State Champ Radio Concerts
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Neon Carnival has announced the line-up for this year’s late-night blow-out after party in Indio, CA that will take place on April 12.
The 14th year of the event founded by L.A. nightlife impresario Brent Bolthouse and produced by Jeffrey Best of Best Events will once again take place at the Desert International Horse Park and feature sets from Anderson .Paak‘s record-spinning persona, DJ Pee .Wee, as well as DJ Charly Jordan and Chase B & Friends.
“As we kick off our fourteenth year in the desert, we’re beyond thrilled to once again team up with our incredible sponsors to create another unforgettable experience, featuring some of the biggest names in the industry,” Bolthouse said in a statement. “Last year, we amazed our guests with an incredible DJ lineup and a surprise performance by Busta Rhymes. This year, we’re turning it up even more — Charly Jordan and Chase B & Friends are joining the lineup to deliver one of the most electrifying sets yet, and it’s going to be a night everyone will remember.”
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Last year’s show also featured sets from .Paak’s DJ Pee .Wee, along with a live horn player and drum kit, as well as TikTok DJ Hunny Bee and Vanderpump Rules star DJ James Kennedy.
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The invite-only, 21+ celebration that traditionally draws A-list guests including celebrities, influencers and industry movers will again take over the three-football-sized, all-grass Horse Park, turning it into an “immersive neon-lit wonderland” of music, along with classic carnival games, amusement park rides and the event’s iconic light-up ferris wheel. This year’s topline sponsor is once again Patrón El Alto, whose handcrafted, prestige tequila cocktails will be served along with beverages from returning sponsors Ghost Energy, Nütrl Vodka Seltzers, LaCroix, and PathWater.
Attendees at this year’s event will get to sample the event’s first-ever official cocktail, the PATRÓN Headliner Margarita, which will be served in a glow-in-the-dark collector cup.
Two of the world’s most iconic names in electronic music — U.S.-based Insomniac and Belgium’s Tomorrowland — are joining forces for the first time ever to debut a groundbreaking new experience titled UNITY.
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The collaborative project will premiere over Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29–31) at Sphere in Las Vegas, one of the most technologically advanced venues on the planet.
Billed as “just the beginning,” UNITY marks the first chapter in a broader partnership between the two powerhouse festival producers and promises to transport audiences into a new dimension of immersive music and storytelling.
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“Through the past decades, we both have strived to create festivals and experiences around the world that foster beautiful, unique communities of individuals,” reads a joint statement from Insomniac and Tomorrowland. “Music is our universal language, the dance floor our sanctuary, and every one of you, our family. Now, for the first time in history, our worlds become one.”
“Now, for the first time in history, our worlds become one. In UNITY, we join together to create a brand-new experience that harnesses the magic, love, and awe-inspiring moments within our events—and there’s no better stage on earth than Sphere.”
Merging Tomorrowland’s signature dreamworlds — including Planaxis, Adscendo, and Orbyz — with Insomniac’s flagship universes like Beyond Wonderland, Escape Halloween, and Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), the UNITY experience is being described as a guided audiovisual journey through the imagination. The story will unfold across an original orchestral-meets-electronic soundtrack, featuring cinematic compositions and iconic dance anthems, building toward surprise DJ performances during a climactic finale.
The event will take full advantage of Sphere’s next-gen immersive capabilities, including its 16K resolution wraparound LED display and Sphere Immersive Sound system, allowing UNITY to blur the lines between fantasy and reality, bringing fans inside the shared creative visions of both brands.
Vibee is offering exclusive hotel and ticket packages from March 27–30 at unity.vibee.com, with general presale access beginning March 31 at 10 a.m. General on-sale begins April 7 at unityxsphere.com.
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Concertgoers looking to attend shows at Forest Hills Stadium might be out of luck this season, after the New York Police Department has not issued critical permits to the venue citing the breakdown of communication between the venue and area residents. The decision was announced in a letter to the West Side Tennis Club and Tiebreaker Productions, the operator of the stadium and its concert promoter, respectively.
NYPD Inspector William Gallagher wrote that the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, the private group representing the residents of the community around Forest Hills Stadium, refused to let the NYPD close down streets in the neighborhood.
