Remote Surveillance Trailer in Escondido, CA

Escondido, CA, THE BEST BLUES is coming to The California Center for the Arts: Mike Zito, Tommy Castro, more… Get Tix Here

Mike Zito, Tommy Castro, Jimmy Carpenter, Sue Palmer & Liz Ajuzie

THE BEST BLUES is coming to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA

MIKE ZITO BAND ft. JIMMY CARPENTER BAND

Order Tickets HERE $36-$60 (inc. fees)Tickets available at the CCAE Box Office w/out fees(face value $30-$50).

ABOUT MIKE ZITO

Mike Zito is one of the most lauded artists in the contemporary blues arena today and rightfully so For him, the thing that counts the most is maintaining his honesty, authenticity and integrity. Those are the qualities that have steered Zito’s career since the beginning and continue to define every effort he’s offered since.

“I have nothing to hide; it seems my honesty is what people relate to most,” he once told Vintage Guitar magazine.

“Anders (Osborne) told me early on, ‘If you don’t believe what you’re singing, you’ll never be a good singer.’ I try not to write fluff; I try to make every word count.”

In 2022, Zito released the double live album Blues for the Southside. Recorded on November 26, 2021, at the Old Rock House in St. Louis, Missouri, and produced by Mike Zito, Blues for the Southside showcases Zito (guitar, vocals) and his stellar band in full fury with special guests Tony Campanella, Dave Kalz and guitar wizard Eric Gales.

After the release of Blues for the Southside, Zito joined forces with Gulf Coast Records label mate Albert Castiglia and created the Blood Brothers tour.www.mikezito.comwww.jimmycarpenter.net

UPCOMING

Six String Society presentsTOMMY CASTRO AND THE PAINKILLERS“Closer to the Bone Tour”w/ Special Guests Sue Palmer & Liz AjuzieSunday, June 15 – 3:00pm – 5:00pm

Order Tickets HERE: $38.40 – $102 (inc. fees).No fees if purchased at CCAE Box Office (face value $32-$35).Front Row VIP tickets include pre-show Meet & Greet or pre-show VIP add-on can be added to any other ticket for just $25.

ABOUT

Born in San Jose, California in 1955, Tommy Castro first picked up a guitar at age 10. He fell under the spell of six-string stars like Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal and Mike Bloomfield. Almost every major rock and soul act, from Ike and Tina Turner to Janis Joplin to Tower Of Power, toured through the area, and Castro was at every show. He saw John Lee Hooker, Albert King, and Buddy Guy and Junior Wells at a local club, JJ’s Blues Bar.

Castro often jammed at JJ’s, dreaming of busting out and making a name for himself. He created his own personal sound and style by mixing the blues, R&B and funk music he loved into his own, instantly recognizable brand of uplifting, soul-healing music.

As his reputation spread, Tommy played in several Bay Area bands, quickly making a name for himself as a hotter-than-hot live artist bursting at the seams with talent. In 1985, he became lead singer and guitarist for the regionally popular blues band NiteCry before joined popular Warner Brothers’ artists The Dynatones, gigging all over the country.

He formed the first Tommy Castro Band in 1992 and has not stopped touring since. In 1995, soon after releasing their first album on Blind Pig Records, The Tommy Castro Band were selected as the house band for three seasons onNBC Television’s Comedy Showcase (airing right after Saturday Night Live). The show brought Tommy in front of millions of viewers every week and cemented his reputation as a not-to-be-missed live performer.

MORE HISTORY

After a series of successful releases on the Blind Pig, Telarc and 33rd Street labels, Tommy Castro joined Alligator Records in 2009. His label debut, Hard Believer, launched to massive popular and critical acclaim. 2011 saw the release of the raucous Tommy Castro Presents The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue—Live!.

In 2014, Castro & The Painkillers released The Devil You Know, followed by Method To My Madness in 2015, Stompin’ Ground in 2017, and the irresistible Killin’ It—Live in 2019. With 2021’s A Bluesman Came To Town, Castro told the story of a young musician’s journey through the blues world. AllMusic said the album was “a towering achievement.”

