17 July 2025

BISS List 7.17.25 Spotlight on A Grateful Gathering (7.31) + The Best of BISS This Week

Happy Mid-July, BISS Listers…

How is it already halfway through the month?! I swear I just blinked and it happened. I left for the magical land of High Sierra on June 29th, and somehow I came to and found July half gone… and my suitcase and bins still packed. I got back last Tuesday night and am just now coming up for air to write this week’s BISS List. Honestly, it’s been all about remembering how to eat and sleep again, two things I basically skipped for over a week.

Before we get into the recap of the magical High Sierra Music Festival, I’ve got to send some big love to the guest writers who filled in for the last few weeks! Thank you to Julia, Vikki, and the newest addition to the writer’s crew, Gabrielle. THANK YOU. Your contributions and the break for my brain are so appreciated. If you are interested in joining our crew of guest writers and contributors please reach out!

As for High Sierra… wow. Still covered in sparkle dust and gratitude after a truly magical return to Quincy. From the music to the mayhem to the crew that crushed it, this year’s High Sierra reminded us exactly why we do this. Big thanks to everyone who made it happen: the artists, the FestivALL fam, the volunteers, and all of you who danced ’til the last note. I’ve got videos from Sgt Splendor, Ron Artis II with Maxwell “Malik” Friedman, Grace Bowers, The Rumble ft Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., and more. Read my note here or head straight to the video album… and don’t miss the full photo gallery captured by the amazing Gabriel Barkin right here. Relive the music, the love, and the magic we made together. (and send me YOUR captures!) BTW, if you attended this year, please fill out this form with your feedback!

Now let’s talk about this week…

Weds 7/16: Last Night, I ended up at Value Culture’s Comedy Night @ Boom Boom Room, and I’m so glad I did cause I needed some laughs. And I am so looking forward to the upcoming Grateful Gathering event (7/31) supported by BISS List to kick off GD60 weekend that I already started hanging out with my friends from Value Culture last night! Read on for more info on the Grateful Gathering!
Thu 7/17: I’m off to see Holly Bowling @ SF JAZZ, who I sadly missed at High Sierra and wasn’t about to miss again. I bought two tickets for the 8:30pm show. Who wants to go with me?
Fri 7/18: It’s Game Night at Manny’s, and if I’ve still got energy, maybe a late-night stop at Boom Boom Room for Super Greens (*WIN*). I also wish I could clone myself and be in Nevada City for JeNes N The Juice @ Crazy Horse (*WIN*)… I miss her.
Sat 7/19: I want to head to the East Bay for Fred Wesley & The New JB’s @ Freight & Salvage, but My Chemical Romance @ Oracle might call me into a full-blown throwback moment. Anyone want to join me?
Sun 7/20: It’s Chromeo with Girl Talk @ Stern Grove. I’ve got extra tickets! Not only did I enter and win the lottery, but a friend also offered me VIP+1 at a table… so now I’ve got extra GAs to give away. Who wants some?
Sun night: I might wind down with some friends and jazz at Black Cat SF with ZHENIIA. Did you know we’re giving away tickets every week to this swanky club? Though I also really wish I could get outta the city to go see Shinyribs @ Hokmonk (*WIN*)… I LOVE THEM!
Mon 7/21: Ben Kweller @ The Independent keeps the momentum going.
Tue 7/22: Just saw on the BISS Calendar that Lady Gaga is at Chase. Not that I have tickets to any of these… yet… but I kind of want to go. (She’s got two more Bay Area dates next week, but we can get to that in the next BISS.)

Guess I am back in action, eh?!

Mark Your Calendar: Looking ahead to the Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary weekend… There’s a full run of celebrations happening across the city. We’ve already featured a few in recent weeks, including Jerry Day at Jerry Garcia Amphitheater (8/2), and Axial TILT at Great American Music Hall (8/3) (*WIN*), but that’s just scratching the surface!

Kick things off with Value Culture and the BISS List at A Grateful Gathering on Thursday, 7/31 — a free, all-ages outdoor happy hour at Yerba Buena Lane with live music from Jordan Feinstein & Friends, live art, a retro VW photo booth, and food and drink from local favorites. I’ll be there, so come say hi!

Then on Friday, 8/1 & Sunday, 8/3, keep the party going late into the night at Promiseland @ Great Northern, a special celebration from Raindance and KC featuring an all-star lineup of jam, funk, Dead tributes, DJs, psychedelic art, and more.

