Christopher BarrettThe Academy Music Group (AMG) operated O2 Academy Brixton is to remain closed for at least three more months, after Lambeth Council’s licensing sub-committee took the decision to continue to suspend the 4,921-capacity south London venue’s licence in a meeting earlier today.
The venue’s licence had previously been suspended until today, following a crowd crush at a gig by Afro-pop singer Asake on 15 December. The incident led to two fatalities and several other people being hospitalised.
The decision to close the venue has already impacted scheduled events including a New Year’s Eve party, three Chase Atlantic gigs and shows by Heilung and Trivium. Among the many forthcoming events that will be impacted by the extended closure are gigs by Dry Cleaning, Ezra Collective, Pendulum and Fatboy Slim.
AMG issued a statement that said the venue operator recognised the gravity of the events on 15 December and it expressed “sincere condolences” to the families of those who died during the tragic incident. AMG said it has genuine concerns for anyone affected by the incident.
The company, majority owned by Live Nation, said it is committed to understanding what happened and co-operating with the various investigations that are under way, including providing full cooperation to the police.