News

News News http://www.academy-music-group.co.uk/news/ en Thu, 17 May 2012 09:52:59 GMT Thu, 17 May 2012 09:52:59 GMT 5 The Straits to play Charity Fundraising Show at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire Fresh from their successful European tour, which included sold out shows in Lisbon and Paris, The Straits are pleased to announce a Charity fundraising show Fresh from their successful European tour, which included sold out shows in Lisbon and Paris, The Straits are pleased to announce a Charity fundraising show at legendary West London venue, O<sub>2</sub> Shepherd’s Bush Empire. This one-off event on Thursday 21<sup>st</sup> June will raise awareness for the Sarah Greene Breakthrough Tribute Fund – part of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Appeal – with all profits donated to the charity.<br /> <br /> The Sarah Greene Breakthrough Tribute Fund was established in 2008, in memory of Sarah who sadly lost her courageous battle with breast cancer in 2006. The fund is raising monies towards further research into the aggressive ‘Triple Negative’ breast cancer suffered by Sarah, which desperately requires newer forms of treatment, and endeavours to find a suitable drug to fight this particular type of cancer.<br /> <br /> The Straits are comprised of former Dire Straits members and give fans the chance to experience the band’s music live, performing classic hits; including Sultans of Swing, Romeo And Juliet, Tunnel Of Love, Private Investigations, Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life, and Brothers In Arms.  <br /> This very special evening not only gives all who attend the chance to witness a fantastic live band, but at the same time, the opportunity to make a real difference to someone’s life. It promises to be a wonderful event for a really great cause.<br /> www.sarahgreene.org Justine Fancy General Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:15:00 GMT 2012-04-30T14:15:00 5162fe29-ae21-4f0a-a9b3-d2d3935e9bb9 1 Basement Jaxx Raise Funds for Charity Appeal Basement Jaxx to play O2 Academy Leicester in support of Cardiovascular Research Centre Appeal <div> <span>Dance giants Basement Jaxx will play an exclusive DJ set on Thursday 10th May at Leicester’s O2 Academy to support the University of Leicester’s Cardiovascular Research Centre appeal, with all funds raised from ticket sales going directly towards the new unit at </span>Glenfield Hospital.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Members Simon Ratcliffe and Leicester-born Felix Buxton are currently working on the follow up to their 2009 albums “Scars” & “Zephyr”, and fans will be able to catch a preview of new Basement Jaxx material during their headline set.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <span>The London-based duo, who have won Grammy and Brit awards, will be supported by dubstep producer Boy Kid Cloud and Leicester-based rising stars I Am In Love.</span></div> <div>  </div> <div> <span>All of the artists will be performing for free to help support the appeal, which aims </span>to raise the final £1 million needed to complete and equip a new £12.6m Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Glenfield Hospital, the regional centre for secondary and specialist cardiac care.</div> <div>  </div> <div> The event has been organised by the University’s Development and Alumni Relations Office in collaboration with the Students’ Union and the O2 Academy.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <span style="times: ">The idea was suggested by Felix’s uncle Hugh Stevenson, a member of the University’s Development Board.</span></div> <div>  </div> <div> <span style="times: ">Ave Vinick, Deputy Director of Development at the University, said: “We are very grateful to Basement Jaxx for offering to come to Leicester and perform on behalf of the Cardiovascular Research Centre Appeal.  </span></div> <div>  </div> <div> <span style="times: ">“Their support and that of their fans will speed the pace of research into heart disease and help to improve the health and life expectation of patients in communities in Leicestershire, across the UK and worldwide.”</span></div> Justine Fancy General Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:00 GMT 2012-04-17T16:00:00 f809220c-4fe9-4d79-8336-cd84f0842238 2 Nik Kershaw to play O2 Academy Venues Nationwide Nik Kersahw and his band announce a tour playing 'Human Racing' live and in its entirety Academy Events in association with Fruit Pie Music and ShortHouse Records are thrilled to announce that Nik Kershaw and his band will head out on tour in September 2012. This will be the first time Nik has toured with his band since 2001 and offers an all too rare chance to experience one of the UK’s premier singer/songwriters live in concert.