This California city has the best ‘under the radar’ music scene in the country, survey says

Modesto doesn’t always reflect well in national polls. A recent one, for example, had it at No. 5 among the least educated in 150 cities ranked.

But another new poll puts Modesto at No. 1 in a positive and entertaining way.

CheapoTicketing.com surveyed 3,000 live music lovers to create a ranking of the 120 best “under-the-radar” live music destinations across the nation, according to a press release from Bright Valley Marketing.

Modesto ranked No. 1.

“This Northern California city came in first place overall and is brimming with a unique musical scene that’s both diverse and engaging,” the release said. “From the open-air performances at the Mancini Bowl in Graceada Park, to the intimate shows at the Gallo Center for the Arts, music enthusiasts can experience a variety of genres, including rock, blues, country, and jazz. Downtown Modesto comes alive with ‘Music in the Plaza’ during summers, where local musicians serenade the streets.”

Performances at Mancini Bowl include the longtime popular MoBand concert series in June and July, as well as events like the Modstock Music Festival, which had its 13-year show just Sunday. Another community music event that’s gained traction is Modesto Porchfest, which kicked off in 2017 and this May presented more than 110 musical acts on 68 porches in Modesto neighborhoods.

According to an email from Chris Healy at Bright Valley Marketing, music lovers were polled in an online panel survey and “respondents were filtered to only those who are passionate about live music.”

The survey was done over two weeks in July. “Please note that we surveyed live music lovers generally, rather than those from Modesto,” the email said.

California had five of the nation’s 120 best “hidden” live music scenes, according to the CheapoTicketing.com poll.

Bakersfield came in at No. 9; Stockton at No. 11; Santa Cruz at No. 35; and Visalia at No. 85.

“This ranking reflects not only the diversity of music genres available across the nation but also the passion and resilience of local communities in keeping live music alive and thriving,” James Collins of CheapoTicketing.com said in the release. “We hope this inspires music lovers to explore beyond the known music cities and to experience the unique sounds these hidden gems offer.”