Photo credit: Kim Erlandsen, NRK P3/CC from 2.0
The Prodigy, Muse, Skunk Anansie and others join over 20,000 supporters to reopen O2 Brixton Academy after the Metropolitan Police called for its permanent closure.
The O2 Brixton Academy in south London has been closed since the tragic crowds at singer Asake’s concert in December that killed two people. Since then, music fans have banded together to save the iconic venue after authorities ordered its permanent closure.
A petition below Change.org has collected more than 110,000 signatures to keep Brixton Academy open. Meanwhile, the Night Time Industries Association (WHY) provided over 20,000 performances at Lambeth Council, including support from Muse, The Prodigy, Skunk Anansie, Defected, Mixmag, NME and Music Week.
“We have been blown away by the response to this campaign, with over 20,000 submissions from music fans at Lambeth Council in support of The Prodigy, Muse, Defected, NME, Mixmag, Music Week, Skunk Anansie and many more,” says NTIA CEO Michael Kill .
“I’ve had hundreds of conversations with people from all walks of life, journalists, bankers, nurses, builders, baristas, etc., on this campaign trip about their experiences at the academy. People are emotionally attached to this venue and it is clear they are not ready to give it up without a fight.”
“The response to this campaign has been immense and underscores the public’s desire for Brixton Academy to have a future as a live music venue,” adds George Fleming, CEO of Save Our Scene. “Lambeth Council must do everything it can to preserve Brixton Academy. Eviction of a community would be a dangerous move that could result in much more work for itself and the Met Police.”
“The tremendous support for Brixton Academy with 20,000 letters sent to Lambeth and thousands of messages across all social media shows the importance of this venue,” concludes Gianluca Rizzo, MD, Brixton BID. “However, we must not forget that a late decision will have a negative impact on businesses in Brixton. In fact, over half a million pounds a week has been lost to visitor spending since the closure. Let’s turn the lights back on for Brixton.”