<br /> <br /> Nik will be playing nine dates to celebrate this year’s re-release of his 1984 Brit nominated, iconic first album ‘Human Racing’, which he will be performing in its entirety.<br /> <br /> He’ll also be introducing songs from his new studio album ‘8’, (due to be released this summer), along with many favouritesspanning his varied and illustrious career.<br />  <br /> Dates are as follows:<br /> SEPTEMBER 2012<br />  <br /> Wednesday 19<sup>th</sup>- O<sub>2</sub> Academy2 Sheffield<br /> Thursday 20<sup>th</sup>- O<sub>2</sub> ABC2 Glasgow<br /> Friday 21<sup>st</sup>- O<sub>2</sub> Academy Liverpool<br /> Saturday 22<sup>nd</sup> - O<sub>2</sub> Academy2 Birmingham<br /> Sunday 23<sup>rd</sup> - O<sub>2</sub> Academy2 Newcastle<br /> Tuesday 25<sup>th</sup> - O<sub>2</sub> Academy2 Oxford<br /> Wednesday 26<sup>th</sup> - O<sub>2</sub> Academy Bristol<br /> Thursday 27<sup>th</sup> - O<sub>2</sub> Academy Bournemouth<br /> Friday 28<sup>th</sup> - O<sub>2</sub> Shepherd’s Bush Empire<br /> Justine Fancy General Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:15:00 GMT 2012-04-19T13:15:00 cba4b265-521b-4be6-b544-27c92754006e 3 The Cat Empire Announce a Pre Christmas European Tour The Cat Empire announce a European tour, including two nights at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire Australian favourites The Cat Empire have announced an 8 date pre-christmas tour through key European cities. The band will hit European shores at the end of the year in order to promote the first single from their new album.<br />  <br /> In an industry where few bands survive beyond the first album, The Cat Empire have consolidated themselves as a world class touring band over the past decade. European audiences have embraced their music, with their annual tours selling out well in advance.  This is a band which has managed to retain indie cred while playing to thousands of fans at every stop.<br />  <br /> The December tour will be no exception. The Cat Empire can deliver a party like no other. The 8-piece line up features cool horn lines, a scratch DJ, two amazing front men and one of the worlds best rhythm sections.  Their songs have become anthems to their international legion of fans.<br /> <br /> The Cat Empire has now sold over three quarters of a million albums and dvds in all corners of the world.  They have headlined global festivals, won ARIAs, played on Letterman and Leno, performed over 850 shows to ever increasing international audiences, and have contributed significantly to a range of charities and social causes.<br /> <br /> The Cat Empire play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on Sunday 9th and Monday 10th December 2012. <br />  <br /> Justine Fancy General Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:00 GMT 2012-04-17T16:00:00 c5dab047-122a-46ad-a22d-586b7fb5e612 4 Sean Morgan joins AMG from Manchester Academy Sean Morgan has joined Academy Music Group. Morgan recently left Manchester Academy after 22 years, where he was Venue Manager and In-House Booker. <p> Sean has a wealth of experience and will be looking at the AMG venue portfolio with a view to generate new business and enhance programming. Over the years, Sean has developed and maintained excellent relationships with agents and promoters and he is sure to bring new ideas to the table.</p> Louise Kovacs General Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:00:00 GMT 2012-04-04T00:00:00 a751c5c0-b10d-48f9-bd75-0ef56bb1b919 1000000 Then Jerico announce ‘The Big Area’ Tour 2012 Eighties rockers Then Jerico have announced a reunion tour with all original band members for September 2012 to mark the 25th anniversary and digital re-release of their debut album ‘First (The Sound of Music)’ (1987) (Rhino – Warner Music). <p> Lead vocalist Mark Shaw, drummer Steve Wren, guitarist Rob Downes, bassist Jasper Stainthorpe, guitarist Scott Taylor are coming together for a series of eight shows at O2 Academy venues across the country and will perform ‘The Big Area’ in its entirely as well as selected tracks from ‘First’. The tour will culminate in a London show at O2 Academy Islington on Saturday 29th September 2012.</p> www.thenjerico.com Louise Kovacs General Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT 2012-03-05T00:00:00 1afbb15c-579a-4ada-b421-09de937eda08 1000000 Ultimate 80s Festival This all-day outdoor event at The Forum Hertforshire on Saturday 26th May will feature ABC, Heaven 17, Howard Jones, Katrina (Ex Katrina & The Waves) and Doctor & The Medics! <p> A one day outdoor event hosted by Heart’s Matt Jarvis, the Ultimate 80s Festival will see a line up of iconic 80s artists take to the stage and celebrate a time that saw new genres erupt, creating a defining era in UK music.