Castro received his fourth prestigious and coveted Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year in 2023. He’s taken home a total of 10 Blues Music Awards and is among the genre’s most decorated artists.

Castro’s relentless road-dog approach—gig after gig, 150 nights a year—continues to earn him loyal, lifelong fans everywhere he plays. The Washington Post says Castro is “phenomenal and funky” with “soulful vocals and inspired blues guitar.” Famed guitarist Joe Bonamassa says, “Tommy has always been top of the heap among blues guitar players. He always puts on a great show.”

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers’ deceptively simple approach on Closer To The Bone delivers one thrilling performance after another. Says Castro, “Here, I’m not the contemporary guy, not the rock guy, not the soul guy. This is the deeper blues side of me. I know, with these songs, I am at my most authentic.”

340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025Phone Number (Tickets): 800.988.4253Phone Number (All others): 760.839.4138info@artcenter.org

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Sage Hill Ranch Gardens in Escondido employs sustainable farming without pesticides, using chickens and local wildlife for natural soil and pest control.

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — When you think of Southern California, the first thing that comes to mind is our beautiful beaches and probably one of the last things is our beautiful farms.

Sage Hill Ranch Gardens, an ecological market garden in Escondido, California, is demonstrating innovative farming techniques that prioritize sustainability and environmental stewardship. The farm, established by Spencer Rudolph in 2017, is one of over 5,000 farms in San Diego County, which boasts the largest per capita number of farms in the country.

"We're a no-till ecological market garden in Escondido. We farm about 8 acres of mixed veggies... we also do poultry," said Rudolph.

The farm employs a no-till approach, which Rudolph explains is crucial for soil health. "We're keeping our soil intact by never inverting it, never doing a deep tillage. Everything is right on the surface, which keeps our soil's life intact and healthier," said Rudolph.

Rudolph shared another planting tip: "A great way to keep moisture in the soil is to add mulch, plant early in the morning or plant late in the evening. If you plant in the middle of the day, the plants are going to melt. And for the plant that keeps producing, summer squash, it will give forever."

Sage Hill Ranch Garden utilizes cover crops and a rotational bird pasture system to maintain soil fertility naturally. The farm houses 250 chickens that serve multiple purposes, including weed control, fertilization, and egg production.

Rudolph emphasizes the farm's commitment to quality and natural practices. "I like to say we go beyond what organic certification requires... as natural as possible. We don't use pesticides or herbicides on our farm. We're not using tractors, the ground is being kept intact and as natural as possible," said Rudolph."So, we're using a lot of cover crops, we even have a bird pasture system where they're moving through the pastures where their fecal matter is fertilizing us for the winter, which is great."

To control insects, Sage Hill taps on the locals, "So, you see around the farm we invite lots of wildlife."

The farm employs unique pest control methods, including the use of bird and bat houses to attract natural predators. "What their great at is nighttime pollinators, they also eat tons of insects. We want to invite these Bats at night to do the work for us," said Rudolph.

Sage Hill Ranch Garden grows a variety of produce, including heirloom tomatoes, and sells its products at local farmers' markets in Leucadia, Poway, and Vista. The farm is also open to the public on Saturdays from 8 am to 12 pm.

For those interested in experiencing the farm's bounty firsthand, Sage Hill Ranch Garden offers monthly farm-to-table dinners. "We partner with Chef, we serve a 5-course meal to 70 to 80 guests and there's a tour of the farm. It's a wonderful evening," said Rudolph.

San Diego is lucky to have so many independent farms, and now, more than ever, is the time to support them. We've shown you the farm at Sage Hill Ranch Garden, given you tips on how to grow like this and I'm going to tell you where to buy this produce at famers markets but if none of that appeals to you and you want it cooked for you well they do a Moonlight dinner the 3rd Saturday of the month through October.