Check the spotlights below for full details on A Grateful Gathering and Promiseland, and your chance to win tickets.

For even more shows and your chance to win FREE tickets, check out Best of BISS, the Full Calendar, and the Win Tickets page. If we missed anything, let us know!

That’s it for now, BISS Listers. Whether you’re deep into summer tour or just easing back in… I’ll see you out there, smiling and soaking up every note. Much love and funky vibes.

~Pamela aka Miss BISS
#seeyouattheshows

SPOTLIGHT ON A GRATEFUL GATHERING

A Grateful Gathering on Yerba Buena Lane:
Dead & Co. Weekend Welcome Party

July 31st @ Yerba Buena Lane

Kick off your Grateful Dead weekend with A Grateful Gathering at Yerba Buena Lane — a free, all-ages outdoor happy hour celebration in the heart of San Francisco. Taking place on Thursday, July 31 from 4–9PM, this vibrant street event brings together live Grateful Dead-inspired music by Jordan Feinstein & Friends, a retro SnapFiesta photo booth inside a classic VW bus, and live art by local talent Matt Milano. Stroll through a colorful mix of local vendors, and enjoy food and drink from nearby favorites like Tropisueño, Delarosa, Amber India, and Feng Cha. Part of the Yerba Buena Lane Entertainment Zone, this event is all about community, culture, and joyful public activation — the perfect way for locals and visitors alike to gear up for the Dead & Company shows in Golden Gate Park. Presented by Value Culture.

SPOTLIGHT ON PROMISELAND

Promiseland: Dead 60 Afterparty

Aug 1st & 3rd @ The Great Northern

Raindance and KC co-collaborate for Dead 60 with PROMISELAND, assembling a blend of friends new and old to celebrate this milestone in the Grateful Dead’s history. This will be their 10 year anniversary of hosting afterparties, with many surprises and spontaneous magic to unfold, going until 4am!

Each night includes an all-star lineup to help keep you going until the wee hours of the morning! Friday 8/1 features Joe Marcinek Band with Steve Molitz, Wally Ingram, Angeline Saris, Steph Salva, and more. Sunday 8/3 features Late Night Dead All Stars + DJ Logic. On both nights: Little John, with Matt Hartle (Grateful Disco DJ set with live guitar), Mason’s Children, Floratura + special guests including Lantz Lazwell, with more to be announced + DJs Rudeskool, Sakiya & Guests, All Good Funk Alliance (Dead Tribute Set) + more amazing acts. Plus a psychedelic art gallery, live and interactive art, and visuals by Stefan G. See you on the dancefloor!

BISS GALLERY

High Sierra Music Festival

This year’s High Sierra Music Festival may or may not be the last one ever in Quincy at the Plumas County Fairgrounds. But after all the talk last year about whether it would be the final year of the long-running, much-adored festival, the 2025 HSMF was nothing but celebratory. Some people complained ahead of time about a lack of “headliners.” Headliners schmedliners! There was musical mastery everywhere you turned. Long may you live, High Sierra Music Festival! Check out the full gallery from Gabriel Barkin here.

BEST OF BISS THIS WEEK

07/17 Redwood Ramble (7/17-7/20) ft Galactic, Rhiannon Giddens, Shinyribs, Steve Poltz, Handmade Moments, Achilles Wheel, New Monsoon, Hattie & Joe Craven Quartet, Tracorum, and much more @ Camp Navarro

07/17 Shinyribs @ Moe’s Alley

07/17 Holly Bowling (7 & 8:30pm) (Two Nights) @ SF Jazz

07/17 The Original Wailers ft Al Anderson @ Cornerstone Berkeley

07/17 Thomas Linger Quartet ft. Sax Sensation Asaf Yuria and Drummer Michael Shekwoaga Ode @ Black Cat Jazz Supper Club

07/17 Ratigan, XoX, Akho, Gaby Vargas @ Hotel Utah

07/18 Terrapin Roadshow ft Stu Allen, Grahame Lesh, Sunshine Garcia Becker, Scott Guberman, Sean Nelson, Scott Padden, Jon Chi, Greg Loiacono, and Reed Mathis @ Forest Meadows Amphitheatre

07/18 Brit Floyd + Alan Parsons @ Ironstone Amphitheatre

07/18 Holly Bowling (7 & 8:30pm) (Two Nights) @ SF Jazz

07/18 JAD Experience presents ANIMALIS: a unique fusion of location, food, dance, music, and community @ Tara Firma Farms

