O2 Brixton Academy set to reopen in April greater than a 12 months after crush

The O2 Academy in Brixton is ready to reopen subsequent month for the primary time since a lethal crush on the music venue which killed two individuals over a 12 months in the past.

 Two individuals – together with a safety guard – died on the venue when followers with out tickets tried to get right into a present by Nigerian artist Asake on December 15, 2022.

Nirvana UK, a tribute act to the Nineties grunge band, and the The Smyths, a tribute act to Morrissey’s band, will play on the venue’s reopening on April 19. 

Then on April 26 two extra tribute acts will play the venue – Definitely Might be, who play Oasis songs, and UK Foo Fighters, a tribute to Dave Grohl‘s band. 

The academy’s licence was suspended by Lambeth Council following the crush.  

The O2 academy in Brixton was closed following a deadly crush in December 2022

Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, died within the crush outdoors the enduring south London venue

Gabby Hutchinson, 23, additionally died within the crush whereas she was working as safety for the venue

The venue introduced their reopening to music followers on their profile on X, previously Twitter

Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, each died throughout the incident in December. 

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson beforehand mentioned: ‘On Monday January 16, the licence of the O2 Academy Brixton was suspended for 3 months.

‘On April 14, the Met Police submitted an software for a overview of (the) premises’ licence to Lambeth Council and shall be in search of a revocation of the licence.

‘This matter shall be determined at a future council sub-committee listening to on a date to be confirmed.’

Roughly 1,000 individuals had been outdoors the venue and when police arrived they discovered ‘large-scale dysfunction’ with crowds ultimately pushing the doorways open, in line with Gerald Gouriet KC who represented the Met Police at a Lambeth Council licensing assembly.

A police probe was launched shortly after the incident and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) additionally launched an inquiry into corruption allegations made following the gang crush.

Radio investigative present File On 4 reported a safety guard on the venue mentioned some members of the safety workers would permit ‘a few hundred’ individuals into the venue in change for cash.

‘There had been individuals taking cash. Some workers made £1,000 money,’ the guard instructed the programme.

‘Our firm knew what was occurring they usually knew the individuals who had been doing it,’ he added, ‘they usually did nothing about it.’

Father of Rebecca, Anthony Ikumelo, mentioned the ‘necessary factor’ is that one other tragedy doesn’t occur once more sooner or later.

‘The most necessary factor is we do not need this to occur to a different household, so the sooner we’ve this data the higher in order that different individuals may very well be prevented from struggling the identical loss in future.’

Ms Olodo, of Stratford, added: ‘We simply need justice. She has two younger youngsters, they’re asking questions now ‘Where is mummy? When is mummy coming again?’

‘What can we inform them? They are solely 5 and 7, they do not appear to know what is occurring.

‘All we wish is justice for Rebecca, for individuals to return ahead and say what they know concerning the incident.’

The venue confronted everlasting closure after the Metropolitan Police urged the council to take away its licence.

But following a two-day listening to in September final 12 months, Lambeth Council’s licensing sub-committee voted to permit the venue to proceed working – as long as it meets ’77 intensive and strong new situations’.

Kelsey Hutchinson, sister of Gabby, mentioned: ‘The key message is to not neglect what occurred at Brixton Academy and never let it occur once more. The necessary factor is to get individuals to return ahead. 

‘What we wish is for the investigations to proceed and to get some justice for Gaby.

‘I do not suppose on this state of affairs there may be such a factor as closure. We spent our entire lives with Gaby and we had a complete life to offer, so I believe if there may be such a factor as closure it is simply what would Gaby have wished from this case and that is to guard different individuals going ahead.’