O2 Academy Glasgow

The O₂ Academy Glasgow (formerly the Carling Academy Glasgow) is a music venue on Eglinton Street in the Gorbals (Laurieston) area of Glasgow. It holds 2,500 people. It was one of two Academy Music Group venues in Glasgow, until the O₂ ABC Glasgow closed due to fire damage in 2018.^[2]

O₂ Academy Glasgow

Location	Glasgow
Owner	Academy Music Group
Genre(s)	Rock, Indie music, comedy
Capacity	2,500[1]
Opened	26 March 2003
Website
www.o2academyglasgow.co.uk

Lzzy Hale with Halestorm performing at the O2 Academy Glasgow.

It was one of a group of music venues in Britain branded Carling Academy, the best known including the Brixton Academy and the O₂ Academy Birmingham. Since November 2008, the venue has been rebranded by network operator O₂ to its new name, following a new sponsorship deal with Live Nation.

George Ezra playing at the O2 Academy in Glasgow in 2015.

History

The venue is housed in the former New Bedford Cinema which underwent a £3 million refurbishment project to turn it into a 2,500 person music venue. The venue opened on 26 March 2003 with the band Deacon Blue, Singer Bryan Ferry and girl group Sugababes^[3] after 10 years of the building being closed and in disrepair.

On 6 November 2008, it was announced that Telefónica Europe (owners of the O₂ Network in the UK) had become the new sponsor of all Academy venues, in a deal with music promoter Live Nation. The deal, which lasts for five years, sees all venues rebranded "The O₂ Academy", in line with Telefónica's purchase of the Millennium Dome (now The O2).^[4]

Events

• The Killers' 2006 gig at the venue sold out in a record three minutes. This led to the band announcing a date at Glasgow's SECC Arena the following night.
• James Brown played his last UK gig at the venue on 25 October 2006.
• The venue hosted a prestigious O₂ Wireless Festival workshop on 10 May 2008.
• During the annual Glasgow International Comedy Festival, the venue is transformed into a comedy club with shows taking place every night. Russell Brand, Jimmy Carr and Frankie Boyle have performed at the venue.
• The venue played host to The Gigantour on 19 February 2008.^[5]
• Frankie Boyle hosts the record for the most shows played at the venue - a total of 14 - including six during 2008's Glasgow Comedy Festival.
• Olivia Rodrigo has performed here on July 2, 2022, on her Sour Tour.
• AJR performed here on 28 September 2022 on their tour supporting their album "OK Orchestra".
• Fish played his final two shows ever on 9 and 10 March 2025 at the venue.
• Rita Ora Played her first Headline show in 6 years here on the 11th May 2018