Originally posted by The Vinyl Factory

“We want to thank all the dancers, the fellow promoters, the artists, DJs & the TRC staff, each of you have put your trust in us & sailed on the TRC ship.”

Stoke Newington music venue Total Refreshment Centre has announced it is to stop hosting events following a reported intervention by Hackney council.

Sharing the news via a post on TRC’s Facebook page, Lexus Blondin writes: “As of this week we won’t be having events at TRC for a little while. The council has issued us with a notice of closure. We will know more in the coming weeks, but for now we’re going to stay quiet.”

Over the last few years, Total Refreshment Centre has played a central part in fostering London’s jazz and dance music scene, hosting a superb programme of live gigs from local and international artists alongside club nights with the likes of Beauty And The Beat, Gilles Peterson and Sofrito.

As a hub for the wider creative community, TRC also accommodates artist studios, rehearsal spaces and a record label, which last year made its bow with a tipped EP from Vels Trio. One of its most memorable recent nights, a collaborative event with Chicago Label International Anthem called Chicago x London is set to be released by drummer Makaya McCraven, who has enlisted a stellar cast of international artists to rework material recorded live at TRC in September last year.

As Blondin writes: “The Chicago x London mixtape is a good example of what can be achieved when our collective brain activates to create something bigger than us, we’re proud of it and so should you be too.”

You can read the full statement below and look out for more information from TRC as they move forwards.

Update: Hackney Council has gone some way to clarify its position in a tweeted response to Joe Armon-Jones, suggesting the venue is under investigation for selling alcohol without a license.

In a statement shared with Resident Advisor, Total Refreshment Centre said that part of the space would remain open during Hackney Council’s investigation.

“At this time we will be refraining from further public comment on our conversations with Hackney Council. We are very keen to work with the council and all relevant authorities to make TRC the very best place that it can be. This is not a case of ‘Us’ versus ‘Them,’ rather that we must collaborate with them fully if we are to continue building this world.

“To the press, please do not make statements about us that are not rooted in fact. Speculation will only work in our disservice at this stage. We are meeting with the council next week so we’ll know more about this case. We will keep you posted.

“We would like to reiterate that our upstairs space, with all the studios and lives that are held within, will continue to function as normal.”

Read next: DIY in 2017: How Leeds, Bristol and London’s scenes are striving to survive

Latest

Latest



		
	
Share Tweet