O2 Academy Brixton announces reopening date after crowd crush left two dead

The O2 Academy Brixton is set to reopen in April, nearly a year and a half after two people were killed in a deadly crowd crush at the London venue.

Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, tragically lost their lives during a concert featuring the Nigerian artist Asake in December 2022. The horror unfolded as fans without tickets tried to force their way into the show.

Londons Metropolitan Police had recommended the venue should close for good due to the incident, but in September 2023, Lambeth Council's licensing sub-committee decided to let the venue stay open. The venue will need to adhere to "77 extensive and robust new conditions".

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It has now been announced that the first gigs at the venue will star tribute bands. In a staement, the venue said: "O2 Academy Brixton will reopen on Friday 19 April with Nirvana UK (tribute to Nirvana) and The Smyths (tribute to The Smiths), followed by Friday 26 April with Definitely Mightbe (tribute to Oasis) and UK Foo Fighters (tribute to Foo Fighters)."

Around 1,000 people were outside the venue on December 15 2022 and there was a "large-scale disorder", according to the Met Police. Crowds eventually pushed the doors open, Gerald Gouriet KC, who represented the force at an earlier licensing meeting, said. As the crowds made their way into the lobby towards the auditorium, people who had fallen over were trampled.

Brixton Academy's owner, Academy Music Group (AMG), introduced new safety measures in a bid to regain its licence. These include stronger doors, an improved queue system and secure ticketing. According to AMG, these policy changes are designed by "leading