2 months ago
.png)
The O2 Academy in Brixton is set to reopen next month for the first time since a deadly crush at the music venue which killed two people over a year ago.
Two people - including a security guard - died at the venue when fans without tickets tried to get into a show by Nigerian artist Asake on December 15, 2022.
Nirvana UK, a tribute act to the 1990s grunge band, and the The Smyths, a tribute act to Morrissey's band, will play on the venue's reopening on April 19.
Then on April 26 two more tribute acts will play the venue - Definitely Might be, who play Oasis songs, and UK Foo Fighters, a tribute to Dave Grohl's band.
The academy's licence was suspended by Lambeth Council following the crush.
The O2 academy in Brixton was closed following a fatal crush in December 2022
Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, died in the crush outside the iconic south London venue
Gabby Hutchinson, 23, also died in the crush while she was working as security for the venue
The venue announced their reopening to music fans on their profile on X, formerly Twitter
Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, both died during the incident in December.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson previously said: 'On Monday January 16, the licence of the O2 Academy Brixton was suspended for three months.
'On April 14, the Met Police submitted an application for a review of (the) premises' licence to Lambeth Council and will be seeking a revocation of the licence.
'This matter will be decided at a future council sub-committee hearing on a date to be confirmed.'
Roughly 1,000 people were outside the venue and when police arrived they found 'large-scale disorder' with crowds eventually pushing the doors open, according to Gerald Gouriet KC who represented the Met Police at the licensing meeting.
A police probe was launched shortly after the incident and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has also launched an inquiry into corruption allegations made following the crowd crush.
Radio investigative show File On 4 reported a security guard at the venue said some members of the security staff would allow 'a couple of hundred' people into the venue in exchange for money.
'There were people taking money. Some staff made £1,000 cash,' the guard told the programme.
'Our company knew what was going on and they knew the people who were doing it,' he added, 'and they did nothing about it.'