“The NYPD’s crowd control on these private streets is necessary to ensure public safety and welfare when events are hosted at the Stadium,” Gallagher wrote in the letter, which was sent March 19, stating that “until and unless FHGC grants the NYPD permission” there would be no sound amplification permits issued. When contacted by WNYW Fox5, the West Side Tennis Club said that it had not received communication from police about the issue. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the stadium wrote that it is “moving forward with our 2025 concert schedule as planned and our permitting timeline is on its standard schedule. As happens every season, the vocal NIMBY minority of Forest Hills Gardens are attempting to roadblock yet another enjoyable season of music.”
Forest Hills Stadium has been a treasured part of the Queens neighborhood since its construction in the 1920s, and was once home to the U.S. Open tennis tournament. The 14,000-seat venue has hosted concerts since the 1960s, including the Rock The Bells concert in honor of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop in 2023. But in recent years residents have complained about the loud music, blocked driveways and unruly crowds making their way to the venue through the streets.
The concert series also has the backing of local vendors and business owners who say that the shows bring in millions of dollars and jobs to the area. “The idea that a handful of individuals can wield this kind of outsized influence to the detriment of an entire neighborhood is both outrageous and unacceptable,” Queens Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas Grech said in a statement on Monday (March 24). “Forest Hills Stadium has done everything right.”
At SXSW 2025, Billboard took over Moody Amphitheater from March 13 to 15 for The Stage, a three-night concert series spanning multiple genres. The final night, however, stood out as Billboard teamed up with Carnival Cruise Line to bring the vibrant world of Celebration Key — the brand’s exclusive Grand Bahama destination launching in 2025 — to life.
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Carnival during the Billboard THE STAGE at SXSW held at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park on March 13, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
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Carnival transformed the venue into a tropical paradise, featuring bold, beach-themed installations and interactive experiences. Guests arrived at the Stage in Carnival branded pedicabs before being greeted by The Paradise Zone upon entry. The Paradise Zone invited guests to lounge on beach chairs, stretch out on colorful blankets, and enjoy moments like the custom Carnival Celebration Key cornhole game. A beach-inspired wooden sign guided attendees through each interactive station, amplifying the celebration vibe.
A Celebration Key-branded bar served up custom drinks, and attendees could snag exclusive giveaways like bucket hats or glow sticks by sharing their personal definition of paradise. For many, the highlight of the evening was the surprise upgrade from General Admission to The Paradise PIT—Carnival’s VIP section—granting lucky fans a front-row concert experience.
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To add another sweet touch, the Carnival Cotton Candy Station, inspired by Carnival’s Cherry On Top candy store, offered free cotton candy to all in attendance.
The night kicked off with DJ Jordan Miller spinning tropical beats from the Celebration Key DJ booth, followed by rising producer Nala, who kept the energy alive with her remixes.
As 9:30 pm approached, fans flooded the Paradise PIT, waving Carnival-branded light sticks in anticipation of the headliner. John Summit delivered an unforgettable set, packed with chart-topping hits like “Where You Are” and “Shiver.”
For those who couldn’t make it to Austin, stay tuned to Billboard for more recaps from The Stage at SXSW, presented by Carnival.
It was a bit past midnight, and a shirtless and sweaty J Balvin was backstage at the Kaseya Center in Miami chit-chatting and drinking with some of his closest friends. Ryan Castro, Justin Quiles, Sky Rompiendo, Mau & Ricky, and Balvin’s model wife Valentina Ferrer were all there Saturday (March 22), celebrating the wrap of the third night of his Back to the Rayo Tour, which launched Thursday in Atlanta.
Balvin (real name: José Álvaro Osorio Balvin) was ecstatic to be back in the 305, and to be kicking off the North American leg of his CMN-produced, 27-date trek in support of his Grammy-nominated album Rayo. In 2022, the Colombian artist was set to begin his José U.S. tour, but it was postponed because of “unforeseen production challenges” due to COVID-19.
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Three years later, he’s back on the road and not braking.
