Almond Festival a Capay Valley ‘culinary tour’

BROOKS, Calif. – One memorable sign of spring’s arrival is the brilliant, colorful display of almond blossoms which dot the landscape across the Capay Valley each year, lining the highways and country roads that wind through the region’s fertile green hills. The Capay Valley Almond Festival has celebrated this special time of year by entertaining visitors to the Valley for over 90 years.

This year the festival takes place on Sunday, March 14. The Capay Valley towns of Esparto, Capay, Brooks, Guinda, Madison and Rumsey all take part in the celebration, which is once again being sponsored in part by Cache Creek Casino Resort and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

Napa Valley may have their wine tours, but festival organizers encourage lovers of good food to take a culinary tour of the Capay Valley by visiting all of the participating locations and sampling a unique food or wine at each stop along the way. Tour takers can make their way down Highway 16 along the tour route and enjoy favorites like barbequed ribs, steak, tri-tip sandwiches, barbequed oysters, local organic produce and baked goods like the valley’s famous Almond Roca, or participate in wine tasting and tours at Capay Valley Vineyards. The Esparto Regional Chamber is also providing visitors with an Almond Blossom Trail Map for those who want to take a scenic tour of the valley and view all the varieties of colorful blossoms (available at www.blossomtrail.org).

Once culinary tourists have filled their stomachs they can enjoy free activities for the kids, a classic car show, and plenty of vendor booths filled with locally crafted items and fresh valley-grown produce. The day long festival kicks off on Sunday morning with a community pancake breakfast at Esparto High School. Later, there’s a parade reigned over by the newly crowned Almond Queen. Other attractions include a petting zoo in Guinda and interesting sights such as the old engine demonstration. Rock, R&B, Blues, Country or Jazz music greets guests in several of the locations.

For more information on any of the Almond Festival events surf to the Esparto Regional Chamber website at: www.espartoregionalchamber.com or call: (530) 787-3242.

Contacts: Cean Burgeson, Communications Manager: (530) 796-5333; cburgeson@cachecreek.com

Gladys Knight takes the ‘midnight train’ to Cache Creek

BROOKS, Calif. – Gladys Knight, whose name is forever synonymous with “the Pips,” is an icon of the golden Motown era of the 1960s, charting several hit singles, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (1967), "The Nitty Gritty" (1969),"Friendship Train" (1969), "If I Were Your Woman" (1970), "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" (1971), the Grammy winner "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" (1972), and "Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)" (1973). Now singing on her own, Knight can be seen performing for her fans at Cache Creek Casino Resort’s Club 88 on March 13 at 8 p.m.

The success of Gladys Knight and the Pips continued even after they left Motown in 1973 with hits such as the Grammy-winning "Midnight Train to Georgia", "I've Got to Use My Imagination", and "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me." This famous union eventually ended however, and Knight toured and recorded as a solo artist after the Pips retired in 1988. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Working without her longtime backup singers, Knight went on to record two duets with her friend Johnny Mathis in the 1980s, "When a Child Is Born" and "The Lord's Prayer," which have become yearly Christmas staples on radio and in record stores. They also charted with the #1 R&B hits "Save the Overtime (For Me)" (1983) and another Grammy winner--"Love Overboard" (1987).

Gladys has joined forces with other artists as well, including Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John on the 1986 AIDS benefit single, "That's What Friends Are For" which won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. In 1989, Knight recorded the title track for the James Bond movie License to Kill, a top 10 hit both in the UK and Germany. Now a legend in the music industry after four decades, she continues to tour and record, playing to sold out crowds across the U.S.

Tickets are available now through Tickets.com on the web: www.Tickets.com or by phone: (800) 225-2277 or at: www.CacheCreek.com or Cache Creek Casino Resort at the guest services desk for $89, $79, and $65.

