Brixton Academy
Info
Capacity: 4,272, to be precise
Nearest tube: Brixton
It is rather large and has a nice sloping floor, making it easier for the vertically-challenged gig-goers to see the bands. There is a seating area too. Decent sound. One of the best big venues in the UK.
Pre-gig entertainment can be found in the form of the crap, young skateboarders in the skateboard/BMX park round the back of the venue.
Post-gig entertainment can be found watching the Hell's Angels chase away the t-shirt bootleggers.
Reviewed Events
Manic Street Preachers, My Vitriol at London Brixton Academy, Fri 30 Mar
"We need you to sing for us... 'Ah... ahh... ahhh... AHHH!'" Thus spake James Dean Bradfield, frontman of the Manic Street Preachers, by way of introducing Masses Against The Classes. Love 'em or loathe 'em, everyone has an opinion on the band and if the new album alone wasn't enough to swing me ba»
Muse, The Cooper Temple Clause at London Brixton Academy, Tue 29 May
I hadn't ever heard Cooper Temple Clause before… at some points early on I was getting 'prog' alarm bells going off in my head… but what first felt like a pending aural emergency ended up winning me over… I liked his voice, and I liked the music, and though the cavern-like acoustics of Brixton did their many-lay»
Missy Elliott at London Brixton Academy, Fri 01 Jun
It's a rare occasion that we see one of hip-hop's biggest stars on Brittish shores which is probably why expectations are so astronomically high for Missy Elliot tonight at the Brixton Academy. Indeed, it is her first show on this side of the Atlantic for just over four years and the audience crammed inside the »
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Dave Graney, Simon Breed at Brixton Academy, Lambeth, Sun 03 Jun
The queue stretches around the block on this, the second date of the godfather of Faulkner-tinged Old Testament hellfire’s 3-night residency at the Academy.
But first, the support:
If you want to be pointlessly analytical, each of the support bands evidence a facet of the headliners. Simon Breed the crashing»
Lostprophets, Linkin Park at London Brixton Academy, Tue 05 Jun
Just one look at tonight’s queue outside Brixton Academy and it's clear to see just how much the crowds are changing. As kids of around eleven or twelve with parents stand in a queue which is mainly of the mid-teen variety, two things become increasingly apparent. First of all is that rock has officially tapped into th»
Taproot, Kid Rock at London Brixton Academy, Mon 11 Jun
The Brixton Academy was always a bit of a risk for a mediocre metal artist that has not been seen on these shores for some two years and has not had an immense amount of success here anyway. But even this doesn't explain why there are so few people in here tonight to see the return of Kid Rock, a performer you k»
Tool at London Brixton Academy, Tue 26 Jun
If, like me, you were fortunate enough to witness Tool amaze the hell out of everyone at this years Ozzfest, then your expectations of this evening would be of the highest proportions too. In short, Tool have a massive amount to live up to tonight on the second of their two night stand in London’s Brixton Academ»
The Dandy Warhols, Lupine Howl at London Brixton Academy, Fri 29 Jun
Is Rock’n’roll all about pretty silhouettes and projections of psychedelic kaleidoscopes? For some it is, I guess. For me it’s all about what is contained within the outlines of the star’s shapes. It’s about a groups creation of an alternative universe where we can wander around to escape from reality into surreality. »
Stone Temple Pilots, Boy Hits Car at London Brixton Academy, Tue 21 Aug
You have to feel sorry for Boy Hits Car tonight. With the audience reaction being deader than the current grunge scene, the band hardly manage to rouse polite applause. That is except for when the singer tries to scale the walls at the Academy, making it as far as the top of the P.A. system before lunging into »
New Order at London Brixton Academy, Fri 12 Oct
The first time I saw New Order was a religious experience. The last time I saw them was boring. Unlike most bands, New Order have always been contrary buggers - doing exactly what they wanted, whenever they wanted, because they could. The trouble with this is, if they don't want to do something, it'll be awful. Only s»
My Vitriol, Placebo, Little Hell at London Brixton Academy, Fri 19 Oct
“F**KIN’ STADIUM ROCK!”, screams My Vitriol’s lead singer Som Wardner. The crowd let out a huge cheer and clap along to the beat of Ravi Kevasarem’s drums. The audience are fired-up, over excited and...wait a minute, isn’t this one of the support bands? Tonight’s Placebo gig is set in »