Inspired by the classic ‘80s film Back to the Future (hence the tour’s name), Balvin — in true fashion — delivered an immersive concert experience for fans. His stage elements were simple yet vibrant, futuristic and captivating: two large LED panels, a floating LED panel and a silver car in which Balvin made his grand entrance. For the second part of the show, a large, purple head and praying hands took over the stage.
Balvin, as well as a group of six dancers, DJ Pope (his longtime DJ) and backup singer O’Neil carried the two-hour-long spectacle, delivering the back-to-back bangers that have made Balvin a global sensation: “Reggaetón,” “Con Altura,” “6 AM,” “Ay Vamos,” “Ginza,” “Mi Gente,” “La Canción” and many more.
“¡Qué chimba Miami! I don’t want to leave. If it were up to me, I’d stay parchando [partying] here until 7 a.m.,” he told the packed venue. “Straight from Medellín, I am your parcero [friend] José. I’m proud of being Latino and of taking reggaetón to other levels.”
Below, check out some highlights from his Miami tour stop:
A Tribute to Colombia
In the middle of the show, after performing some of his latest songs, such as “Polvo de tu Vida” and “+57,” Balvin proudly showed off his Colombian roots. The lights on the stage reflected the colors of his native country’s flag (yellow, blue and red), and his DJ played a mix of emblematic songs from Colombian artists, starting with Joe Arroyo’s “Rebelión.” The salsa tuned was followed by Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” Karol G’s “Si Antes te Hubiera Conocido” and Maluma’s “Según Quién” in collaboration with Carín León, before Balvin brought out the first special guest of the night.
Special Guests
As part of the Colombian tribute, Balvin invited Ryan Castro to the stage. There, Castro performed “El Ritmo Que Nos Une,” “Parte y Choke,” “Fan De Su Relación” and “Jordan.” Shortly after, Balvin also invited Puerto Rican artist Justin Quiles to sing some of his greatest tunes for the audience, including “Jeans,” “Cuaderno” and “Loco.” As the crowd danced to Castro and Quiles’ mini sets, Balvin was taking shots. “I’ve never drank so much alcohol in a concert,” he said with a laugh.
Love Is in the Air
A heartfelt moment during Balvin’s show was when he performed his romantic reggaetón song “Rio,” named after his son. He not only dedicated the song to his partner and mother of his child, Valentina, who was in the audience with her parents, but also took the time to give out flower bouquets to his fans. “I still remember when I would come to Miami to vacation, and now I’m here. How cool!” an emotional Balvin said. “It’s worth working hard. I love you!”
K-Pop supergroup NJZ, formerly known as NewJeans, announced during a show at ComplexCon Hong Kong on Sunday (March 23) night that “this might be our last performance for a little while.”
It was the first time NJZ appeared together since Friday (March 21), when a Seoul Court granted the band’s former management company Ador — whom they’ve been in a dispute with since mid-2024 — a preliminary injunction prohibiting the girl group from “organizing their own appearances and [conducting] any independent activities — from making music to signing advertising deals,” according to BBC.
After debuting a new song, “Pit Stop,” the five members (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein), visibly nervous, gathered onstage, stopped the music and took turns reading from a letter, addressing “their bunnies” in English and Korean.
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“This stage means so much to us and every single one of you who gives us strength just by being here,” Hanni and Dani read. “It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment.
The speech (read in full below) came at the end of an hour-long headlining set in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 11,000 fans at the AsiaWorld Expo Arena, Hong Kong’s largest live music venue.
The performance that preceded the remarks focused on “solo stages” from the five group members as they covered R&B songs. It left many in the audience — who showed up to hear new music from their favorite artists — scratching their heads, as it was a departure from NJZ’s high-energy productions, polished choreography and vibrant stage presence. The covers ranged from TLC’s “No Scrubs” from Danielle; UPSAHL’s “Smile For The Camera” from Minji; “Dontcha” from Haerin; SWV’s “Use Your Heart” from Hyein; and Ghost Town DJ’s “My Boo” from Hanni.
In February, NewJeans announced they were changing their name to NJZ as they were added to the ComplexCon bill. BBC reports that the dispute over the group arises from Hybe, the parent company of Ador, allegedly forcing out NewJeans’ mentor, Min Hee-Jin. At a press conference in November, NewJeans announced their departure, saying Hybe and Ador had lost the right to represent them as artists. NJZ says they will challenge Friday’s decision.
