Update from BISS

03 July 2025

BISS List 7.3.25 Spotlight on Fillmore Jazz Fest (7.5 & 7.6) + The Best of BISS This Week

Happy July BISS Listers!

It’s Vikki G. from MV again, honored to cover for Pamela while she is working at High Sierra Music Festival. It’s everything you could want in a California summertime jamband music festival. Not only is there great music but there’s yoga, parades, silent disco. There is never a dull moment. It’s even family-friendly with Family Camping and a Family Village offering puppet shows, arts and crafts, and areas to cool down. If you are still looking for something to do this long holiday weekend, it’s not too late. Pack up the car and head to the Sierras, you won’t regret it. Use our codes BISS discount codes for 10% off: BISS4DAY for GA 4 Day Pass, and BISSALL for FestivALL 4 Day Pass.

Here’s a Recap of Last Week:

  • 6/26: Last Saturday, I was fortunate to be able to attend The Mother Hips show outside at Hopmonk Novato. If you’ve never been, their cookout series is a nice way to spend a summer evening. As soon as you walk into the courtyard with the outdoor stage, dancing area, multiple bars, picnic tables and grassy hill, you forget that you are essentially in the Costco parking lot. It’s really quite lovely. Anyway, about the band. Actually, scratch that. I’m not even going to talk about The Mother Hips, as everyone seems to know them. Really, really well. Never have I seen a more devoted crowd. Everyone in the crowded dance floor area knew every single word to every single song. And they sang along with an ecstatic enthusiasm I’d expect from fans at a Pearl Jam or Springsteen concert. The joy was palpable. While I’d seen every member of the band (with the exception of drummer John Hofe) in other musical incarnations, that was my first time at a Mother Hips show. It definitely won’t be my last. Check out these vids & photos from Chris Brennan.

What’s on My Agenda / Personal Calendar:

  • Sat 7/5: Junior Toots: A Tribute to Toots & the Maytals @ Ashkenaz (*WIN*) – The son of late reggae star Toots Hibbert, Junior started touring with his father as a child. Put on your dancing shoes and head over to Ashkenaz, one of my very favorite venues. If you’ve never been, the setting is akin to that of a summer camp rec hall on the night of the big dance. If it was invaded by hippies.
  • Sun 7/6: Stu Allen & Elliott Peck @ Strawberry Station – #IYKYK: During COVID, several music lovers started hosting bands in their homes and backyards, providing an economic lifeline for local musicians and a place to dance for friends and neighbors. While the world is back open, this model, where attendees bring their own food and drinks, and all proceeds go to the musicians and their staff, has continued. Strawberry Station is one such venue in Mill Valley. And it’s my backyard. There are still a few tickets available.

Miss BISS Radar:

Looking Ahead:

  • 7/11: Ezra Lipp’s 3rd Annual 40th Birthday Show and Shindig ft Magic In The Other + Ginger Molasses + Maya Elise @ Ivy Room (*WIN*) – Ezra Lipp is the drummer from ALO. In my opinion, he is both a musical and comic genius. If you are anywhere near Albany, next Friday night, you will want to check this out.
  • 8/2: Jerry Day @ Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park – So many parks, so many Dead-themed shows on the band’s 60th anniversary weekend which happens to coincide with Jerry Garcia’s birthday.. This show’s early and free! With Melvin Seals & JGB followed by Stu Allen and Mars Hotel, what more could you want?

And of course there’s always more! Choose your own adventure by checking out the Best of BISS, Full Calendar, or Win Tickets page.

Have a fantastic Fourth. As the fireworks light up the sky, may your grooves be endless and your spirits high.

Until next time, I’ll see you at the shows!
Vikki G. (on behalf of Pamela, aka Miss BISS)

 


SPOTLIGHT ON FILLMORE JAZZ FEST

Fillmore Jazz Festival

July 5th & 6th @ Fillmore St b/t Jackson & Eddy Streets

The Fillmore Street Jazz Festival blends art and soul in one of the country’s most unique neighborhoods. From sunup to sunset, visitors can groove to the sounds of live music from multiple stages, browse the offerings of 12 blocks of fine art and crafts and enjoy gourmet food and beverages. Asian to Cajun, paintings to pottery, old favorites and new directions, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is not to be missed.

