09 April 2026

BISS List 4.9.26 Spotlight on Golden Road Gathering (5.15-5.17) + The Best of BISS This Week and More

Happy National Unicorn Day, BISS Listers!🦄 This feels like a perfect excuse to lean into some of my favorite things… sparkles, rainbows, and a little bit of magic. And apparently, that theme is following me into this week in more ways than one… I’m literally heading to a magic show today. More on that soon.

And a quick personal note, happy birthday Mom! Yes, I know you read this every week, so this one’s for you. Looking forward to having you in town next week. 😉

Coming off a bit of a marathon week over here. Two Seders, a whole lot of matzah ball soup, and a whole lot of people fed. Somewhere in between, I made it out to catch Circles Around the Sun at The Independent, which was a nice reminder that even in the middle of everything, the music is always there. I captured videos of CATS for you here. For the rest of the weekend, I ended up laying low after feeling something coming on. With festival season around the corner, I’m not messing around with that. Pace is everything right now.

That gave me some time to go deep on building out the NOLA-dex, our New Orleans Jazz Fest night show list. If you’re an artist, promoter, or producer with shows outside the Fairgrounds during Jazz Fest, we’re putting together our annual NOLA Special Edition, which will be going out next week. As always, we’ll be giving extra attention to shows with ticket giveaways, and there are also opportunities for ads on our dedicated NOLA-dex page. You can submit your show using the form here (or email me at pamela@bisslist.com). Watch for the NOLA-dex coming out next week!

I’m also looking for a small street team on the ground at the Fairgrounds and at shows across both weekends. If you’re interested in helping pass out flyers, there may be some paid opportunities, plus tickets and other perks. If that’s your vibe, fill out the interest form here.

If you’re staying local in the Bay while I’m away, I could use some help covering shows. Writers, photographers, and video folks, if you’re interested, shoot me an email!

On My Radar… We are getting great feedback on the reel we post every week with our top-ranked shows in and around SF! We call it the “Hot List”! I can’t make it to every one of those, so here are the shows you might find me at this week…

Thu 4/9: Fishbone @ August Hall
Thu 4/9 & Fri 4/10: Preservation Hall Jazz Band + Karl Denson @ Presidio Theatre (*WIN*)
Fri 4/10 & Sat 4/11: George Porter Jr. and Runnin’ Pardners @ Sweetwater Music Hall
Sat 4/11: Ladies Night with Topaz @ Boom Boom Room
Sat 4/11: Gitkin @ Cornerstone Berkeley (*WIN*)
Sat 4/11: Wreckless Strangers @ Lucca Bar
Sat 4/11 & Sun 4/12: Preservation Hall Jazz Band + Ivan Neville @ Presidio Theatre
Sun 4/12: Grateful Voodoo: Second Sundays ft Jim Talley, Matt Lazarus, J.P. McLean, Jeannette Ferber, and Dave Rokeach @ Peri’s Tavern (*WIN*)

Mark your calendars… I am officially kicking off my working festival season in just two weeks. I’ll be heading out to New Orleans for Jazz Fest, then rolling straight into Golden Road Gathering, Sonoma Wild, and High Sierra Music Festival not long after. I’ll be bringing you coverage from the ground as much as possible along the way, while still working each event.

Be sure to check out the spotlight below for more info on Golden Road Gathering and your chance to *WIN* a pair of VIP tickets!!

And as always, feel free to choose your own adventure. You can check out Best of BISS below, explore the Full Calendar on the website, or head to the Win Tickets page for chances at free tickets.

However this week unfolds for you, I hope it brings you somewhere good… maybe even somewhere a little magical.

~Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

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SPOTLIGHT ON GOLDEN ROAD

Golden Road Gathering

May 15-17 @ El Dorado County Fairgrounds

Over the past four years, Golden Road Gathering has cultivated a vibrant community of music lovers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts. This family-friendly festival is quickly becoming a California favorite, offering an unforgettable weekend filled with live music, connection, and creativity.

This year’s lineup includes Leftover Salmon, STS9, Lettuce, The Hip Abduction, The Brothers Comatose, Cimafunk, The Polish Ambassador, Boombox, Boombassador, Chali 2na & Cut Chemist, lespecial, High Step Society, Little Hurricane, Craven Quartet, Will Evans, Boot Juice, Yak Attack, Bella Rayne Band, Blü Egyptian + Junior Toots, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, Red Dirt Ruckus, Suika T, Ryder Thieves, Lab Rats, Matt Axton & Bad Moon, Terrier, Tracorum, Moxie Barker, Lindsay & The Cheeks, and Little Mischief.

Attendees can experience a diverse lineup spanning funk, reggae, electronic, and bluegrass, creating a dynamic atmosphere with something for every musical taste. Beyond the main stage, the festival proudly features a Kids Music Competition, giving young, up-and-coming artists the chance to perform live in front of a supportive crowd of friends and family. The Creative Zone offers free activities for children all weekend long, including arts and crafts, gold panning, and giant bubbles, ensuring fun for even the youngest festivalgoers.

Festival accommodations are flexible, with options to pitch a tent or reserve an RV spot, allowing guests to tailor their experience to their comfort level. Ticket options range from single-day passes to full weekend access, with a “Day Zero” early entry ticket offering access to prime camping spots along with exclusive late-night performances in the Lost Late Night Hall. Golden Road Gathering also stands out by offering late-night music at no additional cost, alongside a curated selection of food vendors and artisan craft booths that round out this celebration of music, art, and community.

T-minus 36 days until Golden Road Gathering kicks off, get your tix now, or enter to *WIN* a pair of VIP tickets from the BISS List!!