This is the second year of ComplexCon, the global streetwear and pop culture festival, in China. In 2024, the event attracted more than 30,000 international attendees. The U.S. edition moved to Las Vegas in 2024 after eight years in Los Angeles. In 2025, over three days, the festival hosted 150 brands, 40 musicians and groups, and 400 creators across music, design, movies and sports.
NJZ had a merch booth inside the ComplexCon marketplace, which commanded a line of more than 2,000 people on Sunday alone. However, the booth was shuttered after it sold out of all new NJZ merchandise.
This year’s Complex LIVE! Concerts, which brought together South Korean, Japanese, Chinese and American hip-hop artists and DJs, featured the Hong Kong debuts of Quavo and Metro Boomin, who headlined the opening night.
Read Hanni and Dani’s full statement below.
“This stage means so much to us and every single one of you who gives us strength just by being here. It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment.
Honestly, we’ve known from the start that this journey wasn’t going to be easy and even though we accept the court’s ruling and this whole process, we had to speak up to protect the values that we believe in, and that was a choice that we don’t regret at all. We surely believe that standing up for our dignity, our rights and everything we deeply care about is something we had to do, and that belief will not change.
We understand and know that today’s news might be disappointing or upsetting but it was not an easy decision for us to make either. But at the moment for us, it’s about protecting ourselves so that we can come back even stronger.
There was a lot that we had to go through … things that really we only know about. But even [through] all that, there are so many things that we wanted to share with you guys and so many fun plans that we are excited to announce. But right now, though, it feels too hard to keep going at this pace, and as strong as we are trying to stay, it has honestly taken a bit of mental and emotional toll on us. However, this doesn’t mean that we are going to give up. We will keep pushing forward no matter what, and coming to Hong Kong and receiving all this love and support from you guys at ComplexCon gave us so much strength.
Right now, our hearts are a little bit worn out, and it feels a bit too hard to keep going at this pace. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to give up; we’re going to keep going. With this decision we’ve made, we’re respecting the court’s decision, and for now, it’s just us taking a step back to pause, take a breath and gather our hearts and ourselves before moving forward.
To everybody who has been believing in us and supporting us through everything from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, and we love you so, so, so, so much, and we can’t express how grateful we are, and we promise, no matter what the circumstances we will meet again soon.”
The Jonas Brothers have unveiled the North American dates for their upcoming 20th anniversary tour.
On Sunday (March 23), the sibling trio revealed the U.S. and Canadian itinerary for their JONAS20: Living the Dream Tour, which will see them perform at stadiums and arenas across both countries starting this summer.
The 43-date tour launches on Aug. 10 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., and concludes on Nov. 14 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The full list of dates, announced during JONASCON in New Jersey, can be found below.
“We’re beyond excited to hit the road and celebrate 20 years of music,” the Jonas Brothers said in a statement. “Our fans have been with us through every chapter, and this tour is our way of honoring them, the memories we’ve made, and the ones we’ll create together. We can’t wait to make this our biggest, most unforgettable tour yet.”
Tickets for the JONAS20: Living the Dream Tour go on sale March 28 at ticketmaster.com. Opening acts in select cities include Marshmello, The All-American Rejects and Boys Like Girls.
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The Jonas Brothers are also celebrating the release of their upbeat new single “Love Me To Heaven.” The upbeat track serves as the trio’s first new release of the year, following previous collaborations with Marshmello and Rascal Flatts.
In addition to rolling out the tour dates, JONASCON was an extravaganza of all things JoBro. The event features live performances, DJ sets, Q&A panels, fan activations, pop-up surprises, retail takeovers, a Jonas trading post, trivia, games, immersive experiences, an interactive art installation, keynote event, karaoke, a Camp Rock bar, special guests, mini golf and exclusive merch.
Check out the Jonas Brothers’ JONAS20: Living the Dream Tour dates below.
