Over the weekend, Harpos Concert Theatre, an established venue in Detroit, faced heavy backlash after inadvertently hosting a concert featuring metal bands with alleged neo-Nazi affiliations. The show, promoted as "A Night of Black Metal and Carnage," included seven bands and was initially shrouded in secrecy, with the venue not disclosed until the day of the event.
According to Detroit News, Harpos' co-owner Krystle Dzajkovska expressed deep regret, stating, "While the events on January 25th do not reflect our values, or that of our community, we are truly sorry and are holding ourselves and others involved accountable." The concert was reportedly stopped midway through the second performance after the owners were informed of the nature of the event.
Dzajkovska's co-owner, Ruzvelt Stevanovski, echoed this sentiment in statements to other news outlets. WXYZ reported Stevanovski stating "I trusted the promoter, and this will never happen again. This is not us." The Detroit Police Department responded to the venue over licensing violations, while the Detroit Fire Department issued a cease and desist to Harpos citing numerous life and fire safety violations. Stevanovski claimed to have all the necessary licenses to operate, though they weren't displayed as required during the officials' visit.
In response to the incident, patrons and community members expressed their shock and anger on social media. One local concertgoer, Kevin Weathers, shared his outrage with WXYZ, stating "There's no where for Nazis at any concert venue — you’re not welcome anywhere. There’s no place for your hate anywhere." Despite his dismay, Weathers also acknowledged the venue's apology seemed sincere and believes it was an honest mistake by the owners.
Harpos, as detailed by the Detroit Free Press, has stood as a cornerstone in the Detroit music scene for decades, primarily featuring genres like hard rock and metal. Dzajkovska lamented their oversight, stating, "I never expected someone would do something like this at the venue, especially in Detroit." Stevanovski, with over 45 years in the venue management business, described the event and subsequent fallout as distressing, never having encountered such an incident in his career.
