Brixton Academy

Originally opened in 1929 as the Astoria Variety Cinema, this mid-sized concert hall in South London was converted into a discotheque in 1972 before becoming a music venue in 1983. Now known as the O2 Academy Brixton, it has established itself as one of London's leading music destinations, hosting over 50 live albums and winning the NME Best Venue award 12 times since 1994. The venue has played host to many iconic gigs, including the final performance by The Smiths in December 1986, a Leftfield concert that set a decibel record of 137 dB, and a Madonna show watched by 9 million online viewers in 2000. After a tragic crowd crush in December 2022 led to two deaths and a temporary closure, the Academy reopened in April 2024, continuing its legacy as a premier spot for live music.