Aug. 10: East Rutherford N.J. (MetLife Stadium)Aug. 12: Washington, D.C. (Nationals Park)Aug. 14: Philadelphia (Citizens Bank Park)Aug. 17: Hershey, Pa. (Hersheypark Stadium)Aug. 21: Toronto (Rogers Centre)Aug. 23: Boston (Fenway Park)Aug. 26: Chicago (Wrigley Field)Aug. 28: Detroit (Comerica Park)Aug. 31: Arlington, Texas (Globe Life Field)Sept. 6: Los Angeles (Dodger Stadium)Sept. 18: Vancouver (Rogers Arena)Sept. 20: Portland, Ore. (Moda Center)Sept. 22: Seattle (Climate Pledge Arena)Sept. 25: San Francisco (Chase Center)Sept. 26: Sacramento, Calif. (Golden 1 Center)Sept. 28: Phoenix (PHX Arena)Oct. 2: Denver (Ball Arena)Oct. 4: Omaha, Neb. (CHI Health Center)Oct. 5: Des Moines, Iowa (Wells Fargo Arena)Oct. 7: Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center)Oct. 8: St. Louis (Enterprise Center)Oct. 10: St. Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center)Oct. 12: Milwaukee (Fiserv Forum)Oct. 14: Nashville (Bridgestone Arena)Oct. 16: Tulsa, Okla. (BOK Center)Oct. 17: Austin, Texas (Moody Center)Oct. 18: San Antonio, Texas (Frost Bank Center)Oct. 19: Houston (Toyota Center)Oct. 22: Tampa, Fla. (Amalie Arena)Oct. 24: Sunrise, Fla. (Amerant Bank Arena)Oct. 26: Orlando, Fla. (Kia Center)Oct. 28: Atlanta (State Farm Arena)Oct. 29: Raleigh, N.C. (Lenovo Center)Nov. 1: Lexington, Ky. (Rupp Arena)Nov. 2: Indianapolis (Gainbridge Fieldhouse)Nov. 4: Knoxville, Tenn. (Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center)Nov. 5: Charlotte, N.C. (Spectrum Center)Nov. 6: Columbia, S.C. (Colonial Life Arena)Nov. 8: Columbus, Ohio (Schottenstein Center)Nov. 9: Buffalo, N.Y. (KeyBank Center)Nov. 11: Cleveland (Rocket Arena)Nov. 12: Pittsburgh (PPG Paints Arena)Nov. 14: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun Arena)
The Sea.Hear.Now festival will be back in Asbury Park, N.J. this fall with a lineup including headliners Blink-182, Hozier, LCD Soundsystem and Lenny Kravitz. The Sept. 13-14 event will also feature sets from Alabama Shakes, ZZ Top, Remi Wolf, Royel Otis, De La Soul, UB40, Gigi Perez, Sublime, Public Enemy, TV on the Radio, Spoon, Phantogram, 4 Non Blondes, Hot Mulligan and Mannequin Pussy, among others.
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The seaside event will once host some of the world’s greatest surfers and emerging stars, who will ride the waves throughout the weekend in team contests held between the Surf and Sand stages. Among the scheduled participants are: Landon McNamara, Cam Richards, Balaram Stack, Sam Hammer, Rob Kelly, Cassidy McClain, Pat Schmidt, Mike Gleason and many more.
A pre-sale for the event will kick off on Friday (March 21) at 10 a.m. ET, with a public on-sale to follow if any tickets remain; click here to sign up for a pre-sale passcode.
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Among the other musical acts on the roster for this year are: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Inhaler, Mondo Cozmo, Bumpin Uglies, Not Yer Baby, Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, Landon McNamara, Neal Francis, Surfing for Daisy and The Tide Bends.
Last year’s fest got a major boost when Jersey legend Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band ripped off a three-hour-plus throwdown for a massive crowd that was full of hometown stories and a mix of beloved classics and deep-cut tracks. The epic show was later released on CD and for streaming via nugs.net.
Check out the 2025 Sea.Hear.Now announcement below.
Yellowstone fans will remember when Beth Dutton gave Rip Wheeler a hard no after he asked her if she wanted to go to a music festival in season 1 of the popular series, instead opting for the pair to get drunk and watch wolves kill an elk in a park.
Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan — who has made country music a cornerstone of his extraordinarily popular television shows, which also include Landman, 1923 and Tulsa King — will likely have a much more positive result with his first live music event.
