Petition to save 02 Academy Brixton passes 50,000 signatures
Thousands of gig-goers have banded together in an attempt to save the iconic venue
An online petition titled Save Brixton Academy has been shared online, aiming to prevent the permanent closure of the O2 Academy Brixton, which has been ordered to close by police as part of a licensing review following December’s tragic crowd crush.
The South London venue’s licence was suspended for three months by Lambeth councillors in January, pending a full review of the site's licence, after which the Met Police have concluded that the venue had “not been successful in identifying the remedial measures which need to be in place before the Academy can safely re-open.”
The venue closed its doors in December 2022 after a deadly crowd crush claimed the lives of two female workers and left a third person critically injured. In the aftermath of the event, concerns were raised over the strength of the venue’s doors, and security measures, along with the extent of medical cover available at Afrobeats singer Asake’s show.
The petition, created by Stuart O’Brien and directed at Lambeth Council, cites that the “Brixton Academy is an iconic London music venue and should this cease to be so, another part of the musical landscape and history is lost forever.”
“What happened there was a tragedy, but caused by people,” reads the petition’s description. “Bring in new security procedures including crowd control to ensure a repeat doesn’t happen, but let’s not turn this venue into soulless flats as would more than likely happen in the event of permanent closure.”
Less than a week after its inception, the petition has gained over 50,000 signatures, bringing together live music devotees, past-performers, and local people benefitting from the venues’ cultural contribution to the Brixton area.
Faithless’ Sister Bliss has shared her support for the cause, tweeting: “@faithless have graced the stage there many times — and yet a terrible tragedy happened there only recently. But it is hugely short sighted to shut the venue permanently- generating jobs, local economy- bringing the best music to London! #SaveBrixtonAcademy.”
You can read the petition and offer your support here.
Read more details on the licensing issues facing the O2 Academy Brixton, including the Met Police’s ongoing dispute with venue operator AMG, here.
