June 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 & an automatic bid to participate in the 21st annual ILL LIST POETRY SLAM INVITATIONAL in December! (This month only!)
- 🥈 2nd Place: $50
🎤 Featured Poet: Each slam showcases a renowned slam poet delivering an electrifying feature set.
JUNE'S FEATURED POET: NAZELAH JAMISON
Nazelah Jamison is a gifted author, performance poet, emcee, comedian and vocalist who has learned from and graced the stage with some of the finest people in entertainment today. She is the current Janice Mirikitani Poet Theologian-in-Residence at Glide Memorial Church SF. Nazelah has competed on and/or coached 12 National Poetry Slam teams; and has performed poetry & music across 3 continents. Until she retired in 2014, she hosted and co-produced The Oakland Poetry Slam & Open Mic, an on-going monthly poetry slam in Oakland, CA, as well as performing at venues around the SF Bay Area and the country. She has collaborated on music recording projects with the Rondo Brothers, and is embarking upon a career as a stand-up comedienne. Her first collection of poetry was evolutionary heart (Nomadic Press, 2016), and her work appears in several other publications, includng The Town: An Anthology of Oakland Poets (Nomadic Press, 2023). Nazelah is well-known and beloved for her work with Spearhead and the French music group, Les Nubians, and her love of hip-hop translates onto the stage
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
