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Venue

Major artists and over 20,000 back campaign to save O2 Academy Brixton

Featured Image: Patrick Frossard on Unsplash

The Prodigy, Muse and Skunk Anansie are just some of the acts that have supported the campaign from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), Brixton BID and Save Our Scene to save O2 Academy Brixton from closure.

The campaign closed earlier this week with over 20,000 representations delivered to Lambeth Council, with the support of a number of acts and music publications such as NME and Music Week. This is an addition to the 107,000 music fans that have signed a petition. 

Brixton’s O2 Academy is facing calls to close permanently after two people died as the result of a crowd crush in December last year. The venue had its licence initially suspended for three months, before it was extended further while investigations continued. London’s Metropolitan Police then called for the venue to have its licence revoked. 

The campaign was launched to save the venue, which over the years has welcomed performances from the likes of Madonna, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Groove Armada, Arctic Monkeys, Stormzy, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna and more.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said: “We have been overwhelmed with the level of response to this campaign, with over 20,000 representations made by music fans to Lambeth Council with support from The Prodigy, Muse, Defected, NME, Mixmag, Music Week, Skunk Anansie and many more. 

“I have had hundreds of conversations with people on this campaign journey, across all walks of life, journalists, bankers, nurses, builders, baristas etc. about their experiences at the Academy. People are emotionally invested in this venue, and it’s clear they are not willing to give it up without a fight.”