700+
Bands & Comedy
25
Annual Awards
50+
Venues
60,000+
Votes
Welcome to the 2026 Modesto Area Music Awards.
This is your music and your scene. You are the voters. There are so many talented musicians and these nominations have come from promoters, managers, venue owners for being well rounded: great music, ability to draw a crowd, social media presence, creativity, and ability to connect.
Please vote, tell your friends and family to vote and make sure you check your email for vote verification. All votes are audited by a C.P.A. and will be announced at the MAMA Awards, live from the State Theatre on October 20th. Voting ends at 11:59 pm, October 18.
Thank you for your participation. Chris Murphy, Middagh Goodwin and Chris Ricci.
Here is a bit about our 2026 show.
This year we will celebrate Modesto’s very first rocker, Jim Burgett. Hailing from Ceres, he was rockin’ in 1953, developed a huge following, built a recording studio, developed a music scene in Tahoe, while performing locally. He lives in Las Vegas now with his wife Marlene, a back up singer for Frank Sinatra. We hope you will tune in and share the excitement.
MAMA AWARDS
The Modesto Area Music Association presents the annual MAMA Award in October each year.
Mama Grants
Founded by Chris Murphy
Founded by Chris Ricci
MAMA Awards
The Modesto Area Music Association presents the annual MAMA Award in October each year, hosted by the State Theatre, Chris Murphy and Chris Ricci.
Nominations are invited from Aug 1 – Sept 15.
Voting mechanism developed and managed by Elliot Gage. All votes are validated and checked by Michelle Powers, CPA.
Winners are announced live at the show and broadcasted live @Modestoview and webcast by Central Valley TV.
About Us
Founded in 2000 by Chris Murphy and Chris Ricci the first Modesto Area Music Award were presented celebrating local music and musicians. Since then, MAMA has become a 501 (c) 3 corporation and has consistently worked to promote live local music in the greater Modesto Area.
Making music is a profession and we want to help.
Throughout the year, MAMA works to book and pay bands for area gigs and support efforts to develop new programs in rock, indie, blues & jazz, Rockabilly, metal and others. We are about music, being a profession and helping develop an environment to make this happen at the musician, promotion and government levels. MAMA actively refers local musicians to local promoters and event planners so that the Modesto area reach is more effective.
Annually the MAMA Awards are presented a Modesto’s historic State Theatre, the home of the MAMAs the 3rd Tuesday of October. Why Tuesday, because most gigging bands and musicians are playing Wed – Sat nights and even more.
MAMA grants are available by application at various times of the year, with key grants offered annually at the MAMA Awards.
Donations to MAMA are tax deductible and can be made online via Paypal.
MAMAs tax id # is. 81-4957915