Sum 41 at London Brixton Academy, Mon 12 Nov
A few months ago they were supporting Nashville Pussy at The Garage; a little while later they sold out the Astoria just ahead of their first single release, 'Fat Lip'; now, playing at what should have been a support slot on the Blink 182 tour (which was subsequently cancelled), Sum 41 headline to a pac»
Pulp at London Brixton Academy, Thu 29 Nov
Hot on the heels of the disappointing, rural “We Love Life”, Pulp return to the UK capital for a equally disappointing, thrill free Thursday night in Brixton. Whereas once they defined the times, now the time defines Pulp - and its oddly near to closing time. The set is strangely top-heavy with the kind of midpa»
Alabama 3 at London Brixton Academy, Thu 20 Dec
And so Christmas came to Brixton. Even though, aside from the chill and ice on the streets, it still looks like the same old shithole it always ever was. And one of the most unusual cult bands there are - one that haven’t had a hit single and don’t play live half as much as they should, and hardly get any airplay. - ha»
(Review of nothing)
They are the best at what they do. Nobody can come close. They are a uniquely British Institution, like Fish and Chips, Monty Python, and Godawful Weather. To see their lead singer, dressed respectably sans big hair, leather wristbands and the denim uniform, protesting on Channel 4 the night after that Iron Maiden»
Weezer at London Brixton Academy, Sun 24 Mar
Nerds and Geeks, everywhere. Talking about b-sides. Talking about rumours which can’t be circumstantially linked. Weezer are one of the few bands who don’t just endorse this information craziness but fuel the fire. As the grandfathers of EMO (that genre, filled with irony, all music is emotional in my book, if n»
Ryan Adams at London Brixton Academy, Tue 09 Apr
The last time DiS saw Ryan Adams , He was playing the London Astoria aided only by a cellist and violinist. After playing a selection of covers and songs that he had written the day before, he got the huff with an inattentive crowd and wandered off. The time before that, at the same venue, he appeared as his own»
Underworld at London Brixton Academy, Sat 09 Nov
Forget that this lot are fortysomethings who have day jobs as directors at an obscure ad agency. Forget that they used to have worse haircuts than Sigue Sigue Sputnik. Forget that at their nadir, they were Debbie Harry’s backing band at Wembley Stadium and that they made some of the most godawful dance-f»
'A' at London Brixton Academy, Fri 29 Nov
I'm feeling so old. All ver kids are under 16, either in large gangs or with their parents. This is a trip down memory lane for me, years ago I saw 'A' supporting Symposium countless times. Now things are different. 'A' are headlining, one fifth of Symposium is in the audience and a further two»
Doves at London Brixton Academy, Mon 02 Dec
You can smell it. The sticky, faintly doughy smell of mediocrity. On record Doves have an odd, finely-balanced grace – clumsily elegant, the thumping rhythm sections provide an emotionally effective contrast to the delicate melodies. All this and more is completely discarded when Doves take to the stage at Br»
The Music at London Brixton Academy, Fri 10 Jan
I got a phenomenal amount of ridicule for turning up to this gig tonight. My friends were only too quick to point out that The Music are shit and that I was an idiot for going to see them. Fuck that. Five minutes into the band's set and there's nowhere I'd rather be. This isn't the kind of gig where you turn up »
Linkin Park at London Brixton Academy, Wed 05 Mar
I have discovered the Oasis of metal. With a stage set that resembled Kiss circa 'Destroyer' gone all rusty, with an industrial looking drum riser , DJ tower and four little industrial looking boxes for the bass player, guitarist and twin vocalists to stand upon, presumably because they have some heigh»
Avril Lavigne at London Brixton Academy, Thu 27 Mar
Avril Lavigne doesn't look happy. She's wandering back and forth, traversing the stage of the sold-out Brixton Academy as a backing track blares out behind her. Her band, coiffed, keychained and apparently miming, are jumping around like lotto-winning locusts. Avril's not miming, her voice is belting out acro»
Coin-Op, Inspiral Carpets at London Brixton Academy, Fri 04 Apr
Pre-show entertainment #1: A game of ‘Spot The Inspirals Fan’ – round 1 was spent in the local Wetherspoons (don’t go there; The Beehive is a garishly-bright and soulless place). I feel I did very well. Round 2 spent in the pub opposite. Did quite well there too. Next game is ‘Try To Get In’. Expecti»
(Review of nothing)
What does a White Stripes fan look like?
