The Gate held shows for 19 years, overseen by Rob Allison. Rob grew up in Bakersfield. He was the bassist in the Christian Hair Metal band Traxter. They won the Bakersfield Battle of the Bands in 1989 and 1990. Rob started The Gate in 1997. They hosted all kinds of music and supported the local scene. They held benefit shows to raise the money for bands to record their own albums. The Gate became a home for many different local bands throughout the years. Listen to Episode 22 of the San Joaquin Sound Podcast to hear an interview with Rob Allison about the history of The Gate - Part 1.

Kris Tiner is a world class trumpet player. He has had longtime collaborations with Mike Baggetta in Tin/Bag and also pianist Cathlene Pineda. He has played in hundreds of groups including the Empty Cage Quartet, Wooden People, Psychic Temple, Evil/Live, Garden of Souls, and Vinny Golia’s Jazz for Models. Like his mentor Doug Davis, who built up the Jazz Program at CSUB (see episode 14), Kris Tiner oversees the DownBeat award-winning Jazz Program at BC. He has worked tirelessly for decades to build up the Jazz scene in Bakersfield.

It was the first Women's Music Festival in Bakersfield. The year was 1984. Performers included Buck Owens protege Susan Raye, Festival Organizer and Emcee Colette Shewcraft, Tracy Waddell and Sylvia Simms. For two years this was a benefit concert organized by the group Bakersfield Women and raised money for organizations that helped women in need. I interviewed Colette, Sylvia, and Gloria Dumler who were all instrumental in the Bakersfield Women’s Music Festival and who were activists for Gay Rights and Women's Rights. Listen to this episode of the San Joaquin Sound Podcast to hear their story and share this with your friends.