O2 Academy Brixton to reopen 16 months after fatal crush

The O2 Academy in London’s Brixton is set to reopen in April, 16 months after it was closed by local authorities after a fatal crush that killed two people.

Rebecca Ikumelo, a 33-year-old mother-of-two, and security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, died in hospital after a large number of people tried to force entry during a sold-out performance by Nigerian afrobeats artist Asake on 15 December 2022.

Lambeth Council closed and suspended the venue’s licence following a request by the Metropolitan Police, who were investigating the incident.

In May last year, an online petition calling for the O2 Academy Brixton to reopen received over 100,000 signatures.

In September, Lambeth Council revealed the venue could reopen once 77 new conditions were met, including the installation of stronger doors, new ticketing systems, and better security and management at the venue.

At the time of the fatal incident, Brixton Academy was owned by Academy Music Group (AMG), which runs 18 live music venues across the UK, including three others in London.

AMG will reopen O2 Academy Brixton on 19 April with tribute acts Nirvana UK and the Smyths. It will be followed by a gig on 26 April with Oasis tribute act Definitely Mightbe and UK Foo Fighters.

The original Academy Theatre was built in 1929 as the flagship site of the Astoria Group’s chain of variety theatres.

Over the years, O2 Academy Brixton has hosted acts such as Sex Pistols, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Kings Of Leon and Foo Fighters.