Banda Fans Trash Venue After No-Show

The singer was set to perform at Explanada de Philadelphia Oct. 1, but after Banda Machos played a few songs, the crowd got word Ortiz was not coming, according to the Hispanic News Network.                                                                                                                                     

Enraged fans, who reportedly paid up to $50 per ticket and were denied refunds, began destroying instruments and stage equipment. Many videos of the destruction surfaced in the following days, showing dozens of fans tearing the setup to shreds with no security in sight.

After all was said and done, the estimated damage was around $30,000 according to HNN.

Ortiz didn’t help matters by tweeting a picture of himself drinking beer with friends earlier in the day, along with a caption in Spanish which roughly translated to “Waiting for you tonight my people of #Philadelphia at the Explanada of Philadelphia. Don’t miss it!.”

Later on in the day he posted an apology for the cancellation, saying the absence was for health reasons.

Ortiz is well known among musicians who play Mexican “banda” music, and according to our records he is regularly able to fill 5,000-10,000-capacity venues in Mexico.