SLaM on RyE: Modesto's Monthly Poetry Slam

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.

🎤 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.
This month's featured poet is Dandre “Dre” Johnson — also known by his stage and performance alter ego Duke The Bossman — is a multidisciplinary poet, artist, producer, host, and organizer from East Oakland, California. Dre began making his mark in the Bay Area arts scene as a teenage slam poet and quickly developed into a dynamic performer whose work bridges spoken word, music, and community storytelling. His poetic voice is grounded in lived experience and resonates with audiences nationwide, bringing truth, resilience, and nuance to stages across the U.S.

Under the moniker Duke The Bossman, Dre is frontman of The High Decibels, a genre-defying ensemble whose Rock Hop Blues sound propelled them to #3 on the CMJ Top 200 Hip-Hop Charts and garnered placements in film and television soundtracks. Beyond performance, Dre has been a galvanizing presence in community arts, hosting major slam events, educating youth through creative work, and using artistic expression as a vehicle for healing and empowerment.

For nearly six years, Dre has served as a grant panelist for the San Francisco Arts Commission, bringing his artistic insight and community perspective to support creative practitioners across the Bay Area. Most recently, he signed a publishing administration deal with Steve Weatherby’s company, The Best Music Company, further solidifying his role in shaping both the poetic and musical landscape. In addition to producing his own work, Dre continues to produce and curate The San Francisco Poetry Slam, blending performance, advocacy, and organization in service of the vibrant Bay Area arts community.

This isn’t just an event—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.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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