</p> <p> Get your leg warmers at the ready, pull out the eyeliner from the bottom of your make-up bag and resurrect the ‘flock of seagulls’ haircut for a one day festival that will take you back to the 80s. On Saturday 26th May, so<br /> many of the best acts come together from one of the greatest decades when the Ultimate 80s Festival comes to The Forum Hertfordshire, Hatfield.</p> www.forumhertfordshire.co.uk Louise Kovacs General Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT 2012-03-05T00:00:00 3cd0ef4e-5312-41aa-a041-1f0a2ac76b00 1000000 AMG Staff Appointments: South Coast Academy Music Group (AMG) and Live Nation today announced a new management structure for its two south coast venues. <p> Following more than 18 years at Southampton Guildhall, Mandy Fields has been appointed ‘Area General Manager’ for AMG and Live Nation's two south coast venues.</p> <p> Mandy will continue to oversee operations at Southampton Guildhall but extend her wealth of local knowledge and experience to head the team at AMG’s O2 Academy Bournemouth, looking to new business opportunities and event based activity at the 1,800 capacity venue in Boscombe.</p> <p> Mandy will head the new management structure, with Nikki Miles promoted to ‘Venue Manager’ of O2 Academy Bournemouth. Nikki has worked at the venue since 2008 and has several years experience with a sound knowledge of rock and pop and dance and club events. Nikki’s appointment is with immediate effect.</p> www.o2academybournemouth.co.uk Louise Kovacs General Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT 2012-03-05T00:00:00 62b3b9b1-0b08-4d77-8fb3-10a85c752258 1000000 Academy Events Donates to Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal Academy Music Group’s promoting division, Academy Events has donated almost £8,000 to the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal. <p> Academy Music Group’s promoting division, Academy Events has donated almost £8,000 to the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal, raised from ticket and guest list donations from 2011’s Toots and The Maytals sold-out show at O2 Academy Brixton. The tour visited seven O2 Academy venues across the UK in August and September 2011, promoted by Academy Events.</p> <p> <br /> The money will be used to honour the Jamaican nurse whose commitment to treating soldiers during the Crimean war and patients of the cholera epidemic has gone relatively unnoticed since the turn of the 20th Century.<br />  <br /> The donation was presented to Lord Soley, Chairman of the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal, at the House of Lords on Tuesday 14th February. When the memorial is completed, it will be the first in the UK to a named black woman and is proposed for a prestigious position; in front of St Thomas’ Hospital, facing the Houses of Parliament in London.<br />  <br /> Lord Soley said; “I am very grateful to Academy Events and Academy Music Group for helping to raise funds for this Appeal. We need a total of £500,000 but have already raised over £100,000, much of it from schools, nurses and army units. The Sculptor Martin Jennings FRBS is a world-renowned artist and this memorial will not only honour Mary but also become part of the famous South Bank complex.”<br />  <br /> Ian Richards, Academy Events promoter added; “This was something we had been asked to support for some time and Toots Hibbert stepped forward to honour such an important cause for London that is local to us in Lambeth.”<br />  </p> Justine Fancy General Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:30:00 GMT 2012-02-17T12:30:00 70ddb9f6-6505-4020-b5a8-6467fb521d20 1000000 O2 Academy Brixton hailed ‘Favourite Venue’ at TPi Awards 2012 Academy Music Group (AMG) triumphed at the Total Production Awards 2012 on Monday 13th February 2012 with O2 Academy Brixton wining the ‘Favourite Venue’ category. <p> The Awards celebrate the very best in live production and is voted for by the trade and production industry. O2 Academy Brixton held off competition from its sister venue O2 Academy Leeds, the Roundhouse, Wembley Stadium, MEN Arena and the O2 Arena to win the prestigious nomination.</p> <p>  “It’s always an enormous honour to be recognised within the industry” says Nigel Downs, General Manager, O2 Academy Brixton. “Our TPI Award means a lot to us, voted for by those we work with all year round.”</p> <p> Since its inception in 2002, the <a href="http://www.tpiawards.com ">TPi Awards</a> has consistently grown in size and status with over 30 categories. O2 Academy Brixton’s Josh Rosen was also nominated for ‘Stage Manager Of The Year’.</p> www.o2academybrixton.co.uk Louise Kovacs General Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT 2012-02-14T00:00:00 a46878fa-a00e-4152-8a8c-3c9791dd9431 1000000