O2 Academy is Liverpool BID Company’s Business of the Month for October - and here’s why

The opening of the O₂ Academy more than 20 years ago signalled the start of a monumental music venue in Liverpool.

Since then, it’s continued to build on its reputation for offering first class facilities for, and a vibrant mix of, club nights and live music in the city.

Chloe Gaughan, marketing manager for Liverpool BID Company, who’ve named it as Business of the Month for October said:

“It’s an essential venue; a major and integral part of Liverpool’s amazing music scene,”

Chloe adds: “The O₂ has one of the best locations too – right next to Lime Street Station.”

How it all began

The history of the 19^th century warehouse in Hotham Street’s peppered with interesting former residents. The Ray and Miles family, a renowned furniture maker, used the building in the late 1890s, and it was also a pet shop and site of a horse market! It was converted into a music space in early 2000 housing L2, the second venue of the Lomax, which saw gigs from the likes of Muse, Coldplay, Paul Weller and Idlewild before its closure in 2002.

AMG announced its purchase alongside plans to accentuate its architectural features, while improving its live capabilities with a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, and creating a secondary space to give emerging artists the chance to gain exposure and play a venue with fantastic production.

The venue opened as Carling Academy – 0₂took over sponsorshipin 2009 – in September 2003 with members of Cast, The Coral and Andy Rourke from The Smiths, and a sold out show from Shack. The following night music aficionado Steve Lamacq gave it the seal of approval bringing BBC 6 Music’s Lamacq In The City to the stage with a headline performance from Ladytron and an early live set from Franz Ferdinand in support.

And the big names came!

In just the first few months it boasted established artists like Blondie and Killing Joke, along with indie acts of moment, Elbow, Athlete, The Thrills and The Wannadies – and the venue was immediately credited locally by media and music fans for putting Liverpool back on the touring map. In more recent years it’s welcomed Wet Leg, Tom Odell, Sundara Karma, Azealia Banks, Doves and Loreen.

Why it works so well

The O₂Academy has established itself as a major player on the UK touring circuit, and versatile too, attracting high profile internationally acclaimed artists to cutting edge dance and urban acts. Its unique warehouse feel and the secondary stand-alone venue, O₂ Academy2, offers diversity for club nights as well as a forum for showcasing unsigned artists and a platform for new bands on their early tours. In this intimate space, audiences have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the rising talent of the future, and the venue’s commitment to supporting new underground music has allowed thousands of musicians the chance to perform on the O₂ Academy stage.

Defining moments

* In 2010, the venue was selected to host an exclusive show with Sir Paul McCartney. The intimate gig saw the legendary Beatle perform for more than two hours, with a set list that included hits from his solo career and the Beatles back catalogue

* Deltasonic’s Christmas party in 2006 was an unforgettable celebration which brought together an incredible list of acts from The Zutons and The Rascals to The Coral, The Dead 60s and Little Flames – plus an impromptu performance from the Arctic Monkeys

O₂ Academy Liverpool has hosted gigs from some of the most important artists in music history including: Amy Winehouse, Biffy Clyro, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Blondie, Paul McCartney, The Prodigy and Snoop Dogg.

Coming soon…

The big names have come – but they haven’t gone.

30+ Club, Reef, RORY, The Wedding Present, Heaven 17, Amble, and Maximo Park are just some of the acts you’ll be able to see soon.

Did someone mention Christmas?

If you’re looking for gift ideas, what better than the chance to give the gift of live music? O₂ Academy sells through Ticketmaster who have gift cards which can do just.