Chris Murphy, Chris Ricci, and Middagh Goodwin and the non-profit MAMA Association have announced that the 27th Modesto Area Music Awards will be presented live at the State Theatre in Modesto on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Organizers say this will be an amazing night celebrating live local music and the places and people that support live local music from Modesto’s historic State Theatre, the “home of the MAMAs”.

“For 27 years, we have been celebrating Modesto music and special this year, we will be celebrating Modesto’s first rocker Jim Burgett for a Lifetime MAMA Award. Jim started it all and built a local foundation so future bands would flourish,” said Chris Murphy, MAMA Co-Founder.

“Each year, we celebrate our collaboration with the many groups in our community so that we can collectively lift each other up,” explained Middagh Goodwin, MAMA director.

The MAMA Awards are chosen entirely by the music loving people in the area. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18. Voting is live at www.modestoareamusic.com.

Murphy and Goodwin will co-host the evening as leaders from the Modesto Sound, Modesto Artists Movement, VMI Rocks, MoFolk, and Modesto Artists will share the stage to celebrate local talent. Also joining the presentation will be the producers and directors of Lirio en el Valle film and welcoming the Modesto Roadsters, who brought Modesto music to the baseball field.

“Middagh has been working hard to engage the live music community and make sure to book, encourage and promote our local musicians and bands to create more opportunities for performance,” Murphy said.

The 2026 MAMAs will celebrate Jim Burgett with a local tribute band. There will be seven other live performances from nominees in a variety of categories.

The MAMA Awards are invitation only and the show will be broadcast on ModestoView Facebook @modestoview, courtesy of Carlos Rodriguez of Central Valley TV.