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Storied west London music venue Shepherd’s Bush Empire – officially O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – has had a major refurb. Just in time for a packed autumn gig season, the venue has revealed significant improvements in its sound, lighting and seating.
Academy Music Group (AMG), the company that owns the Empire, revealed that the 2,000 capacity venue underwent a comprehensive upgrade over the summer. The renovations included a brand-new speaker system, improved lights, and a refurbished level one balcony. This is all part of the company’s nationwide plan to improve its venues.
Shepherd’s Bush Empire was designed by 19th century English architect Frank Matcham, who was also responsible for glorious London venues like the Hippodrome, Hackney Empire, Coliseum and Palladium. Since opening in 1903 the Empire has hosted countless famous performers, from Charlie Chaplin and Dusty Springfield to the Rolling Stones and Kylie Minogue.
All the technical upgrades – installing a state-of-the-art speaker system and a brand-new house lighting system – were carefully completed in order to preserve the building’s architectural integrity. Here’s a sneak peek at what the place looks like post-refurb.
Liam Boylan, CEO at AMG, said: ‘Installing this impressive audio system was essential to give our audience the very best sonic experience, ensuring that O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire’s audio capabilities are top-class, not only meeting, but exceeding what touring parties expect when they arrive at our venue.’
Bill Marshall, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire’s manager, said: ‘O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire is such a loved venue, and the management team here collectively hold 100 years of experience working with this legendary building. Stepping out onto the Level One balcony has always been an awe-inspiring experience, but the refurbishment of that space has raised the bar even further, and we can’t wait for people to come in and see, hear and feel the updates we’ve made.’
Keen to hear O2 Shepherd’s Bush’s new sound and lights in action? Check out the venue website here for upcoming gigs.
Here’s Time Out’s guide to upcoming gigs in September, plus what to do in the Shepard’s Bush area.
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