This venue was originally known as Manchester University or Main Debating Hall (MDH) when I first visited. It first opened in 1963 as a Jazz Club. However when the Academy was built it was incorporated under that umbrella and became known as Academy 2. It is located on the first floor of the Manchester University building down Oxford Road just prior to Rusholme.
The whole complex has the old ‘school corridor’ vibe about it, but not too its detriment. The venue itself is an enclosed room and initially just access in and out at a small door at the back which when busy can occasionally give it a slightly claustrophobic feel. In latter years they have introduced an entrance/exit to the right of the stage. There used to be a very small bar just outside the venue where it is was virtually impossible to get served and they have now introduced a bar at the back of the venue.
I have attended 35 gigs there and have a further two planned in the coming months placing this as my No 2 most populated venue.
My first gig there was hotly anticipated, namely Wedding Present in February 1988. I was a huge fan at that stage and had their first album ‘George Best’ on heavy rotation. They did not disappoint and I recall ‘Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft’, ‘Favourite Dress’ and ‘You Should Always Keep in Touch with your Friends’ as standouts. By the end of the gig I was a sweaty specimen after spending the majority of the gig in the moshpit. After the gig I recall hoovering a pizza purchased from an establishment opposite the public lavs that subsequently turned into the Temple of Convenience bar.
I have since seen the Weddoes a further two times there in February 2005 and October 2018 and have a further attendance planned in December 2019.
The 2018 gig was an interesting one as I attended with a new Manchester brethren Martin W, Howard not Tom, Donna and Wedding Present ‘superfan’ Marcus. We had just bought our new home a week before which solidified our move to Manchester so hence a big moment in life. The gig was great with them incorporating the 30th anniversary of George Best but the commute was stunningly chaotic with cancelled trains, ubers, then the Jimmy Sat Nav having a rare malfunction by getting off the night bus far too early in monsoon conditions and then eventually a £15 cab journey as I was in the middle of nowhere – still a good night though!
Boo Radleys in 1994 was an especially good one with ‘Lazarus’ the highlight.
I saw Marie McKee there twice in 1991 and 1996, the second time she was compelling viewing as she had recently released ‘Life Is Sweet’, in my opinion her best solo album. This was despite a somewhat annoying heckler in attendance which resulted eventually in a portion of the audience including myself ordering him to ‘do one’ in no uncertain terms.