Sam Eifling
Audio By Carbonatix
One Big Party, a music festival billed to celebrate Halloween, made its debut on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the new downtown venue 9th & Jackson. By the morning of Oct. 27, a video was circulating on Instagram of security guards at the event brutally beating an attendee.
Three security guards, shown in the video, were involved in the incident, which included one of them taking multiple swings and hitting the attendee on and around the head, and then the three of them carrying him out.
The video was posted by Instagram user Cross Kristoff, who claims ownership of the original videos. He told New Times that he hopes that the emotions it evokes can be a catalyst for critical thought and change.
Many of the post’s comments said that the security guards allegedly attacked the man for “just throwing up.” Phoenix New Times has not yet confirmed any of those details.
The band 3GLOCK performed at the event and spoke to New Times after commenting on the post that the venue was “unprofessional overall.”
Members of the band don’t reveal their names, in general, to maintain an element of mystery. The band went on record as a group, saying, “We played the event because we wanted to perform and reach more fans, and we have a good relationship with Shane Patterson.”
Patterson is one of the event’s promoters from I Am HYPE Entertainment, LLC (Kill Dyll, OnshuffleHQ and Coded are among other promoters listed).
“The promoters rented the venue, and the venue was supposed to handle the rest,” says 3GLOCK.
The band also adds that “the venue dropped the ball, 110 percent, and the security was the main issue, as well as the coordination. Whoever was running that did a poor job. A lot of artists are complaining about not getting paid and the security enforcing things that didn’t need to be enforced.”
Shane Patterson, one of the aforementioned promoters, created an Instagram Live video to address some of the comments, including where this security company came from.
“This was a turn-key event,” he said. “At no point did we ever hire this security company.” He said that he did see the video, along with one other that New Times is currently unable to locate, and called them both “disgusting and extremely shocking; there is nothing that warrants that level of brutality.”
Patterson also addressed comments about artists not yet being paid.
“Our expenses did increase, so it is true that some artists haven’t been paid in full yet, but we do plan 1000% to do that.”
There were apparently issues, as well, with the venue not providing dedicated VIP lines the night of the show. Patterson said those people will be compensated.
This is a developing story, and Phoenix New Times will continue to provide updated information. Attempts to reach contacts at the 9th and Jackson venue to address these allegations are currently unsuccessful.