Linkin Park fans are distinguished by their baggy combat trousers and skate belts; fans of bands such as The Cooper Temple Clause and The Strokes are easily identified by their scruffy hair, beat up leather jackets and tight trews.
»
Lamb, Un-cut at London Brixton Academy, Fri 09 May
The smell of pot hangs heavy in the air, people are milling around with bottles of water instead of pints of beer. What a scene. I spot a kid in a Linkin Park hoodie, young men in suits straight from work, Face wannabes and middle aged couples holding hands. On stage is a black woman wearing a sparkly top,»
The Dandy Warhols at London Brixton Academy, Fri 23 May
Stacey does the Dandy Warhols.. So, like, I'm outside the Brixton academy on a slightly chilly Friday, and I notice a sign scrawled in marker pen saying 'Dandy Warhols. 8:30. No Support'. NO SUPPORT. Who do they think they are? I mean, there has to be a support band, cos like, shyeah, that'»
Marilyn Manson at London Brixton Academy, Wed 04 Jun
It’s time to place blame. Mister Manson, you may not be responsible for that reality tv, high-school, Wolfenstein; or ruining middle America; or eating my Gran's cat, but you Brian - can I call you Brian, Brian? – are responsible for influencing some shocking examples of»
R.E.M. at London Brixton Academy, Tue 24 Jun
Sometimes it takes a bit of perspective. Three days after watching one of the greatest bands of all time in a 4,000-capacity sweatbox, DiS stands watching the same band in a field in Glastonbury and it’s brilliant; tremendous; wonderful. However you realise that you saw them 72 hours ago and it was so much better. And »
Super Furry Animals at London Brixton Academy, Fri 17 Oct
Welsh psychedelic pop geniuses turn up to their traditional London haunt, and fail to surprise with their surprises.»
Jane's Addiction at London Brixton Academy, Fri 31 Oct
After a 10 year hiatus, Jane’s Addiction (the band The Red Hot Chili Peppers nicked all their moves from) return to the kind of reception normally reserved for the second coming of Jesus Christ (either that or Duran Duran). Something in the air says this gig is going to be a bit special. Maybe it’s because it’s Halloween, it might have something to with the near naked riot girls or is it indeed it that everyone here seems to be absolutely hammered.»
Blur at London Brixton Academy, Wed 03 Dec
...everyone expected this band to implode 12 months ago with the departure of Graham Coxon. We were all utterly convinced that Albarn’s crush on World Beat would mean that Blur would start producing music that even Paul Simon would’ve thrown in the toilet. And we were wrong...»
Kraftwerk at London Brixton Academy, Sat 20 Mar
Who says robots aren't beautiful?»
Pixies at London Brixton Academy, Thu 03 Jun
“I remember the t-shirt I was wearing and the exact colour of the sky when I walked into the record shop and pulled Surfer Rosa off the shelf…” “…when my then-girlfriend put the needle to side A and the opening riff of ‘Debaser’ rang out, the spot-varnish of Doolittle’s sleeve glinting like fire in our eyes, I knew I was going to spend then rest of my life with her…” “The day I heard the Pixies had split was the day that music died…”»
PJ Harvey at London Brixton Academy, Thu 15 Jul
...More minutes, more flashbacks splintering through the ages of classic PJ in varying bruised shades: purples, twilights, Turkish delight. These are bruises that often get buried with make-up, dignity and hope.»
Ian Brown at London Brixton Academy, Wed 20 Oct
It's not a place for the fey of indie - the ratio of beered up blokes to womankind is around 50 - 1 and you will get trampled in the bar scrum at least five times before the end»
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at London Brixton Academy, Mon 15 Nov
DiS isn't here for style tips – everyone on the planet is aware that Karen O is the spoilt child at every school, blessed with a dress-up box too large and an attention span too short. We're here for the rock, and the only rockers we were told to swallow that didn’t stick in the throat provide it by the bucket load. Mostly...»
