Twenty-six Years of Modesto Entertainment
By Middagh Goodwin
On October 21st, the Modesto Area Music Awards will celebrate twenty-six years of music and live entertainment in the 209 at the Historic State Theatre in Downtown Modesto. Who would have imagined in 2000 that twenty-six years later, MAMA would still be going strong and become an annual event that many people eagerly await and are passionate about? Both Chris Murphy and Ricci have championed music in Modesto and the surrounding areas, from X-Fest to the ModestoView, creating and sponsoring events incorporating all styles of music and hosting the annual awards show. Over the years, thousands of acts, venues, and events have been celebrated, and you, the fans, have chosen the winners. This year will be no different.
A list of nominations is being compiled, and there is still time to get your favorites considered by posting on the Facebook page or emailing mamarecords209@gmail.com. The final MAMAnees will be announced when voting goes live on Sunday, September 21st at www.modestoareamusic.com. Make sure to go over the entire ballot before submitting your votes. You can only vote once and must verify your email address.
Check out all the nominees, visit the venues, cafes, and bars, see the artists perform, and then vote. You will have four weeks to cast your votes, and I am certain more than one friend or family member will ask you to vote for them. Just a few of the places our local talent can be seen, Music in the Plaza each Friday until the end of September. Catch a show at the Queen Bean or one of the many craft breweries that host live entertainment.
The Modesto Area Music Awards is free, but unfortunately, only MAMAnees and their guests can attend. It is streamed live on the ModestoView website, allowing you to tune in and watch the excitement unfold. We are inviting members of the arts community to present the awards, and a selection of acts nominated will be invited to perform. Everything will take place at the State Theatre on October 21st, the one night of the year when Punks and Metalheads, Bluesmen, and singer-songwriters all get together for a night to celebrate each other.
Performers and venues, send your gigs to events@modestoview.com to stay on the radar and be included in the calendar. Make sure to tag us in your posts #modestoview
