Alongside the 3,000-capacity O2 Academy Birmingham and the O2 Academy 3 Birmingham, which can accommodate 250 gig-goers, the O2 Academy 2 Birmingham is a live music venue situated in the heart of the West Midlands. Located in the building that used to house the Dome Nightclub, these three venues constitute one of the main focal points in the city for live music. The O2 Academy 2 Birmingham attracts a number of touring acts, as well as up-and-coming bands. With a capacity for 600 all-standing audience members, the venue is of a mid-size, making it suitable for smaller bands as well as established acts doing more intimate or unplugged performances.

O2 Academy 2 Birmingham history

The story of the O2 Academy 2 Birmingham is entwined in that of its sister venues, which occupy the same building. The entire venue moved in 2009 from its previous address in Dale End. Here, it had operated as the Ballroom and then as Top Rank Suite, the name it was known by in the 1960s. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the venue gained a well-deserved reputation for new music. Known then as the Hummingbird, the venue hosted house music events, something that was not common in the city at that time. In the 1990s, the Hummingbird staged some notable gigs, including one by the Beastie Boys. It also spearheaded some of the American grunge rock gigs in the UK, with a rare performance by Nirvana.

The Hummingbird shut its doors in 1994 and it was not until it was bought by the Academy Music Group in 2000 that it opened once more. Rebranded as the Carling Academy in 2002, it changed its name once more in 2008, following a sponsorship deal with a telecommunications giant. After many sold-out shows and successful gigs, the O2 Academy 2 Birmingham relocated to Horsefair on Bristol Street, where it has operated from ever since.

O2 Academy 2 Birmingham events

Since it opened in its new premises, many of the higher profile acts to play at the venue complex have taken to the main Academy stage. Nevertheless, big acts such as the Wonder Stuff have performed at the O2 Academy 2 Birmingham. They did so in 2014, as did former Hole singer, Courtney Love, in that year. More recently, the stage has been graced by the likes of Kiefer Sutherland, Dead Kennedys and British Sea Power, as a part of the latter's Let the Dancers Inherit the Party tour. Other notable performers include Electric Six and ex-Sugar frontman Bob Mould.

Similar venues to the O2 Academy 2 Birmingham

At StubHub, you can find tickets for gigs at places such as the O2 Institute Birmingham and the NEC, an arena-sized venue.