October SLaM on RyE: Modesto's Monthly Poetry Slam

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 more important 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.

JULY'S FEATURED POET: JOYCE LEE

Joyce Lee is an Oakland native who has been writing since the age of 8 and performing since the age of 10. Joyce is the 2009 and 2010 Oakland grand Slam champion, a noted storyteller on NPRs Snap Judgment, a community college English professor in the East Bay as well as at Santa Rita County Jail. Joyce has also performed, curated open mics and taught internationally in places such as Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Trinidad, Canada, and Colombia. Joyce Lee is the CEO and Founder of JL Soul Camp, a 4-day all expenses paid retreat and affinity space for Black women, held annually in Sonoma County.

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.