Wine Fest 2014 Recap!

May 26, 2014

Another year, another Wine Festival weekend in the bag! Although we’ve done this many many times, it’s always fun to try new things and bring new people out for a weekend of Dam Fine Wine, music and food! This year there was definitely no shortage of activities at Castoro and it all began with our Friday night kick-off concert, featuring the Bobby Santa Cruz Band.

With perfect weather and a great band I had a feeling it was going to be a kick-off to remember and it definitely was. Bobby Santa Cruz and his band were playing a great selection of soul covers and had everyone on their feet by the end of the night. We were dancing like crazy, singing along and begging for more. When the music finally came to an end, everyone was in such high spirits and it was one of those moments that can only be achieved through live music.

On Saturday, a large group of us were in the park in downtown Paso for the annual grand tasting event, which hosts over a thousand people and numerous wine and food vendors. Luckily, unlike last year, the weather was very mild and pleasant which made for a great day in the park. At the tasting room we featured barrel tastings, live music by Back Bay Betty and great food. From what I heard (I was in the park) the crowd at the Tasting Room was great and the music was awesome. I’m a little bummed to have missed it but you just can’t be everywhere all the time!

To kick Sunday off, we hosted a first time event for Castoro with “Yoga in the Vines” followed by an organic brunch and Methode Champenoise. Over 30 yogis came out to enjoy this lovely event, along with some of our lovely staff. The class was all levels and taught by my girlfriend and local instructor Lauren Harvey who did a fantastic job. Yoga is always a great way to start the day and when you throw in brunch and bubbles you can’t go wrong!

Sunday afternoon was a classic day at Castoro with live music by ZZAH who has played our wine fest Sunday for 18 years! These guys are such great people and amazing musicians. They blend funk, jazz, blues and more into a wonderful musical landscape that couldn’t be a better fit for a beautiful Sunday afternoon amongst the gardens. Sunday is typically a bit slower than Saturday but the vibe is always a bit more relaxed and there is something special about that. Sundays should be spent relaxing, rejuvenating and mingling with friends and family, and that is exactly what was going on at Castoro.

You may not have made it this year or last but fear not, there will be many more opportunities to soak in the fun of Wine Fest weekend. For those of you who did make it out, we can’t thank you enough for keeping this wonderful festival weekend alive; we truly couldn’t do it without you!

Cheers,

Luke

Full Beaverstock Line Up is here!

May 19, 2014

The time we have all been waiting for is finally here! We couldn’t be more proud to announce the final line up for the 2014 Beaverstock Festival. After last year’s event we learned a lot and with that knowledge and experience are looking to put on another special event. This year’s event will feature up and coming artists, established Grammy Award winners, multiple genres and great local talent. Without further ado, I will proceed to the Sunday line up! (For the previous blog featuring Saturday’s line up click HERE.)

Our Sunday headliner is a band I couldn’t be more excited to see, they have won multiple Grammies, influenced an entire genre of music and have been on the scene for over 40 years! They go by the name of Los Lobos and they rock! These guys are true pros and their live energy is going to be something to remember at Beaverstock. Without a doubt, Los Lobos will have the crowd cheering, dancing and singing along.

Another Sunday act we are excited to host is a blue grass band out of San Francisco by the name of Hot Buttered Rum. These guys have played a SLO Folks outdoor concert at Castoro in the past and always bring a great energy. Their sound is focused around traditional string instruments but don’t be fooled, they are no sleepy act! I have seen them play many times and I always end up dancing like crazy.

One of the most unique artists we will feature at Beaverstock this year is a singer-songwriter from San Francisco by the name of Sean Hayes. Sean has been on the scene in San Francisco for over 20 years and has toured the country and world relentlessly over the years. His sound is raw, pure and most of all poetic. This will be a set you won’t want to miss. I was fortunate enough to see Sean play in San Francisco last year and was blow away by his presence, voice and command of the crowd.

For local talent we’ve got two of the best acts around with the Zongo All-Stars (voted best local band in 2013) and Jill Knight who will be performing with her band. Zongo brings an energy you must experience live and their sound is described as fun, hot, Afro-Caribbean dance music. It doesn’t get more fun than these guys…. trust me! To kick off Sunday Jill Knight will bring powerful songwriting to the stage and a voice that will mesmerize, captivate and sooth the audience.

The Full Beaverstock Line Up is as follows:

Saturday September 13th

Allen Stone
The Band of Heathens
Eric Bibb
The Moonshiner Collective
Pròxima Parada

Sunday September 14th

Los Lobos
Hot Buttered Rum
Sean Hayes
Zongo All-Stars
Jill Knight

Eager Beaver discounted tickets are on sale now for a limited time and will expire at which point ticket prices will go up by $10. Be an Eager Beaver and save!

Stay Tuned,

Luke