Sheffield photographers showcase their best work
Seven ways to enjoy Sheffield indoors and out
Artist Mila K has been at work decorating the exterior of the O2 Academy on Arundel Gate.
The venue said that the idea was to remind passers-by of the good times they’ve enjoyed at the live music hotspot, which has been a prominent city centre venue since the 1960s.
As part of O2’s national This Is Just An Interval campaign, the venue has been re-energised with a new look and feel as music fans await the returning buzz of experiencing live music once again.
The city centre should have been full of people enjoying live music this weekend, of course, as Tramlines festival celebrated its 11th anniversary.
The main stage is in Hillsborough Park but the Academy is one of many venues that have put on their own events as part of the festival fringe.
At the moment there are no gigs advertised on the venue’s website until the HRH Sleaze heavy rock weekend takes place at the end of August.
O2, in collaboration with Creative Debuts, identified Mila K, a graphic artist and designer from Sheffield, for the artwork seen on O2 Academy Sheffield.
Mila said: “It was a real honour to be chosen to bring life back to O2 Academy Sheffield in these times.
“I think it’s important to give people hope and a reminder of the times they’ve shared within these venues; meeting new friends, falling in love and experiencing live music.
“I wanted to bring this sense of fun and excitement through my Feedback Frenzy concept, celebrating the weird and wonderful times by creating energetic musical characters that have been injected with life, all eagerly anticipating the re-opening of O2 Academy Sheffield, silently buzzing away till the amps all get switched back on!”
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Gareth Griffiths, head of sponsorship at O2, said: “We appreciate these continue to be extremely challenging circumstances for live music venues, still waiting on guidance as to when they can reopen their doors.
“As we gradually return to normality, it is so important we celebrate the O2 Academy Sheffield, a venue at the very heart of its community, loved for the many memories that it has created.
“The nation has experienced an extended break without live music but this is just an interval and it will be back.
“We wanted to show our appreciation by ensuring fans remember the good times until we’re all able to enjoy live music together again.”
O2, in collaboration with Creative debuts, has teamed up with home-grown talent across the UK to create bespoke artwork across 13 O2 Academy venues.
The telecoms company sponsored Academy Music Group venues since 2009. For information on their priority ticket scheme for O2 customers, visit priority.o2.co.uk/tickets
The white-tiled building opened in 1968 as the Top Rank Suite. Then it became the Roxy in May 1985.
It reopened as the O2 Academy Sheffield in 2008. City band Reverend and The Makers played the first gig and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp did a DJ set.
Website: academymusicgroup.com/o2academysheffield
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