AUGUST SLaM on RyE: Modesto's Monthly Poetry Slam
About this Event
Slam on Rye: The Historic Poetry Slam Returns!
This is where Modesto’s poetry revolution began—be there for its return.
From 2002 to 2012, Slam on Rye was the beating heart of Modesto’s spoken word scene: the city’s first and only poetry slam, the spark that ignited The ILL LIST Poetry Slam, and the foundation for what would become the Modesto Artists Movement. Now, over a decade later, this iconic slam is back—bigger, bolder, and louder than ever.
Hosted by The Saint, ILL LIST Poetry Slam Champion, and co-hosted by founder Sam Pierstorff, Slam on Rye brings you an unforgettable night of live performance, raw truth, and community connection.
What to Expect:
🎤 Open Slam: Up to 12 poets compete live, following official slam rules: 3 minutes per poem, plus a 10-second grace period.🎤 Judging: Randomly selected audience members score performances Olympic-style (0–10).🎤 Two Rounds, Big Prizes: The top 5 poets advance to Round 2. Combined scores determine winners:
- 🥇 1st Place: $200
- 🥈 2nd Place: $50
🎤 Featured Poet: Each slam showcases a renowned slam poet delivering an electrifying feature set.
AUGUST'S FEATURED POET: JAZ SUFI
Jaz Sufi (she/her) is a queer Iranian-American poet and arts educator. She is a National Poetry Slam finalist and the former executive director of the Berkeley Slam, the longest running poetry slam on the West Coast. She has toured internationally, from Berlin and London to performing alongside the Townsend Opera. Her work has been published in Best New Poets, Best of the Net, AGNI, Black Warrior Review, Muzzle, and elsewhere, and her debut chapbook Catalog of Shadows is forthcoming from Game Over Books. She has received fellowships from Kundiman, the Watering Hole, and New York University, where she received her MFA as a Goldwater fellow. She has taught in K-12 and college classrooms across the country, and works as a teaching artist and project director with Bay Area Creative. She is the current Poet Laureate of San Ramon on occupied Ohlone land, where she lives with her dog, Apollo.
Join us at SLAM ON RYE!
This isn’t just a poetry event. It's a poetry party! It’s a gathering of voices, a celebration of creativity, and a powerful reminder of the impact poetry has in building empathy, connection, and community.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 12.51
