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Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Suede cancel Brixton Academy shows that would have taken place on the anniversary of fatal crowd crush
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 5 July 2023
Suede have canceled shows that were due to take place at the Brixton Academy later this year, replacing them with some more intimate gigs at the near by Electric Brixton venue.
That decision comes amid continued uncertainty regarding the future of the Brixton Academy. It has been closed ever since two people died as a result of a crowd crush at a sold out Asake show last December.
Venue operator the Academy Music Group has put forward plans for safely reopening the building. However, London’s Metropolitan Police have criticised AMG, stating that the company has not properly responded to all of the concerns they have raised about the crowd crush.
With that in mind, the police have requested that local authority Lambeth Council undertake a full review of AMG’s venue licence, proposing that it be revoked. That resulted in a campaign from music fans calling on police and the council to ensure that the Brixton Academy can continue to operate as a music venue.
Numerous shows that were due to take place at the venue this year have obviously had to relocate to other venues in London. The first of two Suede concerts scheduled at the venue later this year would have taken place on the one year anniversary of the crowd crush. It’s possible that the band decided that that would be inappropriate, even if the venue is back up and running by then.
Suede confirmed yesterday that their Brixton Academy shows on 15 and 16 Dec have been cancelled. They then added: “In order to minimise disappointment, particularly for those of you that have already planned/paid for travel and accommodation, Suede will be playing three smaller shows at The Electric in Brixton on Friday 15, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 Dec”.
Anyone with tickets for the Brixton Academy shows will get automatic refunds and then priority access to tickets for the Electric Brixton shows.
