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Sancho’s shattered arrow, as of April 2020. The address is the site of a sexual assault investigation, Denver police said. (Beth Rankin, The Denver Post)
Denver group of musicians consider boycotting establishments affiliated with local businessman Jay Bianchi over allegations of sexual assault and abuse against longtime former jam band bar owner .
The Colorado Musicians Union released a flyer Thursday for a June 12 picket and protest, which will take place at noon at 918 W. 1st Ave. The address is the site of So Many Roads, a bar owned by Tyler Bishop that features the collection of Bianchi Memories from the Grateful Dead.
Bianchi – who denied the allegations to the Denver Post – also sold his longtime East Colfax Avenue bar, Sancho’s Broken Arrow, to Bishop in August 2020. In April of this year, at the start of the pandemic, the city forced Bianchi out of Sancho amid allegations the bar continued to host events in violation of Denver stay-at-home orders.
The June 12 protest follows allegations of sexual assault, first shared online, against Bianchi by women in the music scene. The Colorado Musicians Union website released a victim impact statement on Thursday, including the names of two alleged victims – Kylie Heringer and Bonnie Utter -.
The Denver Police Department has confirmed it is investigating an incident at Sancho’s Broken Arrow address.
“As a general practice to protect the integrity of investigative processes, the DPD does not confirm whether or not an individual is under investigation,” Denver Police spokesperson Kurt said. E. Barnes. “DPD can confirm that 741 East Colfax Ave. is listed as the location of an open sexual assault investigation. “
“What they are protesting looks great, only if it was true,” Bianchi told The Post on Thursday. “But the basis of their protest, the criminal charges they have brought against me, is a lie.”
Bianchi said he had not heard from the police and was not aware of any potential witnesses related to the case being contacted. He said his critics were trying to try the case in the media because they would lose in criminal court if a case were to go to trial. He compared the effort to the Salem witch trials.
“I have children. I have a family. And I have a story about me that is now marred by these untruths and lies… ”Bianchi said, noting what he called an atmosphere of“ cancellation culture ”on social media, where the claims have been made. first surfaced publicly. “I always want to believe women about any accusation or allegation they make, and it’s really weird to me, because now I’m on the side where I know what they’re saying is wrong.”
Denver musician Aidan Pagnani, 29, is the co-founder of the Colorado Musician’s Union and a boycott organizer.
“We organized this for the huge plethora of (shit) people have been through with Jay over the years,” Pagnani said.
The union, founded in May 2020, was formed in part to address concerns about Bianchi. But Pagnani said his musicians would also pledge to “perform for as much as $ 100 (per) person (per) night in Colorado, in order to limit the number of options venues have to pay below. a living wage “.
“There are a huge number of people speaking out against (Bianchi) because he represents everything that is wrong in the industry,” said musician Sarah Mount, who alleged examples such as no -payment or underpayment of groups and “micro and macro attacks against women.
“We no longer tolerate it,” she said.
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