mxdwn.co.uk » Live Gig https://www.mxdwn.co.uk all that matters in music in the UK Fri, 01 May 2026 18:26:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 O2 Academy Brixton Set To Reopen Next Month With New Gigs Announced https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/o2-brixton-academy-set-to-reopen-next-month-with-new-gigs-announced/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/o2-brixton-academy-set-to-reopen-next-month-with-new-gigs-announced/#comments Mon, 04 Mar 2024 15:13:54 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=99993 O2 Academy Brixton has announced it is officially reopening after the fatal crush in December 2022 which led the venue to close down for more than 16 months. Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were tragically killed, with a third member of the public left in critical condition when fans without tickets forced their way into a show by Afrobeats artist Asake on December 15th. Over 1,000 fans were reported to be waiting outside the venue at the time, with crowds eventually pushing the doors open.

A series of gigs have been announced next month to mark its long-awaited reopening, with its first performances taking place on Friday April 19, except it will feature tribute acts as opposed to famous bands. Nirvana UK will pay homage to the 90s grunge band, with a tongue-and-cheek The Smyths following suit. On the following Friday, April 26, two more tribute acts will take to the stage, including Definitely Might Be, inspired by Oasis, and UK Foo Fighters. Tickets for both shows will go on sale this Friday (March 8) at 9am GMT. You can purchase them here.

English quintet Editors will be the first major band to headline the venue, and are set to perform on May 2, with special guests yet to be confirmed. The band took to social media today (March 4) to showcase the gig after wrapping up their UK tour yesterday, commenting: “We’re extremely excited to return to @o2academybrix in London on May 2nd!”

In an unexpected announcement, US rock band The Black Keys have also revealed they will be playing the South London venue in a two-night residency on Tuesday 7 May and Wednesday 8 May. Tickets for both Editors and The Black Keys will also go on sale on the same date as the tribute shows, Friday March 8, but at 10am GMT. You can find them here.

The future of the legendary music venue remained uncertain for the best part of a year and a half after Lambeth Council suspended its license, with the Metropolitan Police reportedly advocating for the beloved music spot to close its doors permanently. An online petition was launched after the venue confirmed its closure, with the hope that the decision would be overturned. A plethora of artists and industry professionals also spoke out, condemning the possibility that it could be closed for good.

In December 2023, it was declared that the venue would be allowed to retain its license and reopen, providing the building and its organisers can meet more than 77 “robust” safety rules and conditions. Brixton Academy has allegedly spent £1.2 million on maintenance and improvements last year, including stronger doors, a more efficient queuing system and a more secure ticketing process, according to Brixton Academy’s owners, Academy Music Group (AMG).

Interior. CREDIT: AMG.

Interior. CREDIT: AMG.

“We continue to be devastated by the events of last December,” AMG’s statement said. “Our heartfelt condolences remain with the family and friends of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson. What happened was and is a tragedy and we are committed to ensuring that it can never be repeated.”

“Over the past nine months, the venue’s importance to the local community and the live music scene in the UK has been made clear. Academy Music Group is determined to learn all appropriate lessons from the night of December 15 2022. As the Licensing Sub Committee knows, the venue must implement all the new conditions and will reopen at first with test events. The commitment we give to work in close partnership with all the responsible authorities as we reopen is a serious and sincere one.”

The building first opened in 1929 as a cinema and boasted sleek Art Deco interior and a theatrical-style stage framed by its famous arch, which was modelled on the Rialto Bridge in Venice. In July 1972 it reopened as a disco, rebranded again throughout the 80s and 90s, and has held enormous cultural significance ever since, attracting some of the world’s greatest and most renowned acts, including Amy Winehouse, The Clash, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.

With a string of exciting new headline shows set to take place over the coming months, this hopefully marks a new chapter and era for a venue that has been clouded by such a devastating event.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/o2-brixton-academy-set-to-reopen-next-month-with-new-gigs-announced/feed/ 0 Stevie Nicks Announced As BST Hyde Park Headliner https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/stevie-nicks-announced-as-bst-hyde-park-headliner/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/stevie-nicks-announced-as-bst-hyde-park-headliner/#comments Fri, 01 Mar 2024 01:17:37 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=99938 Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks will headline the British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park festival this summer, marking her long-awaited return and first major UK show in over seven years. The Grammy-winning artist will take to the stage once again on 12 July in London after supporting Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers in 2017. With more than 65,000 people expected to be in attendance, Nicks will also be joined on the multi-weekend festival by fellow headliners Kings of Leon (30 June), Andrea Bocelli (5 July), Robbie Williams (6 July), Shania Twain (7 July), Kylie Minogue (13 July) and K-pop stars Stray Kids (14 July). The American singer-songwriter will also be accompanied by a host of support acts who are yet to be announced.

Breaking the BST headliner news on her social media channels, Nicks said: “Anything that draws me back to London – and therefore to England – fills my heart with joy. And to be able to visit and make music … is always a dream come true…”

Best known for her contributions to rock band Fleetwood Mac, Nicks joined the group in 1975 and made a name for herself with her captivating vocals and poetic songwriting, eventually going on to have a successful solo career with hits like ‘Edge of Seventeen‘ and ‘Bella Donna‘. After the death of her bandmate Christine McVie in November last year, Nicks informed fans that this would in fact be the end of the road for the group following a jampacked revival tour and emotional final performance at Radio City Music Hall in 2018, closing the chapter on a much beloved era for millions of fans around the globe.

