The O2 Academy Brixton will reopen in April with a series of tribute acts, 16 months after a deadly crush at the venue killed two people.
Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed when fans without tickets tried to force their way into a show by Nigerian Afrobeat artist Asake on December 15, 2022.
The south London venue faced permanent closure after the Metropolitan Police urged the council to remove its licence, but following a two-day hearing in September 2023, Lambeth Council voted to allow the venue to continue operating – providing it meets “77 extensive and robust new conditions”.
Rebecca Ikumelo. Pic: Met Police
Gaby Hutchinson. Pic: Met Police
It has been confirmed the first shows at the venue will feature tribute acts rather than famous bands.
A statement on X said: “O2 Academy Brixton will reopen on Friday 19 April with Nirvana UK (tribute to Nirvana) and The Smyths (tribute to The Smiths), followed by Friday 26 April with Definitely Mightbe (tribute to Oasis) and UK Food Fighters (tribute to Foo Fighters).”
Around 1,000 people were outside the venue on the night of the Asake gig 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.
When the doors were breached, the crowd poured into the lobby towards the auditorium and surged over people who had fallen to the floor.
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.
The venue has spent £1.2m on maintenance and improvements in 2023, despite being closed, a hearing was told.
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From December 2022: Chaos outside Asake gig after crush
Following the ruling, Brixton Academy said it was “immensely grateful” to Lambeth Council and looked forward to welcoming fans back.
The Metropolitan Police also said at the time that officers will work with Academy Music Group and Lambeth Council to ensure the public can enjoy events at O2 Brixton Academy again.
