Man accused of running underground concert venue
By mbrooks on June 23, 2019
By Matthew Brooks
A Missouri man spent seven days sitting jail after having been arrested on a charge of illegally running a concert venue out of his home.
He also faces a $19,000 fine.
Brian Walters told KSHB in Kansas City that for the past five years his home has been hosting concerts.
He named his venue Bubba Spins Records and Flop House.
According to Walters, he created the venue to make an inexpensive locale for new and younger artists to perform in front of a crowd.
The open atmosphere was echoed positively by one of its Facebook reviewers.
A man identified as James Pettyjohn wrote on Facebook that the Bubba Spins Records and Flop House provides a welcoming atmosphere.
Another reviewer says that Walters started as her Uber driver, that he is kind-hearted, and that his flop house was the place to be to see up-and-coming artists.
Unfortunately for the owner, it may have been illegal.
He allegedly operated the venue without a business license in an area that was not zoned for concerts.
Reportedly, Walters was also ticketed for safety and fire violations.
Parking was reportedly also an issue.
A resident who lives near Walters told KSHB how unhappy she was with a concert venue going on in the neighborhood.
“It’s very loud, and it was very crowded,” the resident, Barbara Schult said. “This is a residential area. It is not zoned for entertainment, so the noise was unacceptable.”
Walters told KSBH that he can no longer hold concerts at his home and that he can’t afford to purchase another venue space.
He was fined $19,000 municipal fines for the violations.
There is a Facebook fundraiser page for supporters to help covers Walters’ costs.
So far, the fundraiser has brought in about $4,000 towards the $20,000 goal.
