Modstock in The Modesto Bee

Peace, Love, and Rock and Roll. That was the idea behind the seminal Woodstock festival of 1969 and it’s the idea behind the more modest Modesto version — dubbed Modstock, of course.

Modstock, set for Aug. 7 at Mancini Bowl in Modesto’s Graceada Park, sprouted from the Valley Music Institute and its VMI Rocks music program. According to VMI co-founder Darin Morris, Modstock will feature 12 student bands from the VMI program, along with nine local professional bands.

Modesto band DAM for The Beat
WHAT: Modstock
WHEN: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 7
WHERE: Mancini Bowl, Graceada Park, 401 Needham Ave., Modesto.
ADMISSION: Free
ONLINE: www.modstock.org or www.vmirocks.com

The day-into-evening rock music festival will feature “tons of bands, tons of vendors,” Morris said, and is free.

A number of local professional artists are set to play rock music, including DAM, Journey tribute group Arrival, Whodunnit and Ernie Bucio.

The family-oriented event will include food booths, games, bounce houses and arts and crafts in a “rock ‘n’ roll circus” atmosphere, in addition to the music.

Morris believes the student groups from the VMI program will blow people away with their talents.

“You won’t be able to tell the difference between some of the kid bands and some of the pro bands,” Morris said. “I just want people to be able to hear these kids and go, ‘Wow, how about that.’ ”

Morris said they hope to make Modstock an annual summer event.

“Hopefully, people will start to come and support music in Modesto,” he said.

Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/27/1792901/bands-converge-for-modstock-music.html#ixzz1TW9RdTzF