The inaugural Bosque Ranch Live concert will take place noon-11 p.m. Sept. 13 at Sheridan’s Weatherford, Texas, ranch and will feature up-and-coming country acts Drayton Farley, Kaitlin Butts and Jackson Dean. All three artists have had their music featured in Sheridan’s shows.
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“My career is built on the art of storytelling,” Sheridan tells Billboard. “And nowhere is the storytelling tradition more alive than in country music. My hope is that Bosque Ranch Live is a space where these stories can come to life and sets the stage for more events like it to come.”
Sheridan’s blessing has been a boon to artists’ careers, many of whom have seen huge spikes in streaming numbers following a placement on one of his shows. The only TV show Zach Bryan has ever performed on remains Yellowstone.
While this is the first music concert at Bosque Ranch, the 1,000-acre ranch has played host to a number of equine events, including the NCHA Brazos Bash, and has served as a filming location for Yellowstone and its 1883 spin-off.
Attendance for Bosque Ranch Live is capped at 500 people and there are multiple levels of participation: $500 gains the ticketholder entry, access to the grounds and a Bosque Ranch hat, whereas $1,500 gets fans a true Country Campfire experience with a night at the ranch in their RV, as well as the concert, lunch and dinner on Sept. 13, breakfast on Sept. 14, 10 complimentary drinks and a collection of memorabilia from the ranch.
For all tiers and more ticketing information, go here.
A massive fire tore through an overcrowded nightclub in North Macedonia Sunday (March 16), killing 59 people and injuring 155 in a chaotic escape during a live concert. The tragedy drew messages of support from around the world but focused national attention on corruption in the small Balkan country as authorities detained 15 people.
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The pre-dawn blaze in the eastern town of Kocani left mostly young people dead and injured due to burns, smoke inhalation and a stampede in the desperate effort to reach the building’s single exit, officials said. People as young as 16 were among the injured, they said.
Videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting the ceiling followed by scenes of chaos inside the club, with young people running through the smoke as the musicians urged them to escape as quickly as possible.
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“We even tried to get out through the toilet, to find bars (on the windows),” Marija Taseva, 19, told The Associated Press, describing the fire that erupted after watching a local pop group at Club Pulse. “I somehow managed to get out. I fell down the stairs and they ran over me, trampled me. … I barely stayed alive and could hardly breathe.” She suffered an injury to her face.
Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said 15 people had been detained for questioning after a preliminary inspection revealed the club was operating without a proper license. He said that the number of people inside the club was at least double its official capacity of 250.
“We have grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption in this case,” he told reporters without elaborating.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also sent messages of support. “I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns alongside our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.
Health Ministry officials said the government had accepted offers of assistance from several neighboring countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Turkey, where preparations were being made to receive patients with life-threatening injuries. Paramedics from Serbia and Bulgaria also traveled to North Macedonia to help with the local effort.
Throughout Sunday, relatives gathered in front of hospitals and city offices in Kocani, some 115 kilometers (72 miles) east of the capital, Skopje, begging authorities for more information. Resident Dragi Stojanov was informed that his 21-year-old son Tomce had died in the fire.
“He was my only child. I don’t need my life anymore. … 150 families have been devastated,” he said. “Children burnt beyond recognition. There are corpses, just corpses inside (the club). … And the bosses (of organized crime), just putting money into their pockets.”
In Skopje, officials said the injured were to hospitals around the country, many being treated for severe burns and smoke inhalation. The effort was being assisted by multiple volunteer organizations.
The fire is the worst tragedy in recent memory to befall the landlocked nation, whose population is less than 2 million, and the latest in a slew of deadly nightclub fires around the world.
President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje and spoke to parents waiting outside the building. “It’s terrible … hard to believe how this happened,” she said, her voice halting with emotion. “We must give these young people courage to continue.”
The fire caused the roof of the single-story building to partially collapse, revealing the charred remains of wooden beams and debris. Police cordoned off the site and sent in evidence gathering teams in an operation also involving state prosecutors.
Pyrotechnics have often been the cause of deadly fires in nightclubs, including the one at the Colectiv club in Bucharest, Romania, in 2015 in which 64 people died.
