Clubs Quiz O2 Academy

We talk to the insiders of the Leeds nightlife scene

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After opening up in October 2008, Leeds’ O2 Academy venue has established itself as both a home for the city’s biggest gigs and some of the best club nights. To find out how things have been going over the last eight months, we spoke to the venue’s assistant general manager Denny Rankin.

How long have you been in your current role?
Eight months ago - we opened our venue in October 2008 and I’ve been here as assistant general manager since we launched.

Have you always worked in the music/clubs industry?
For the past eight years I have worked at a number of festivals and events nationwide. I also organised a jazz festival in New Zealand in 2007 and two years ago I decided to move into venue management.

How have things been going at the O2 Academy since it opened?
Full on, to say the least! Obviously being a brand new venue in the city with a newly formed team, we have all risen to the challenge, with professional attitudes and the essential good humour! It’s a fantastic venue that Leeds needed for so long, with an outstanding heritage, it really is a beautiful building. It’s great to have such a busy diary of high profile international artists and brilliant club nights such as Pet Sounds.

What have been your most successful events so far?
That’s a hard question, they’re all varied with a great bunch of people coming through our doors and we see such amazing talent. Kasabian were great and really got the crowd involved, Basement Jaxx will also go down as a spectacular gig, Elbow really showed why they are one of the greatest live acts around and Duffy was also a really special show… and dare we say, the opening night with Kaiser Chiefs went right off and is sure to be talked about for years!

And what exciting things have you got coming up in future?
We’re looking forward to the Motorhead show, not to mention Morrissey and Bloc Party, Massive Attack always put on a good performance and rest assured there’s a lot of exciting things in the diary for the autumn season, so you’ll have to watch this space! Of course Brutus Gold’s Lovetrain continues to delight the people of Yorkshire with its 70s charm and we are now Kissdafunk’s new home - which I’m very excited about too.

What do you get up to in an average week? What do you most and least like about your job?
As you can appreciate, with a venue this size there is always a lot to do during the week - like preparing for upcoming shows, booking new events and managing the team. I honestly can’t think of any down points to the job, it’s a pleasure coming to work every day, meeting new people and seeing the whole show come together and producing some of the best live events music fans will ever see.

What would you be doing in an alternative career?
I like cooking, so possibly something to do with food, maybe running a small quality restaurant? Obviously being a world famous rock star would come first though!

What kinds of music are you into?
I like a wide variety of music which is a good thing for my job, I guess. But, if I had to choose it would be live rock gigs and techno and dance too, but I also enjoy blues and folk very much.

What are your favourite places in Leeds?
I like the bars up on New Briggate, Sandinista! is cool, the Adelphi pub is a great place and Call Lane never fails to please. Tampopo is a smashing little place to eat too.

What do you get up to outside work?
I enjoy the outdoors. I used to climb a lot, something I’m keen to restart this summer and I enjoy walking in the Lakes. Other than that I have a new nephew, two nieces, a girlfriend, many friends and a large family so my time is divided, not always equally between them all!

Posted on Wednesday 27th May 2009

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