16 April 2026

BISS List 4.16.26 Spotlight on NOLA Jazz Fest Nights + The Best of BISS This Week and More

Happy Almost Jazz Fest, BISS Listers,

You can feel the excitement starting to creep in around our Bay Area crew heading to New Orleans over the next few weeks. Some of you are already there for French Quarter Fest. The energy is starting to build, the music is hitting a little differently, and everything is pointing toward what’s ahead.

Before the Preservation Hall Jazz Band shows last week, I had a sense that those four shows would feel like a warm-up for Jazz Fest. Then at Friday’s Pres Hall show, Ben Jaffe confirmed it, calling these shows the Bay Area’s warm-up for Jazz Fest. On Saturday, Ivan said it all when he sang his song “New Orleans, the Greatest Place on Earth.” And if that was the warm-up, this is where things start to get interesting.

Yeah, you right!

But first, let’s cover the Bay Area…

Last Week in Review:

Thu 4/9: Fishbone @ August Hall – Check out my videos and Spor’s recap with his photos
Thu 4/9: Preservation Hall Jazz Band + Karl Denson @ Presidio Theatre. Thank you to BISS ticket winner Jen for sharing her night with us!
Fri 4/10: Preservation Hall Jazz Band + Karl Denson @ Presidio Theatre, check out my videos and Gabriel David Barkin’s photo gallery.
Sat 4/11: Preservation Hall Jazz Band + Ivan Neville @ Presidio Theatre, check out the vibes!

On My Radar: With my mom in town visiting this week, I might not make it everywhere, but here are all the places I would like to be…

Thu 4/16: David Byrne @ Frost Amphitheater
Thu 4/16: Estero ft Eric Lindell + John Courage @ HopMonk Tavern Sebastopol (*WIN*)
Fri 4/17: Marmot King’s Game Night @ Manny’s Cafe – I will be there co-hosting, and yes, Marmot King himself will be in the building
Sat 4/18: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Sat 4/18: Grateful Shred @ The Fillmore (*WIN*)
Sat 4/18: Boot Juice @ Bottom of the Hill
Sat 4/18: The Disco Biscuits @ The UC Theatre (*WIN*)
Sat 4/18: RonKat Spearman’s KATDELIC @ Boom Boom Room (*WIN*)
Sat 4/18: Twas The Night Before Bike Day @ Continental Club (*WIN*)
Sun 4/19: Sgt. Splendor @ Bottom of the Hill (*WIN*)
Sun 4/19: Benjamin Andrews and the Success Ensemble @ The Ivy Room (*WIN*)

Alright, let’s get to the important question and the reason we do a NOLA Special Edition every year… who’s ready for Jazz Fest?! Who’s going this year, and what dates will you be in New Orleans? We’re bringing back the NOLA-dex, already packed with 200+ shows outside the Fairgrounds. Check out the spotlight below for more info, plus how to add your show to the list or get involved with the street team.

Whether you’re heading to New Orleans or keeping it local, there’s a lot of good music happening right now. Check out the Best of BISS highlights below or on our website, explore the full calendar, or head to the Win Tickets page for chances at free tickets. Get out, catch a show, support the bands, and keep it going.

~ Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

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SPOTLIGHT ON NOLA NIGHTS

NOLA-dex 2026

We are thrilled to once again share the NOLA-dex! Our dedicated page is packed with 200 plus shows happening outside of the Fairgrounds, and this is where the magic really happens. When the sun goes down in New Orleans, the real Jazz Fest begins and some of us never stop.

Now listen. There are folks who live for the Fairgrounds and make it out there every single day. Respect. Others split their time between day shows and night shows, grabbing a little bit of everything. And then there’s the rest of us, the true late night crew, hopping from venue to venue, show to show, sometimes straight through until the sun comes up. That’s our crew.

This is exactly why we created the NOLA-dex. You can find over 200 shows in one place, and even win tickets to some of them, with more being added.

And if you’re part of this world in any way, we want you in this. Got a show? Want to get the word out? Submit your show here so people can actually find you when they’re making those 1am decisions. Down to support live music in NOLA? Join the street team and help spread the word on the ground and online.