil Wayne, Teddy Swims, LCD Soundsystem, Foo Fighters, Zedd, Backstreet Boys, Sombr, Ludacris and more
Sonoma Wild Music Festival and Community Gathering (6/6) @ SoMo Village Event Center – ft Elephant Revival, Sam Grisman Project, Mikaela Davis, Hot Buttered Rum & more
High Sierra Music Festival (7/2 – 7/5) @ Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley – ft The Word, Don Was, Cymande, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Dumpstaphunk, Eggy, Lebo & Friends & more

Big stages ahead. But it still starts with one show at a time. For even more, visit bisslist.com.

However you spend this week, I hope you find yourself in a room where the music is good and the people around you feel a little more like friends by the end of the night.

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON NOLA NIGHTFEST

Poolside Presents: Cafe Istanbul Nightfest 2026

April 23rd – May 3rd @ Café Istanbul NOLA

WIN TICKETS

The annual Café Istanbul Nightfest calendar is locked and ready with an incredible lineup and variety of World Class musical artists! Make the most of your Jazz Fest NOLA nights by treating yourself to some truly unique and ultra-intimate “you should have been there” experiences with one or more shows at the one and only, great sightlines from anywhere in the house, AWESOME-sounding Café Istanbul!

Check out the nightly line-ups below. And did we mention we’ve got giveaways for every single show!!!

4/23 Butcher Brown Big Band with Special Guest Nigel Hall (*WIN*)
4/24 AXIAL TILT: A Grateful Dead Celebration ft Stu Allen, Rob Eaton, Mitch Stein,Lisa Mackey, Skip Vangela, Dino English, and Wally Ingram (*WIN*)
4/25 AXIAL TILT: A Grateful Dead Celebration ft Stu Allen, Rob Eaton, Mitch Stein,Lisa Mackey, Skip Vangela, Dino English, and Wally Ingram (*WIN*)
4/26 Current Futures ft Robert Walter, Stanton Moore, Will Bernard, Chris Stillwell, and Skerik (*WIN*)
4/29 NOLATET ft Mike Dillon, Brian Haas, James Singleton, and Johnny Vidacovich (*WIN*)
4/30 Wil Blades & Friends ft Donald Harrison Jr., Otis McDonald, and Bill Summers (*WIN*)
5/1 Melvin Seals & JGB + Special Guest Donald Harrison Jr. (*WIN*)
5/2 Melvin Seals & JGB + Special Guest Robert Randolph (*WIN*)
5/2 (LATE NIGHT) Pimps of Joytime (*WIN*)
5/3 Garaj Mahal ft Kai Eckhardt, Oz Ezzeldin, Fareed Haque, and Greg Fundis (*WIN*)
5/3 (LATE NIGHT) Fareed Haque Trio ft Herlin Riley & Mark Brooks (*WIN*)