Country Music Industry Reacts To Garlic Festival Tragedy

Tragedy in Gilroy

As the Country music industry struggles to come to grips with another mass shooting at an event where national Country music acts headlined, reactions have been coming in from insiders in all facets of the business. Most simply expressed deep sadness over yesterday’s shooting at the GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL in GILROY, CA, which claimed the lives of three people, including two children, and injured a dozen others (NET NEWS 7/29).

RED LIGHT’s MARY HILLIARD HARRINGTON, who manages several Country artists including CAYLEE HAMMACK, who performed at the festival on the day of the shooting, had one of the most impassioned responses. Referencing the ROUTE 91 HARVEST FESTIVAL mass shooting in 2017, she wrote on INSTAGRAM, “It’s the second time in two years I’ve gotten this same call, and the flashbacks to @route91harvest kicked in. Yet, the news this morning is focused on mean tweets, impeachment and debates instead of the victims and their families. How much do we all have to endure before WASHINGTON gets off its ass and does its job to keep the public safe? Thoughts and prayers are NOT enough … This is complete bullshit.”

EMI RECORDS NASHVILLE’s JACKIE STEVENS, a survivor of the ROUTE 91 shooting, posted on FACEBOOK, “To my CALIFORNIA, Country music family, and the people I know that have been through this sh*t before, I love you and I’m sorry it keeps happening. These events change you, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Love beats hate every time.”

Like STEVENS, SIRIUSXM “The Highway” host STORME WARREN is a ROUTE 91 survivor. His show’s account posted on FACEBOOK this morning, “We are heartbroken over news of a shooting at the GARLIC FESTIVAL in GILROY, CA. We’re holing the community in our hearts, extending our condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and raising up the first responders who acted swiftly. Spreading love this morning.”

WARREN also had THE VALORY MUSIC CO. artist JUSTIN MOORE on his show today to speak about the tragedy and about inspiring people with music. “This is so sickening to just keep talking about these things,” MOORE said. “I wish it wasn’t the reality these days that these are these types of things that are transpiring, but unfortunately it is the sad reality.” MOORE’s current hit single is titled, “The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home.”

On her midday show on iHEARTMEDIA WSIX/NASHVILLE today, AMY PAIGE spoke briefly about the tragedy, encouraging her listeners to respond to it by providing an act of kindness to another person.

In a statement issued today, GEORGE BIRGE of SHOW DOG’s WATERLOO REVIVAL, one of the acts that played the festival on the day of the shooting, thanked fans for reaching out. “We had already left the festival at the time of the shooting, but watching videos on the news I could see that it happened right where we were standing for meet and greets earlier in the day,” he said. “It's just so devastating after being there, seeing all those happy people, and experiencing how amazing of a day it was supposed to be. Our hearts are with the victims of this tragic shooting. Please pray for the victims and their families."

CUMULUS’ “NASH NIGHTS LIVE” co-host SHAWN PARR tweeted, “I was devastated to wake up to news of another shooting at a music festival, especially one I have gone to in the past. Thinking about all those affected.”

And STONEY CREEK RECORDS artist LINDSAY ELL simply tweeted, “Praying for you #GILROY."

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