The O2 Brixton Academy is officially back in business, with Azealia Banks, Chappell Roan, Vampire Weekend and more booked for the end of 2024
After more than a year away, the O2 Brixton Academy relaunched in April, testing the waters with two nights of tribute acts (including The Smyths and Definitely Mightbe). Now, the venue has released a full programme of gigs – covering the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025 – and some big names are on the list.
One of the biggest stars of the moment, Chappell Roan, is scheduled to perform across three nights this September (19th – 21st). The singer’s career has recently exploded; fans in the US have been fighting for tickets to the North American leg of her tour, while festivals have been moving Roan onto bigger stages to accommodate the enormous crowds anticipated for her sets. At the time of writing, there are still tickets going for the second and third nights, though they’ll likely sell out fast.
That’s not all, there are plenty more major artists with upcoming shows, including Azealia Banks, The The, SOFT PLAY (FKA Slaves), Confidence Man, Vampire Weekend, Orbital and The Flaming Lips.
These will be the O2 Brixton Academy’s first headline shows since the venue had its licence suspended in response to the tragic deaths of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson, who were killed in a crush caused by overcrowding at an Asake gig on 15th December 2022.
As well as the two fatalities, a further 10 people were injured. Investigations following the incident also revealed insufficient staffing levels, a lack of medical cover and a culture of staff taking bribes to allow non-ticketholders entry to events.
The Night Time Industries Association has been campaigning to keep the O2 Brixton Academy open, setting up a petition to save the historic venue (with new security measures in place), which has been hosting gigs since the 1980s and has become one of the most iconic places to see live music in London.
After a hearing last September, Lambeth Council confirmed that the O2 Brixton Academy would be able to reopen under the same management (Academy Music Group). But, the venue has had to meet 77 “extensive and robust” conditions to do so. These include the likes of more thorough risk assessments, stronger doors, new ticketing and crowd management systems, among many others.
Address | 211 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9SL
For more information | academymusicgroup.com