This is the largest FREE Jazz festival on the West Coast, drawing thousands of visitors over the Independence Day weekend. Headliners are Kim Nalley, Zeparella, Fillmore Slim, Caribbean Allstars, Ricardo Scales, Larry White Experience and so much more. Over 250 musicians performing on 3 outdoor stages and 2 indoor stages.

The 5 Stages hosted on Fillmore Street between Jackson & Eddy Streets in San Francisco. Stages are at Eddy Street, Sutter Street and California Street. Boasting an eclectic mix of over 200 businesses: music clubs, shops and restaurants, it continues to echo the music of its birth, transcending boundaries, embracing diversity, and celebrating personal style. Each block is its own micro-community, managed by locals from the Fillmore Collaborative, so you won’t want to miss visiting every block.

 


BEST OF BISS THIS WEEK

07/03 High Sierra Music Fest (7/3-7/6) ft ALO, Andy Frasco, Boombox, Diggin’ Dirt, Holly Bowling, John Craigie, Lyrics Born, Pamela Parker, Punkadelick, Rainbow Girls, Ron Artis II, Sgt Splendor & more! @ Plumas County Fairgrounds

07/03 Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers @ Yerba Buena Gardens

07/03 The Hot Licks @ Sweetwater Music Hall  Win Tickets

07/03 Kesha w/ Scissor Sisters + Slayyyter @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

07/03 Veotis Latchison (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat  Win Tickets

07/04 GROOVE 8 (Prince Horns + Paul Simon Band) @ Boom Boom Room  Win Tickets

07/04 World One 4th of July Festival ft La Gente SF, Sister Carol from Jamaica, Gamelan Sekar Jaya, Luv Phenomena and more! @ Cerrito Vista Park

07/05 Jonah Levine, Helen De La Rosa & Mauricio Morales (7 & 9:30pm) @ Black Cat

07/05 Junior Toots: A Tribute to Toots & the Maytals @ Ashkenaz  Win Tickets

07/05 Fillmore Jazz Fest: Day 1 ft Groove 8, The Marcus Shelby Quartet, Kim Nalley, Fillmore, Slim, The Glide Ensemble ft Destini Wolf, Project Pimento, Erick Peralta Trio, and much more @ Fillmore Street

07/05 GROOVE 8 (Prince Horns + Paul Simon Band) @ Boom Boom Room  Win Tickets

07/05 Point Arena Fireworks Festival ft La Gente SF, The Slackers, Blue Luke, Original Ensemble, The New Years Eve @ Point Arena Pier

07/05 Caltucky @ Crazy Horse Nevada City  Win Tickets

07/06 Stern Grove Festival: San Francisco Symphony w/ special guest Taimane @ Stern Grove

07/06 John Craigie & The Coffis Brothers @ Hopmonk Tavern Novato  Win Tickets

07/06 Jonah Levine, Helen De La Rosa & Mauricio Morales (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat  Win Tickets

07/06 Stu Allen & Elliott Peck @ Strawberry Station

07/06 Fillmore Jazz Fest: Day 2 ft Zepparella, Groove 8, Mission Delerium, Kenny Washington, Los Boleros, Oakland Jazz Choir, and more @ Fillmore Street

07/10 Tchaikovsky Spectacular w/ San Francisco Symphony @ Frost Amphitheater

07/10 L.A. Guns @ The Guild Theatre

07/10 Sonamo @ Madrone Art Bar

07/10 Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, Marshall House Project @ KRUSH Backyard Concerts Santa Rosa

07/10 Ben Esposito ft Lucy Wijnands (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat  Win Tickets

 

Want more shows from BISS?
Check out the Best of BISS & BISS Full Calendar

 


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The BISS List began in 2003 as an email newsletter for diehard live music fans in the Bay Area. Over 20 years, we’ve grown to become the go-to resource for funk, jam, soul, and groove music, reaching approximately 20,000 followers and over 80,000 through various platforms. Our curated list features only the shows we and our fans love, and we host ticket giveaways to enhance promotions with venues and artists.

Each week, we highlight the BEST OF BISS shows, with select FEATURED SHOWS that you won’t want to miss. Our shows are free to view and add to—if you have a show to submit, visit our submission page or email us at biss@bisslist.com.

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Your support—no matter the size—keeps the BISS List alive and ensures we can continue sharing the music, artists, and shows that bring us together. Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Let’s keep the music playing! ~ Pamela aka Miss BISS

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