Kings of Leon, The Features at London Brixton Academy, Mon 13 Dec
DiS sends new kid on the chopping block Jeffrey Onions down to the Brixton ghetto to see if The Features are worth any cop. Oh, and those Kings Of Leon showed up, too. Eventually...»
The Mars Volta at London Brixton Academy, Sun 13 Mar
Astrological readings said something about a soul-searing visitation. Pen-pushing a-holes said something about a review?»
Spoon, Interpol at London Brixton Academy, Fri 08 Apr
With a multitude of people flooding into the venue, I suddenly become quite pint-sized in comparison to how big our dark New Yorkers have become. Yes, we can safely say that Paul, Carlos D, Dan and Sam have deservedly, well and truly hit the big time.»
Nine Inch Nails at London Brixton Academy, Tue 05 Jul
DiS dons its finest black garb and heads to Brixton for a few hours of doom and gloom punctuated by a couple of pop gems. PLUS! We give you, for one night only, North Watch. Will Aaron self-destruct? Will he suck all manner of c*ck in the name of frock'n'roll? We'll see...»
Sigur Rós at London Brixton Academy, Wed 09 Nov
Tonight Sigur Rós sound like discovery. They're not about awkward, revolutionary, painful invention but the uncovering of organic, harmonious melodies that spring up fully formed, as complete in their design as they are meant to be. They sound like a natural reaction, so obvious that no-one else has thought of it.»
Ben Folds at London Brixton Academy, Tue 13 Dec
As Folds takes to the stage the ovation is deafening, but surprisingly for a man normally renowned for his interaction with the audience, he says barely anything for the first part of tonight’s performance..»
Bullet For My Valentine, Aiden, Hawthorne Heights, Still Remains at Brixton Academy, Lambeth, Sat 28 Jan
This gig is showcasing four of the most popular and most hyped bands around at the moment. It is telling that only one of them is British. With a career path reminiscent of the Lostprophets, Bullet For My Valentine have the ability to perform a metal masterclass on a whim and possess ample rock attitude to succeed on both sides of the pond and good luck to them»
Bauhaus at London Brixton Academy, Fri 03 Feb
Ok - so what sort of crowd do Bauhaus attract since that memorable night in July at Hammersmith Palais 23 years ago? Goths – that’s for sure – plenty of Goths – we were expecting them – the pub next to the Academy a sea of black (with hint of »
Goldfrapp, Hot Chip at London Brixton Academy, Thu 09 Feb
Alison Goldfrapp strides out onto the glowing soft focus stage like a tightly wrapped pop present, super confident on glittering silver platforms and a black micro dress, under a cloud of curly blonde hair...»
Richard Ashcroft at London Brixton Academy, Fri 19 May
Already annoyed as this gig interupted the utterly ace Great Escape festival in Brighton but was booked back in January, I enetered the Brixton Academy not expecting much and I wasn't disappointed. I spent most of the night feeling like a supporter in »
Brand New at London Brixton Academy, Sat 09 Sep
It would be fair to say that this was my most anticipated gig of the year so far, and from the queues that twisted around Brixton Academy before doors even opened it seems we weren't the only ones. Inside, the cavernous slope of the venue was packed an»
36 Crazyfists, Atreyu at London Brixton Academy, Fri 15 Sep
It's like listening to a whole set through the walls of the toilets of a small venue and knowing that this is as good as it'll get. Annoying...»
Jurassic 5 at London Brixton Academy, Sat 30 Sep
DiS twists its cap to the side, lowers its centres of gravity and heads down Brixton way to get deep down and dirty with Jurassic 5...»
AFI at London Brixton Academy, Mon 09 Oct
I’ve never been much of a punk rocker. I rendezvous with the vast genre in dribs and drabs, with certain outstanding bands catching my attention every so often via the medium of either a fantastic song or a mind-blowing live performance. A Fire Inside got me hooked through the latter...»