As for the remainder of the UK summer line-ups, Nicks has been tipped as one of the rumoured artists for Glastonbury 2024 after organiser Emily Eavis announced this year’s legend slot would be occupied by a female artist. The world-renowned performer and hugely influential fashion icon also recently unveiled her 2024 US tour, as well as a string of 12 extra dates, including New York, Salt Lake City and Nashville.

For those eager to snatch tickets, general sale kicks off at 10am on Wednesday March 6. You’ll be able to buy tickets on the official BST website here. For presale access on Monday March 4, you can sign up here. American Express Cardmembers can take advantage of the presale from Friday 1 March at 10am. Prices for all of the shows at this year’s festival have not been revealed, but like all BST shows, tickets will be divided into different packages, including General Admission, Gold Circle access and VIP Packages such as the Ultimate Diamond VIP experience, The Ultimate VIP Hydeaway and Great Oak Roof Garden.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/stevie-nicks-announced-as-bst-hyde-park-headliner/feed/ 0 Sam Fender Announces London Show in Finsbury Park for Summer 2022 https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/sam-fender-announces-london-show-in-finsbury-park-for-summer-2022/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/sam-fender-announces-london-show-in-finsbury-park-for-summer-2022/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:43:21 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=50833 Sam Fender has recently announced details of a huge London gig at Finsbury Park for the summer of 2022 to round off the great success garnered by the North Shields’ singer-songwriters’ second album Seventeen Going Under. This sees him following in the footsteps of the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Queens Of The Stone Age, Pulp and Liam Gallagher in headlining at Finsbury Park.

The huge show will begin on Friday, July 15 and will see him joined by a hand-picked roster of Fontaines D.C., Declan McKenna, Beabadoobee, and Goat Girl, with many more yet to be announced. He shared the news via social media stating he “Cannot fucking wait for this!”

Fender told NME about the show “It’s the biggest gig we’ve put on so far – 45,000 tickets, It’s gonna be like Sam Fender with his mates and friends. We’ve got Fontaines DC confirmed so far, and I’m so, so excited because I absolutely adore them boys. Their last record was second to none, you know, it was amazing. It’s going to be a really exciting night. I’m just embracing it, man. I’m excited. Just the fact that you mentioned artists like Queens Of The Stone Age and Arctic Monkeys has put a shiver up my spine. We’re here now and we’ve got to fucking pretend that we know what we’re doing!”

He then added: “I’m absolutely psyched to be playing Finsbury Park. What a mad night this is going to be. Some huge artists have played there over the years, and it seems crazy that we will headline it next Summer. I’m bringing some friends along too, it’s gonna be wild. Cannot wait.”

As for his other live plans for 2022, Fender went on to say “We’ve got a big arena tour coming up too. We did a lot of dates this year. Festival-wise I think we’re doing Glastonbury, and whatever ones we didn’t do last year I think we’re doing this year.”

2021 has been a great year for Sam Fender with Seventeen Going Under making it to Number 1 in the UK charts on its release in October 2021 and the title track recently making the musician a star on TikTok. The Finsbury Park show will follow on from his tour of the UK and Ireland in March/April 2022 and his four-nights supporting The Killers in London and Dublin in June.

Tickets will go on pre-sale from 9 am Wednesday, December 15, before then going on general sale from 9 am Friday, December 17, and will be available to purchase here.

 

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/sam-fender-announces-london-show-in-finsbury-park-for-summer-2022/feed/ 0 Catfish and The Bottlemen Reschedule Huge Outdoor Show In Swansea https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/catfish-and-the-bottlemen-reschedule-huge-outdoor-show-in-swansea/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/catfish-and-the-bottlemen-reschedule-huge-outdoor-show-in-swansea/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2021 19:50:39 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=31894 Catfish and The Bottlemen have rescheduled – for the second time – their huge outdoor live gig in Singleton Park, Swansea to the 4th September 2021. With the announcement of life returning to normality, clubs and venues being opened and lockdown restrictions all lifted by June 21st (we hope!), the band have decided to reschedule their show to well after the date, to ensure the performance can definitely go ahead.

The northern Welsh band planned to originally play the show last year on May 20th 2020, yet due to the pandemic, this had to be postponed. The quartet then rescheduled to May 29th 2021, but in light of the governments roadmap plan to lift lockdown restrictions, Catfish and The Bottlemen have had to reschedule again. All tickets from last year will remain valid for the September show however. They will be supported by Surrey four-piece You And Me At Six, Welsh indie rockers Feeder and pop-rock band Yonaka.

Their latest album ‘The Balance’, was released in 2019. It received a 3 star review from NME who stated that it is a “technically accomplished and assured record” and “There are solid pop-rock hooks and plenty of frontman Van McCann’s much-touted swagger.”

The band will have a busy weekend as they are also headlining Neighbourhood Weekender the day after their huge show at Singleton Park. On Sunday 5th September, Catfish and The Bottlemen will be on the main stage along with Sundara Karma, The Wombats and newcomers Sports Team. Tickets to the festival can be found here.

The band are also headlining at Reading and Leeds festival at the end of August 2021, setting up a busy few weeks of live gigs and shows. However, after a long period of no performing, this will come as a huge relief and an exciting time!

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