Buddy Guy inspired some of music’s greats

Will perform at Cache Creek April 24

BROOKS, Calif. – Any discussion of blues and rock guitarist Buddy Guy invariably involves a recitation of his colossal musical resume and hard-earned accolades. He's a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a chief guitar influence to rock titans like Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, and Vaughan and a pioneer of Chicago's fabled West Side sound -- and a living link to that city's halcyon days of electric blues.

Buddy has received five Grammy Awards, 23 W.C. Handy Blues Awards (the most any artist has received), the Billboard Magazine Century Award for distinguished artistic achievement, and the Presidential National Medal of Arts. Guy’s credentials and following are well established, and his musical relevance continues to this day. Fans can see him perform at Cache Creek on Saturday, April 24 at 8 p.m.
Just this past year, Buddy appeared on the big screen nationwide with a show-stopping performance in Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones concert film, “Shine a Light” and at the age of 72, he appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone for the first time as part of the magazine's "100 Greatest Guitar Songs" package.

During his long and successful career, Guy, the purveyor of a stinging, attacking electric guitar style and wild, impassioned vocals, has captured the minds of a growing number of rock musicians. "He was for me what Elvis was probably like for other people," Eric Clapton recalled Guy's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2005. "My course was set, and he was my pilot."

There were no fewer than 20 releases under Guy's name during the 1970s and '80s and his 1991 comeback smash “Damn Right, I've Got the Blues” 1993's Feels Like Rain, and 1994's Slipping' In” all earned Grammy Awards. His last album, “Bring 'Me In,” found Guy trading licks with the likes of Carlos Santana and John Mayer (a huge Buddy Guy fan, who has done much to spotlight the older artist in recent years) on a set of songs featuring covers of classic soul songs.

"I just try to get the best players and hope I can pop the top off this can and show that the blues are back," he says. "I learn from them, bring them in and see what they can do. And these guys got me feeling like when I was 22 years old and went into the studio with Muddy Waters."

Buddy Guy says he's excited about the new ground he’s broken and about continuing to find new challenges to set for himself. "If you get too old to learn, you might as well go out of this world backwards," he says. "It's like being a prizefighter. If you lay down, you never have a chance to win. But if you keep punching, you might hit 'em with the one that lies 'em down.

Tickets are available now through Tickets.com on the web: www.Tickets.com or by phone: (800) 225-2277 or at: www.CacheCreek.com or Cache Creek Casino Resort at the guest services desk for $65, $55, and $45.

Bell Biv DeVoe pioneered 90s R&B sound

Group will perform at Cache Creek April 3

BROOKS, Calif. – Fans of 1990s R&B will fondly remember Bell Biv DeVoe. a splinter group of New Edition that consisted of three of that band’s previous members: Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe. The group’s debut album, “Poison” has been described as the first to successfully combine hip-hop with R&B and pop music. Released in 1990, its title track became a #1 hit on the R&B chart, and was followed by singles "Do Me!", "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?", "When Will I See You Smile Again", and "She’s Dope!" The album “Poison” went on to sell over three million copies with a subsequent remix released the next year which was eventually certified gold.

In all, Bell Biv Devoe sold in excess of 4 million albums, prompting performances on the 1990 American Music Awards and other prestigious musical ceremonies. BBD’s second album, “Hootie Mack,” was released in 1993 and spawned the memorable singles "Gangsta," "Above The Rim," "Something In Your Eyes" and "Show Me the Way." Their music kept with the times and changed to a more hardcore rap style of R&B with the 1996 release of their third album “Home Again.”

Still actively involved in the R&B and hip-hop scene, they performed with Ne-Yo at the 2009 BET Awards and dropped two new tracks on iTunes last year, "Welcome to My Heart" and "You.” Much to the delight of their Northern California fans, the members of BBD are back on tour with a stop at Cache Creek’s Club 88 on April 3 at 8 p.m. to sing their classic hits as well as some of their new songs.

Tickets are available now through Tickets.com on the web: www.Tickets.com or by phone: (800) 225-2277 or at: www.CacheCreek.com or Cache Creek Casino Resort at the guest services desk for $75, $59, and $49.

