We Love Brixton

We O2 Academy Brixton is an internationally renowned, Grade II listed, award-winning concert venue hosting live music, club nights, comedy shows and more with visitors travelling from all over the world it truly is a destination in its own right for music fans. O2 Academy Brixton’s design provides a magnificent backdrop; sloping floors offer superb views, the vast curved ceiling lends it an electrifying arena-style atmosphere, the iconic stage design based on Venice’s Rialto bridge frames Europe’s largest fixed stage and its distinctive 140ft dome and Art Deco interior make it one of a kind. 

Opening in 1929 as the Astoria, it thrived as a venue hosting cinema, theatre and Variety shows until 1972. It reopened the same year as a club venue called the Sundown with legendary rockers Deep Purple taking the reins for the first night, but closed just four months later. In 1983 Simon Parkes bought and transformed the site, opening it in October that year as Brixton Academy.

The venue has hosted legendary performances and the stage has seen an incredible line-up of artists over the years. Playing here has become a rite of passage for musicians and a goal amongst many, with first headline shows at the venue marking a career-defining moment. Kings of Leon, Amy Winehouse, The Clash, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Kasabian, Florence and the Machine, The Strokes, Blur, Coldplay… the list is endless and O2 Academy Brixton continues to be one of the most celebrated venues in the UK and worldwide. 

 "This is the best venue in the world." The Maccabees

1929
The building opened as the Astoria on 19 August with the film “The Singing Fool”, by Al Johnson along with a Variety show
1983
On 7 October Brixton Academy is born with a performance from reggae outfit Eek-a-mouse
1986
The Smiths play their last ever live show on the Brixton stage
2000
The 'Queen of Pop', Madonna, plays her first live show in seven years to an audience of just 3,000
2011
Dave Grohl is crowned God Like Genius at the NME Awards. He dedicates the award to Kurt Cobain and Foo Fighters play a two hour set
2015
Sam Smith, James Bay, The Offspring, Brandon Flowers, Royal Blood, George Ezra all perform at O2 Academy Brixton