What gigs face cancellation now O2 Academy Brixton has temporarily closed its doors? (Picture: Thabo Jaiyesimi/SOPA Images/Shut)
O2 Academy Brixton has been forced to close until at least January 16 after two people died in a crush at the venue earlier this month.
Its closure means that a series of concerts set to take place are facing cancellation after Lambeth Council decided the south London venue needed to shut its doors.
The closure was announced after several people were seriously hurt in a crush at a concert for singer Asake, who has since expressed ‘devastation’ over the incident.
The two people, who have now been named as 33-year-old Rebecca Ikumelo and 23-year-old Gaby Hutchinson, were killed after a stampede broke out.
Nigerian artist Asake, 27, said on Instagram: ‘I am overwhelmed with grief and could never have imagined anything like this happening.’
Now the O2 Academy Brixton has had its license suspended while many organisations involved with the venue conduct internal investigations.
The crowd crush happened during a concert held by singer Asake (Picture: Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
American metal band Trivium and Australian R&B group Chase Atlantic are among the acts listed on the official website as playing Brixton in the coming weeks.
Heilung, an experimental folk band made up of members from Denmark, Norway and Germany, are booked to perform on Saturday January 14.
If the venue is forced to remain closed beyond the originally announced date of January 16, other major concerts could also face being cancelled.
Swedish rock band Viagra Boys are due to perform on January 25, while Royksopp, Ezra Collective, and Circa Waves are set for February dates.
Rebecca Ikumelo, who died aged 33 after the incident at the Academy (Credits: PA)
In the wake of the crush, Belgian act 2manydjs (aka Soulwax) postponed their December 24 show at the O2 Academy, rescheduling it for Saturday February 18.
The Met Police have revealed that another similar crush took place in February 2020, just before the Academy’s doors closed for the Covid-19 pandemic.
After that concert, by Afrobeats singer Naira Marley, concerns were raised as to whether the strength of the front doors of the venue was adequate.
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Stephen Walsh KC, representing the Academy Music Group, has said it is currently too early to ‘point the finger’ of blame at any party in particular.
He continued: ‘The O2 Academy Brixton recognises the gravity of the events which occurred on the night of 15 December.’
‘It expresses its sincere condolences to the families of those who died during the tragic incident.’
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MORE : Singer Asake ‘devastated’ over death of woman after crush at concert
The venue will be closed until at least January 16 after two people died at an Asake concert.