‘The Hoff’ coming to Cache Creek

David Hasselhoff launching his new tour in Brooks

BROOKS, Calif. – After the amazing response to his rendition of “Feeling Good” on “America’s Got Talent,” David Hasselhoff is bringing his live musical talents (which have sold out shows across Europe for years) to America with a “Retro Rockin’ with The Hoff” Valentine’s Day performance at Cache Creek’s Club 88. It will be a sexy evening of romantic songs delivered as only The Hoff can in a performance you’ll never forget. Don’t miss the American debut of David’s new world tour at Cache Creek. It’ll be Hofftastic!

Tickets are available now through Tickets.com on the web: www.Tickets.com or by phone: (800) 225-2277 or at: www.CacheCreek.com or Cache Creek Casino Resort at the guest services desk for $65, $55, and $45.

Rock Hall of Famer Stephen Stills set to play Cache Creek

BROOKS, Calif. – Stephen Stills is one of the most influential and enduring figures in rock and roll, and the only artist ever to be inducted twice in the same night into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – for both The Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Stills' work spans four iconic groups (Manassas and Crosby Stills Nash &Young in addition to the two already mentioned) two era-defining anthems – "For What It's Worth" and "Love The One You're With" – and a rich canon of solo material. Fans of the artist can hear him perform some of these rock classics on Feb. 13 at Cache Creek Casino Resort’s Club 88 at 8 p.m.

Stills launched his illustrious solo career with 1970's “Stephen Stills,” of which allmusic.com's Bruce Eder wrote, "listening to this album three decades on, it's still a jaw-dropping experience.” Featuring all-star musical friends Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Rita Coolidge and others, the disc delivered the stone-cold Stills classic "Love The One You're With," one of the most important solo hits from any CSN&Y member. Solo highlights also include 1971's “Stephen Stills 2,” adding the classics "Change Partners," "Marianne" and "Know You Got to Run" to Stills' catalogue. Billboard Magazine wrote, "His spectacular vocal style coupled with outstanding lyrics and music make this a must for every pop music fan."

In 1975 Stills introduced "As I Come of Age," a poetic mid-tempo groove boasting harmonies from David Crosby and Graham Nash and Ringo Starr on drums, and '78's “Thoroughfare Gap” added another fan favorite with its title track. 1991's exquisitely spare “Stills Alone” prompted allmusic.com to write, "Stills has put out a spectacular solo effort in the true sense of the word."

Ranked #28 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Stills also has a trio of album masterpieces on their compendium of The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time: “Buffalo Springfield Again,” “Crosby, Stills & Nash” and “Déjà Vu.” Still recording and touring as a solo artist 40 years later, Stephen Stills has become a Rock icon and his timeless music is remembered and enjoyed by a legion of fans spanning four decades.

Tickets are available now through Tickets.com on the web: www.Tickets.com or by phone: (800) 225-2277 or at: www.CacheCreek.com or Cache Creek Casino Resort at the guest services desk for $75, $59, and $49.

Yocha Dehe Golf Club recognized for environmental excellence

BROOKS, Calif. – The Yocha Dehe Golf Club has achieved designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. Kyle Jones, Course Superintendent, has led the effort to obtain sanctuary status on this course and is being recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International. Yocha Dehe Golf Club is the 51st course in California and the 796thin the world to receive the honor.

"Yocha Dehe Golf Club has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Jim Sluiter, Staff Ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs.

"To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas," explained Sluiter. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.

“This has truly been a team effort. All of us at Cache Creek Casino Resort, in one way or another strive towards the goal of sustainability. I want to thank everyone that has helped throughout this certification process and look forward to many opportunities ahead in educating and promoting a healthier eco system,” said Jones.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.

For more information on golf and the environment, visit www.golfandenvironment.org. In addition to golf courses, Audubon International also provides programs for businesses, schools, communities, and new developments. For additional information contact Audubon International, (518) 767-9051; acsp@auduboninternational.org; or visit their website at www.auduboninternational.org.