"Bridging the gap between London's intimate venues and soulless arenas, the Grade 2 listed building is one of the capital's best live venues. Its sloping floor gives a decent view from almost anywhere and the slightly surreal interior (based on the Rialto Bridge in Venice) lends each show here a true sense of occasion." - Time Out
"one of the most famous venues in the world." - South London Press
"the venerable home of all the most credible modern music." - Evening Standard
The award-winning Academy Theatre was built in 1929 as the flagship of the Astoria Group's chain of atmospheric variety theatres. The venue boasts a magnificent Art Deco interior, with a grand entrance hall and sweeping double stairway in the foyer. The main auditorium contains Europe's largest fixed stage, framed by an elaborate proscenium arch based on the design of the Rialto Bridge. It was the first truly atmospheric English theatre where built-up forms were combined with colour and plasterwork to produce the illusion of an auditorium with the atmosphere of the outdoors.
The Awards
- NME Awards 2007 - 'Best Venue' (Carling Academy Brixton has won this award twelve times between 1994-2007)
- Vodafone Live Music Awards 2006 - 'Best Live Venue'
- Time Out Award 2004 - 'Live Venue of the Year'
- Total Production 2006 & 2004 - The production industry's 'Favourite Venue'
- Vote London (TFL) 2003: No. 1 for "Cool Clubs & Music"
- Best London Venue: BBC London 94.9 Robert Elms Show (April 2003)
- NME Awards 'Best Live Venue': 1994 - 2002
- Music Week UK 'Venue Of The Year': 1996
- Live! Magazine European 'Venue Of The Year': 1994, 1997, 1999
- Live! Magazine 'Best UK Venue': 2000, 2001, 2002
- ILMC 'Venue of The Year': 1997
Live Concert Format
Carling Academy Brixton is a celebrated venue on the European and UK tour circuit with acts such as Sex Pistols, Bob Dylan, The Killers, Public Enemy, Rolling Stones, Arcade Fire, Prince, Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Arctic Monkeys, Primal Scream, Radiohead, The Clash, N*E*R*D, Kings Of Leon, James Brown, Foo Fighters, Richard Ashcroft, Coldplay, PJ Harvey, Eminem, New Order, Queens Of The Stone Age, Missy Elliot, DJ Shadow, P!nk, Editors, Marilyn Manson, REM and the Pixies choosing to play the Academy because there isn't an atmosphere to touch it.
In November 2007, the Academy was delighted to host 5 outstanding sell-out Sex Pistols shows to celebrate 3 decade since their seminal debut album was unleashed. In the same month, Keane were the band to curate a 'War Child' charity event featuring a superb line-up of Pet Shop Boys, Lily Allen and Guillemots.
In November 2000, the Academy was chosen by Madonna to play to a selected audience as a 'club' gig. This show was broadcast on the Internet and accessed via an estimated audience amounting to '9 MILLION HITS' – a world record! In 2006, Scissor Sisters rocked the Academy for a second sell-out 'Halloween' fancy dress concert to raise funds for 'Global Cool'.
Cult comedy, The Mighty Boosh, have six consecutive sell-out nights to raise the roof in October 2008 and none other than Hard-Fi delighted crowds with a staggering 5 consecutive sell-out gigs at Carling Academy Brixton in May 2006, only the fifth act ever to play a 5 night stand and something never done before by a band touring their debut album.
BBC Radio 3 chose the South London venue for their 'World Music Awards' in April 2006 and MTV2 celebrated their 5th birthday with a sell-out bill featuring Jane's Addiction, The Music, The Thrills and The Rapture, broadcasting live to an audience of millions in September 2003. The venue continues to shine with shows from the very best in new talent, including capacity, sell-out shows from Biffy Clyro, LCD Soundsystem, We Are Sciensts, Pendulum, Klaxons, The Pigeon Detectives, CSS and Hot Chip.
Level Dance Floor Format
The Academy easily has the capacity to transform from a gig venue into a club and dance environment using its unique 'level dance floor'; also suitable for awards ceremonies and dinners. Acts and events to date include the Xfm Big Night Out, Hard Dance Awards, Fatboy Slim vs Armand Van Helden, Jamiroquai, Orbital, DJ Shadow, Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, The Chemical Brothers, B-Boy Championships, Heat, One Nation, Hard House Academy, DMC World DJ Championships and the NME Awards.
Seated Format
A further configuration is the 'All Seated Venue', which has a capacity of 2,309 for shows such as Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Izzard, Comic Relief, David Icke, Gospel Singers Of The Year and the award winning TV shows, Little Britain Live, Jimmy Carr and The Mighty Boosh.
|
