"We may finally have a venue to succeed the legendary Apollo." - Sunday Mail
"It will be among the top places to play for the biggest names in music" - Evening Times
In November 2002, AMG announced the acquisition of its fifth live music venue and further expansion of the successful Academy brand to Scotland. AMG purchased the former New Bedford Cinema, 121 Eglinton Street, Glasgow, G5 9NT from Scottish property developers E.D.I. Group to open as Carling Academy Glasgow on March 26th 2003 with legendary Scottish band; Deacon Blue.
The New Bedford originally opened in 1921 as a cinema theatre venue and has been fully refurbished at a cost of £3,000,000 to create a magnificent 2,500 capacity live music venue whilst retaining the grandeur of the art deco period including original ceiling features, balcony and boxes, proscenium arch around the stage, paneling on the stairwell; as well as the original facade.
The venue features a state of the art sound and lighting system and a fully flexible capacity of 2,500 for full building usage to cater for live gigs and cutting edge dance events and club nights. The design of the new acquisition emulates the success of AMG's Academy venues in Birmingham and Bristol to allow Carling Academy Glasgow the option of converting to a short hall format for events requiring a smaller 1,100 capacity that is production complete.
Well received by both the industry and public alike, Carling Academy Glasgow was championed a welcome addition to the buzzing Scottish music scene. Its exceptionally healthy line-up has continued with outstanding sell-out shows from today's biggest international acts including Mark Ronson, Dirty Pretty Things, Maximo Park, Babyshambles, Paolo Nutini, Kings Of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Morrissey, Kraftwerk, Jane's Addiction, Prodigy, Primal Scream, Kaiser Chiefs, Sheryl Crow, The Enemy, Avril Lavigne, The Proclaimers, Kelly Clarkson, and Amy MacDonald. Dance events are ever popular at the Academy with regular club nights from top Scottish club promoters Colours, Slam and Inside Out, plus alternative burlesque events with Club Noir.
Thanks to its flexible option for an all-seated format, it was the chosen venue to host the 2004 Glasgow International Comedy Festival presenting the giants of comedy Johnny Vegas, Al Murray, Dylan Moran and Jimmy Carr. Such a success, the same event returned in 2005 with shows from Paul Merton, Jerry Sadowitz and Julian Clary; in 2006 with Dara O'Briain and in 2007, the event was home to Russell Brand and Ardal O'Hanlon and Frankie Boyle take to the stage in 2008.
Acts to have sold multiple nights at the Academy include Editors (two in February 2008), The Enemy (two in March 2008), The Pigeon Detectives (two in May 2008), Avril Lavigne (two in May 2008), James (two shows in April 2007), Paolo Nutini (four shows in April/May 2007), Kaiser Chiefs (two shows in March 2007) and The Fratellis (two shows in February 2007).
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