Members of a Chicago band say a bar owner asked them to stop performing at a Beverly establishment over the weekend because they attracted too many black patrons.
The Reprieve Blues Band performed two sets Saturday night at McNally's when Brandon Bailey -- the band's only black member -- says the bar owner told another member of the band that he didn't want them to perform their third set because "there are too many black people in here."
Bailey said he invited a lot of family and friends to see him perform at the bar, located at 11136 S. Western Ave., and that up to 30 percent of the audience that night was black.
"I didn't initially understand what would be the cause for this kind of response," Bailey said. "We were having a great time, our fans were having a great time, but our third set was short. Why?" Bailey said.
The bar's owner was not available to comment on the allegation, but a bartender said it wasn't true.
On Monday night, the bar was hosting a party for a retired black firefighter.
"I'm not surprised, but we wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation if it didn't happen," Bailey said.
