Singer-songwriter Sombr criticised the O2 Academy in Brixton during his show on Tuesday night, after a fan passed out during the performance.
The grammy-nominated singer shouted “stop the show” as he noticed a fan who had fainted while he was singing. The musician, whose real name is Shane Michael Boose, went on to say the O2 Academy was:
‘The most poorly managed venue that I’ve ever played at in my life. You guys need to pay attention it’s insane’.
Videos on social media show staff handing out cups of water, indicating the high temperatures at the venue. Other videos describe fainting during the concert.
Another video on social media published in June 2025 also complained about the heat in the venue.
Sombr performs during the Pre-Grammy Gala on Jan. 31, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
This comes after a crush at the venue claimed the lives of two fans during a concert by singer Asake in 2022. 33-year-old Rebecca Ikumelo and 23-year-old Gaby Hutchinson died in the days following the fatal event.
The tragedy occurred as people outside the venue forced their way into the concert which led to overcrowding.
After the incident, the Metropolitan Police said it had “lost confidence” in AMG, the venue’s operator, and encouraged Lambeth Council to completely revoke the O2’s licence.
A spokesperson for AMG said the company had “co-operated fully with the Metropolitan Police and Lambeth Council since the tragedy at Brixton occurred”.
The O2 has since been allowed to continue hosting events as long as it meets 77 conditions laid out by Lambeth council’s licensing subcommittee following the disaster.
Brixton’s O2 Academy 19 November 2021
These “extensive and robust” conditions included stronger doors, new crowd management systems and a new ticketing system.
While the 77 conditions included procedures to deal with “unsafe crowd concentration”, there were not any recommendations which addressed the issue of heat in the venue or the risk of fainting.
City London News has approached the venue for comment.
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HeadlineSombr: Brixton O2 is “the most poorly managed venue”
Short HeadlineSombr hits out at London's O2 Academy Brixton
StandfirstMusician Sombr slammed London's O2 Academy Brixton after expressing concern for a fan who had passed out
Singer-songwriter Sombr criticised the O2 Academy in Brixton during his show on Tuesday night, after a fan passed out during the performance.
The grammy-nominated singer shouted “stop the show” as he noticed a fan who had fainted while he was singing. The musician, whose real name is Shane Michael Boose, went on to say the O2 Academy was:
‘The most poorly managed venue that I’ve ever played at in my life. You guys need to pay attention it’s insane’.
Videos on social media show staff handing out cups of water, indicating the high temperatures at the venue. Other videos describe fainting during the concert.
Another video on social media published in June 2025 also complained about the heat in the venue.
Sombr performs during the Pre-Grammy Gala on Jan. 31, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
This comes after a crush at the venue claimed the lives of two fans during a concert by singer Asake in 2022. 33-year-old Rebecca Ikumelo and 23-year-old Gaby Hutchinson died in the days following the fatal event.
The tragedy occurred as people outside the venue forced their way into the concert which led to overcrowding.
After the incident, the Metropolitan Police said it had “lost confidence” in AMG, the venue’s operator, and encouraged Lambeth Council to completely revoke the O2’s licence.
A spokesperson for AMG said the company had “co-operated fully with the Metropolitan Police and Lambeth Council since the tragedy at Brixton occurred”.
The O2 has since been allowed to continue hosting events as long as it meets 77 conditions laid out by Lambeth council’s licensing subcommittee following the disaster.
Brixton’s O2 Academy 19 November 2021
These “extensive and robust” conditions included stronger doors, new crowd management systems and a new ticketing system.
While the 77 conditions included procedures to deal with “unsafe crowd concentration”, there were not any recommendations which addressed the issue of heat in the venue or the risk of fainting.
City London News has approached the venue for comment.
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