Panic At The Disco at London Brixton Academy, Sat 21 Oct
AS AN EARLY BIRTHDAY TREAT I WAS GIVEN TICKETS TO SEE PANIC! AT BRIXTON ACADEMY LAST NIGHT. AS A MASSIVE FAN I HAD BEEN LOOKING »
Panic At The Disco at London Brixton Academy, Mon 23 Oct
Went to Brixton yesterday to see Panic! At The Disco. Had to que up in the rain for over 30 minutes but once inside got a great pl»
My Chemical Romance at London Brixton Academy, Sun 12 Nov
Yesturday at London Brixton, i believe my chemical romance rocked it.=]] yess indeedly they were awesome and there performances we»
Rancid at London Brixton Academy, Thu 16 Nov
With a combined age of 742 and not looking a day younger, Rancid’s continued appeal surely lies in their durability, their sense of survival and the fact they take all their sartorial inspiration from a postcard of Carnaby Street punks they found on the floor of Gilman Street circa 1985. Probably...»
Slayer, Lamb of God, In Flames, Children Of Bodom, Thine Eyes Bleed at Brixton Academy, Lambeth, Sun 19 Nov
There’s really no point in getting bogged down in the finer details of Slayer’s considerable oeuvre. To fully appreciate them you must first disengage yourself from everything you know. Forget you’ve ever heard about music. Forget everything you know about heavy metal and the many exponents of it that you have already seen...»
Killswitch Engage at London Brixton Academy, Mon 29 Jan
You never get away with just making great music. Never. Killswitch Engage make great music; they make the best metalcore around, but they have an added dimension. The hilarious dynamic between their frontman Howard Jones and their guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz is what helps this band’s live show rise from memorable to legendary. You’d have thought that without a major ingredient such as their lead guitarist, this show wouldn’t be legendary and you’d have been right...»
Glassjaw at London Brixton Academy, Sat 07 Jul
It would leave a bitter taste of disappointment if everyone wasn’t so pleased that they would finally be able to say that they saw Glassjaw...»
Beastie Boys, Spank Rock at London Brixton Academy, Tue 04 Sep
Without even trying to, the Beastie Boys have managed to make a Tuesday night in South London into a seismic event...»
Evan Dando, Jesus and Mary Chain, The Horrors at Brixton Academy, Lambeth, Fri 07 Sep
Jim Reid is whipping Brixton Academy up into a frenzy, despite wearing the look of a man supremely not arsed by any of the adulation being hurled his way. "You’re a miserable bunch of bastards, aren’t ye?"»
LCD Soundsystem, Prinzhorn Dance School at London Brixton Academy, Tue 23 Oct
Let’s be frank: the rock star blueprint of old has failed us in the new century. So who have we turned to for inspiration in a decade destined to be famed for a newfound level of musical hyper accessibility that’s so overwhelming? James Murphy, maybe»
The Dropkick Murphys at London Brixton Academy, Sat 16 Feb
Let’s get this out of the way first. Boston’s Dropkick Murphys are by no means a cool band. They’re one of those bands that you heard the name of maybe seven years ago, and not because you liked them. Yet here they are, with some 5,000 fans in attendance»
UNKLE at London Brixton Academy, Sat 01 Mar
With War Stories UNKLE's James Lavelle produced a record that presented the project as a 'real' band. So when we learn some special guests are scheduled to appear tonight, it makes the show a truly attractive proposition»
Don't Look Back at London Brixton Academy, Fri 23 May
Yeah, Public Enemy may well be middle-aged, but tonight proves we probably need them now as much as we ever did when Nation was released in 1988»
Kings of Leon at London Brixton Academy, Thu 14 Aug
Cynics might suggest that during a night with Kings of Leon the songs blend together into a vast mulch of up-tempo rock. But when your festival warm-up takes place in the 5,500 capacity venue, it seems safe to assume your band's become a pretty big deal»
Wu Tang Clan at Brixton Academy, Lambeth, Wed 04 Aug
The Wu aren’t entirely expendable themselves just yet, but they’re still not utterly dependable either.»
Leftfield at Brixton Academy, Lambeth, Fri 03 Dec
The one-time ‘loudest band in the world’ no longer have it turned up to 11, but this revival has been no Spinal Tap self-parody either, and although they may be getting long in the tooth, Leftfield can still be as ferocious as the iconic shark’s teeth image on Leftism’s cover.»
M83 at Brixton Academy, Lambeth, Thu 08 Nov
It’s evident from the atmosphere that as the lights continue to flash and the cowbell donks to the very end, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming really has provided many people with a journey to remember.»
Twitter
Facebook
Last.fm
SoundCloud
MySpace
Friendster
RSS
