Like other live music venues run by the Academy Music Group, the O2 Academy Liverpool is sponsored by Telefonica Europe, which owns the O2 brand. Located in Hotham Street, it is a venue with a capacity for up to 1,200 audience members in the main auditorium. The crowd is split up into a maximum of 900 on the lower floor and 300 people can occupy the venue's balcony. A separate auditorium, known as O2 Academy 2 Liverpool, is also on the site and this can hold up to 500 concertgoers. Although the venue shut down in 2002, it reopened its doors to much acclaim in September 2003 and now regularly attracts some of the highest profile touring performers in the UK, as well as many internationally renowned artists.
When the O2 Academy Liverpool opened its doors once more, it was first headlined by local favourites, Shack. Following that, the BBC brought 6 Music’s Lamacq In The City show to the venue. This gig featured a legendary performance by Franz Ferdinand. Other bands that played at the Academy during this period included Elbow, Athlete and the Wannadies, as well as the likes of Killing Joke and Blondie.
The gigs put on at the O2 Academy Liverpool tend to favour fans of rock and indie music, but these are by no means the only genres that are catered for. For example, Paloma Faith, Amy Winehouse and Sir Paul McCartney have all taken to its stage, as well as more traditional rock outfits such as Courteneers, the Killers and Biffy Clyro. In 2011, the world-famous rapper Snoop Dogg played a one-off show at the venue during a short visit to the UK.
The O2 Academy Liverpool is located in the heart of the city and Lime Street Station is just a few metres away. If you are driving to the venue, then many of the city centre car parks are available to use but the Academy does not have any parking facilities of its own. Disabled parking bays are located on Bridport Street, just outside the venue.
Because the venue's building was originally constructed in the 1800s, it is not purpose-built for the additional needs of some visitors with limited mobility. There are two sets of stairs that lead to the main auditorium from the foyer but the stalls area can be accessed via a lift. This area has been rearranged to be able to accept up to four wheelchair users. There is an accessible toilet that is located on the first floor.
Venues similar to the O2 Academy Liverpool include the Cavern Club Liverpool and Zanzibar Club. Tickets for both can be found at StubHub.
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