Like other live music venues owned and run by the Academy Music Group, the O2 Academy Bristol was converted from a former cinema. One of the leading places for club nights and musical performances in the city, the O2 Academy Bristol is sponsored by Telefonica, the telecommunications company that owns the O2 brand. When used for live gigs, the venue is capable of holding 2,000 concertgoers. However, if a club night is put on, then the auditorium can be reconfigured to accommodate up to 2,500 revellers. It was the third venue to be opened in the UK under the Academy brand.

O2 Academy Bristol history

When it opened in 1966, the building that now houses the O2 Academy Bristol was a complex of entertainment venues that included an ABC cinema, an ice rink, bowling facilities, a casino and a number of bars. Much of this space was later converted to student accommodation, but the cinema went on to become a nightclub in 2000. The nightclub opened under the name “Rock”, but was soon adapted once more into its current form.

O2 Academy Bristol events

The first gig at the venue was a sell-out performance by Ocean Colour Scene, the mod-rock outfit, in 2001. Since then, it has hosted a wide range of performers and caters for all sorts of musical tastes. High-profile acts such as Faithless and Gorillaz played at the Academy within 12 months of its opening. In 2002, the well-respected DJ Shadow teamed up with Thom Yorke, Radiohead's frontman and singer, for a live performance of their Rabbit In Your Headlights. Big-name bands such as Elbow, Arcade Fire and Foals have all graced the venue's stage. In addition, singers such as Amy Winehouse have chosen to perform the Bristol leg of their UK tours there. In 2005, there was a two-night spectacular, which featured local favourites Massive Attack and Portishead coming together for a charity gig.

Alongside the programme of live music performances, there are plenty of recurring club nights and one-off clubbing events that are put on at the O2 Academy Bristol. For example, Ramshackle is a dance event that occurs every week and which has seen many of the country's top DJs perform. Zane Lowe – as well as the likes of One Nation, Bedlam, Sidewinder and Annie Mac – have all played DJ sets at the venue in the past.

Similar venues to the O2 Academy Bristol

If you are looking for a club night or live music in the city of Bristol, then there are plenty of places you might choose. At StubHub, you can find tickets for well-run places such as Basement 45, for example. Alternatively, try the gigs on offer at Colston Hall.