Nominees announced (+ voting soon?) for this year's Central Valley Music Awards
Plus, X Fest returns to Modesto, a Tower Porchfest preview and a celebration of life for John Shafer.
Earlier this month, the Central Valley Music Awards began announcing nominees across categories for its 2024 ceremony. I’m not privy to exactly how the tabulations happened, but it sounds like maybe it’s some combination of industry experts and fan service.
There’s a fairly comprehensive list of categories (that includes things like Best Comedian, Best Model and Best Content Creator).
I’ll note the best band categories here, just based on my preferences and that fact I am familiar with most of the nominees.
It’s interesting to see Style Like Revelators on the list for Best Rock Band, only in that they didn’t seem super active in 2024 (if that is even a consideration to be had in this).
Haunt gets some local recognition here. It is nominated for Best Heavy Metal Band, along with Bare King, Permutations, Scoundrel, Smoking Mirror, Exvamon and In Chaos Noise (which seems like it should be In Chaos, Noise. Either way it’s a great name).
The Best Band category is an odd mix, with the reggae band Ceiba competing against seven heavier rock and metal bands. Also, interesting (though maybe appropriate), Cloudship is nominated for Best Fusion Artist.
Voting is supposed to be open now (or soon?) with the winners announced at the ceremonies May 10.
X(clamation) Fest(ival) returns to Modesto in 2026
News coming out of the northern Central San Joaquin Valley is that X Fest is returning to Modesto.
This is news for those who remember the music festival’s run during the 2000s and early 20-teens. Modesto hosted its last X Fest in 2015, after which it moved to the fairgrounds in Stockton. It last another year before going on hiatus.
While there is little information on how the new X Fest will operate (or when), Chris Ricci, who ran the festival under his production company Chris Ricci Presents, says he is retired from promoting and won’t be involved.
“X Fest belongs to Modesto and a new generation is taking it on. I wish them luck. It was the hardest and greatest thing I ever did.”
If you pull the threads here, you’re discover that seeing X Fest happening in Modesto was a motivating factor for a lot of people to get their shit together and do cool stuff in Fresno.
Plan your Tower Porchfest early. Let Valley Echoes help
In past years, I’ve done the work of looking at the Tower Porchfest website and picking out what I thought would be porches of interested to write about. It was a super fun, but laborious process.
I was very happy to see Valley Echoes post this yesterday.
It’s a really good primer on the event, with more than a few suggestions (I also get a shoutout, which I am thankful for).
I am personally working on a story for The Fresno Bee in which I chat with a few porch owners about what it means to have the city’s signature music event smack in the middle of their neighborhood (hint: it’s awesome. That’s why they do it).
Look for that later in the week.
John Shafer Celebration of Life
It’s been nearly a month almost since the death of John Shafer and we now have word on a celebration of life.
According to this event listing, it will happen 2-8 p.m. May 24 at the Pat Wolk Garden. Those planning to attend need to RSVP with their party size by May 1.
That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM. I’m in the studio with organizers from Tower Porchfest. Follow my other writing at The Fresno Bee. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com