O2 Academy Brixton set to reopen 16 months after fatal crush
4 March 2024, 11:22 | Updated: 2 April 2024, 09:48
The famous London venue will reopen its doors after the deadly crush which took place in December 2022.
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The O2 Academy Brixton will reopen in April, 16 months after a deadly crush took place at the venue.
The tragic incident, which took place at an Asake concert on 15th December 2022, resulted in the death of security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23 and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, when fans without tickets tried to force their way into the show.
The venue faced permanent closure after the Metropolitan Police urged the council to remove its licence, but after a two-day hearing in September 2023, Lambeth Council's licensing sub-committee voted to allow the venue to continue operating - as long as it meets "77 extensive and robust new conditions".
The venue has now confirmed its reopening date, with the first acts set for the venue to be tribute acts rather than
A statement on X said: "O2 Academy Brixton will reopen on Friday 19 April with a co-headline show from Nirvana UK and The Smyths, followed by Friday 26th April with Definitely Mightbe and UK Foo Fighters."
— O2 Academy Brixton (@O2AcademyBrix) March 4, 2024
Editors are the first official non-tribute band confirmed for the venue, set to play the O2 Academy Brixton on May 2nd 2024.
We're extremely excited to return to @O2AcademyBrix in London on May 2nd!
— EDITORS (@editorsofficial) March 4, 2024
Tickets on sale this Friday, March 8th, at 10am -> https://t.co/9cvHB75upU pic.twitter.com/6DRZ1U8QK6
The Black Keys will also play the venue on 7th and 8th May, supporting their new Ohio Players album.
Pre-order our new album Ohio Players from our UK store before March 5th, 5pm GMT to access the exclusive fan pre-sale on March 6th, 10am GMT. Fans who have already pre-ordered will also get access.
— The Black Keys (@theblackkeys) March 4, 2024
Tickets go on sale Friday 8th March, 10am local time. https://t.co/0inZOM7ceQ pic.twitter.com/mG3Avcfm4i
About 1,000 people were outside the venue and police found "large-scale disorder" with crowds eventually pushing the doors open, according to Gerald Gouriet KC, who represented the Met at an earlier licensing meeting.
The company which owns the Brixton Academy, Academy Music Group (AMG), said it had developed new safety measures in an effort to have its licence restored, including stronger doors, a better queuing system and more secure ticketing.
AMG said changes to its operating policies had been developed by "leading professionals" to prevent a repeat of last year's events.
The venue has spent £1.2 million on maintenance and improvements in 2023, despite being closed, a hearing was told.