07/18 JeNes N the Juice @ Crazy Horse Nevada City

07/18 Super Greens, Second Hand Funk @ Boom Boom Room

07/19 Terrapin Roadshow ft Stu Allen, Grahame Lesh, Jason Crosby, Alex Koford, Scott Law, Brian Rashap, Elliot Peck, and Tim Bluhm @ Forest Meadows Amphitheatre

07/19 The Recyclists, Litty DeBungus, Rosewater @ Ivy Room

07/19 Brit Floyd @ The Warfield

07/19 Toad The Wet Sprocket, Sixpence None The Richer @ The UC Theatre

07/19 Fred Wesley & The New JB’s @ Freight & Salvage

07/19 JAD Experience presents ANIMALIS: a unique fusion of location, food, dance, music, and community @ Tara Firma Farms

07/19 Mosswood Meltdown (7/19-7/20)ft DEVO, Osees, Bratmobile, Shannon & The Clams, and lots more @ Mosswood Park

07/19 Spacehall Sound Machine, Secret Sidewalk @ The Faight Collective

07/19 Broun Fellinis @ Medicine For Nightmares

07/19 The Stone Foxes, Magnolia Boulevard @ Cornerstone Berkeley

07/19 Soji Sai (of FELA KUTI) w/ Micon @ Boom Boom Room

07/20 Terrapin Roadshow ft Stu Allen, Grahame Lesh, Holly Bowling, Eric Krasno, Danny Luehring, Pete Sears, Barry Sless, and Alex Jordan @ Forest Meadows Amphitheatre

07/20 Garrison Keillor Tonight @ Presidio Theatre

07/20 Stern Grove Festival: Girl Talk w/ Chromeo @ Stern Grove

07/20 Shinyribs @ Hopmonk Tavern Novato

07/20 The Mermen @ Great American Music Hall

07/20 JAD Experience presents ANIMALIS: a unique fusion of location, food, dance, music, and community @ Tara Firma Farms

07/20 Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmoree: Almost Acoustic Duo + Jesse DeNatale @ Rancho Nicasio

07/20 ZHENIIA (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat

07/21 Ben Kweller @ The Independent

07/22 Lady Gaga (Three Nights) @ Chase Center

07/22 Regina Spektor @ The Masonic

07/23 Deltron 3030 w/ Kid Koala x Lealani (Two Nights) @ The Regency Ballroom

07/23 Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel @ Sweetwater Music Hall

07/23 North Mississippi Allstars @ Hopmonk Tavern Novato

07/23 La Gente SF @ The Barlow Sebastopol

07/23 Love Mischief @ Ashkenaz

07/23 Blu Egyptian: Hot Summer Nights After Party @ Crazy Horse Nevada City

07/23 Carolyn Wonderland @ Yoshi’s Oakland

07/23 Dave Scott @ Black Cat

07/24 Tony & Tina’s Wedding @ Presidio Theatre

07/24 Deltron 3030 w/ Kid Koala x Lealani (Two Nights) @ The Regency Ballroom

07/24 Lady Gaga (Three Nights) @ Chase Center

07/24 Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel @ The Guild Theatre

07/24 Summer Concert Series – Dirty Cello @ Marin Art and Garden Center

07/24 Brother Ruckus Jazz Quintet ft. Sax Sensation Hillai Govreen (7 & 9:15pm) @ Black Cat

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

New to the BISS List?

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.

🎶 Two Ways to Help Keep the BISS List Alive! 🎶

The BISS List has always been a labor of love, fueled by passion for live music and a dedication to this amazing community. What started as a personal email of show picks has grown into a full-fledged resource for funk, jam, soul, and groove lovers—bringing you curated show recommendations, ticket giveaways, and a space to connect over the music we love.

But running BISS takes time, effort, and real costs—over $3,000 a month just to keep the basics going! That’s why we’re excited to offer two ways you can support and help sustain the BISS List:

✨ Make a tax-deductible donation – The BISS List is now fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts & Media, which means your donation directly supports our mission while also being tax-deductible! Every contribution helps us grow, support artists, and expand BISS to serve the music community even better.

✨ Join our Patreon – Want to support and get perks? Patreon gives you a way to back the music you love while enjoying exclusive benefits. Your membership helps cover essential costs and allows us to keep BISS thriving without constant financial stress.

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