Las Vegas Shooting
A night of music and fun quickly turned into tragedy in at the ROUTE 91 HARVEST FESTIVAL on the LAS VEGAS strip last night (10/1), as gunfire broke out during JASON ALDEAN’s headlining set. When the shooting was finally over, hundreds were hurt, and as of this morning, 50 were confirmed dead. The Country music community is a close-knit one – more like family than just working professionals – and so it was a huge relief to see so many checking in safe on FACEBOOK and using other means of social media to tell others they were OK.
ALL ACCESS spoke with SIRIUSXM “THE HIGHWAY” afternoon personality BUZZ BRAINARD, who was on-site and in the backstage area when the shooting broke out. BRAINARD had done the on-stage introduction for JAKE OWEN, who immediately preceded ALDEAN. BRAINARD estimated ALDEAN was roughly 20 minutes into his set at the time of the incident. Like so many eyewitnesses have recounted, BRAINARD originally thought the gunshots were fireworks, or on-stage pyrotechnics that were set off early. “When the first rounds were fired, everyone thought, ‘Well this is interesting, a fireworks show,” he recalled. “After the second rounds began, people started worrying, then quickly panicking.”
BRAINARD, who was with his 19 year-old son, HANK, dove for cover and laid on top of HANK, under a nearby bus. “We saw and heard bullets flying that were kicking up dust just beyond where we’d sought shelter,” said BRAINARD. Everyone in the area was told to run away from the area, and the quickest way was across the stage, behind the gear. By this time ALDEAN and his band had fled to safety. BRAINARD and his son soon found themselves in a bottleneck of concert-goers, trying to escape through a narrow exit; some were trampled, according to BRAINARD. He and thousands of others were directed to the nearby TROPICANA HOTEL, where they stayed for hours. As of this morning, BRAINARD, his son, and his fellow SIRIUSXM staffers are safe, but scattered in various hotels off the LAS VEGAS strip. In the aftermath of the shooting, BRIANARD shared this personal anecdote: “HANK, who is 19, held my hand tightly for at least 45 minutes after we knew we were safe.”
BRAINARD was originally staying at the MANDALAY BAY, but the entire hotel is on lock down, so he and all other guests are unable to access their rooms. Additionally, the event site has been blocked off completely, so there is equipment and personal items he and his staff cannot reclaim just yet. BRANIARD also shared this observation with ALL ACCESS: His room at MANDALAY BAY was on the 23rd floor, facing the venue – nine floors beneath where the shooter took aim – BRAINARD’s room had the same line of site as the gunman, “a clear view of the concert venue,” and said it was “shooting fish in a barrel” from that vantage point. He and his son are rattled, but safe, and in the process of sorting out when they retrieve personal belongings and get a flight home.
As so many other members of the Country music community where were in LAS VEGAS, SIRIUSXM Dir./Country Programming JR SCHUMANN checked in as safe on FACEBOOK this morning. He tells ALL ACCESS today (10/2), “We’re all safe. It’s been absolutely insane, but we all made it out alive, miraculously.”
ALL ACCESS checked in with nationally syndicated “BIG TIME WITH WHITNEY ALLEN” Exec. Producer JACKIE STEVENS, who was also on-site at ROUTE 91 HARVEST during the shooting. STEVENS reported that she is with COLUMBIA NASHVILLE SVP/Promotion SHANE ALLEN and SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE Dir./National Promotion LAUREN THOMAS, that the three are safe, and they have been on lock-down since the incident occurred. Like BRAINARD, the group has been unable to return to their hotel thus far.
BBR MUSIC GROUP – JASON ALDEAN’s label – issued this statement moments ago, regarding the tragedy in LAS VEGAS: “The shooting occurred during a set by JASON ALDEAN signed to BROKEN BOW RECORDS (BBR) at the ROUTE 91 HARVEST FESTIVAL in LAS VEGAS last night, in which at least 50 are reported dead and 400 injured. ALDEAN, his band and crew, and two BMG staff members who were attending the festival were all uninjured. WALKER MCGUIRE and ADAM CRAIG, who also performed at the festival and are safe along with their bands and crews. JON LOBA, EVP BBR MUSIC GROUP, said “We are horrified by the events in LAS VEGAS overnight and relieved to report that all of our artists, their teams, and our staff are safe and uninjured. The Country Music community is a FAMILY and our listeners are a part of that family. They put food on our tables and allow our artists and staff to live our dreams by going to events like last night. While our artists and staff are safe, our hearts are broken for those listeners in our extended family who just wanted to share a night of great music and the camaraderie that is the hallmark of Country music.”
ALL ACCESS will continue to provide updates on this story as they become available. Meanwhile, there’s a toll-free number available for anyone trying to locate a missing friend or loved one: (866) 535-5654.
This Article Was Originally Posted at www.allaccess.com