Make Some Space: Tuning Into Total Refreshment Centre

by Emma Warren

There’s an Edwardian confectionery factory in Hackney which doubles up as a time machine. 'Make Some Space' invites us through the front door of London's Total Refreshment Centre to meet a revolving cast of characters who created an accidental incubator of London’s new jazz renaissance.

The book combines Johnny Rotten’s politics teacher, new London jazz icons Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia and members of Ezra Collective, alongside Bob Marley, The Comet Is Coming, the Thompson Twins’ delay pedal, Wiley, and the 1912 Hackney mayor.

Emma Warren invites us to remember the venues and community centres that generated culture, and asks us to protect the few that remain.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History

136 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2019

About the author

Emma Warren has been documenting culture for decades. She's a reformed music journalist turned community enabler who wrote for major UK and international publications including THE FACE and Fader in both staff and freelance positions and who worked for six years as an editorial mentor at Brixton's Live Magazine. She set up a private press, Sweet Machine, to publish her first book 'Make Some Space: Tuning Into Total Refreshment Centre'. The book was listed as one of 2019's Best Reads in Mojo Magazine, on Vinyl Factory and on Gilles Peterson's end of year list. In 2019 she also published 'Steam Down: Or How Things Begin' with Rough Trade books. This was listed in The Irish Times as one of the books of the year.

Reviews

[Mat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. An inspiring story documenting a legendary music venue in East London which contributed to the new jazz movement in the UK. Makes you realise the importance of grassroots movements and communal creative spaces.

[Ryk Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Would recommend to anyone working in arts/cultural spaces. Fascinating insight.

[Sophie Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautifully written and a fascinating read. Highly recommended to anyone interested in people and their music.

[Martyn Deykers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read!!

[Joanna Kirk]

This feels like such an important book. Zeitgeist reading. The idea of communities coming together and supporting each other is crucial to all culture. I had not read enough about the roots of much contemporary music but this was such a joy to read at the same time as being inspirational and informative. If anyone is doing anything creative, this is the book. At this moment in history in particular, this is such an encouraging piece of writing. I would like to read more from this author.

[Stefano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total Refreshment Centre is/was 80% magic, 80% soul, 80% artistry, 80% people and, to conclude the mix, 100% improvisation.

The maths don't make sense because the building itself doesn't make it either, in the context of big cities where everything increasingly seems the product of speculation.

You'll hear about TRC again.
It will be when someone on TV or the radio will narrate the origins of bands like Sons Of Kemet, or Ezra Collective, and explain how some places misteriously turn into spaces. Spaces to let artists do the magic that they always do, when they can come togheter on their own, beautifully weird terms.

Meanwhile, you can let Emma's words recreate its energy in your head, where it can continue to live in its own way.

A guide for what the spirit of London should remain, and one of the best books of 2019.

[Joseph Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Make Some Space' wastes not a single word in depicting the incredible story surrounding some warehouse bricks and mortar in north east London. It works on loads of levels, is drenched in humanity, and checks in with its readers throughout, making sure we know and understand that this is just one perspective - one angle on things.

If you feel London, feel music, feel people, feel neighbourhoods, feel change, feel resilience, feel community - this exceptional book is for you. It's brevity leaves you with agility of thought, and no less informed than books with significantly more pages. In the last chapter, we're even left with a deft-of-touch call to action, to document our own culture. 

About as essential as 2019 got for me.

[Nadia Gilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book - more books like this should exist! Emma Warren has documented a piece of fascinating history by talking to people who were part of the TRC scene, made it happen and were part of it by going to events there. As a reader who missed out on visiting the venue, I felt like I got a real sense of the magic that went down by being taken back there into the thick of things, the energy and enthusiasm for that place as shown in the book is uplifting and enlivening. I felt invigorated on finishing it and inspired on ways I might Make Some Space myself in the world in my own way too : )

[James Quail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make Some Space by Emma Warren is such a great book, it’s deeply inspiring and energising, I loved this book and I think about it regularly. It truly captures the feeling of vibrant creativity and being in the centre of something unique being made, and the possibilities of being in a space in which anything can happen, and in a place where you can truly be yourself. It feels like this book should be required reading for anyone doing anything creative. It feels like the most important book I’ve read in a very long time.

[Emma-Jean Thackray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important book! Important in the sense of how we need to document our culture, particularly the culture that likely to be somewhat lost though councils closing venues etc, but also important because it’s so well written. Emma Warren not only gives us a window through time to look through, but completely captures the people, so that they are written into flesh and bones that we might reach through the window and touch them, and know them.

[Gabriel Reis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make Some Space reminds us that art & culture are all about human relationships nurtured in spaces like Total Refreshment Centre. Spaces that still insist in bringing people together, in person, breathing the same air.
It makes you think of other TRC-like spaces in your own city, how necessary they are, and how many are still around today.
It's also a really inspiring call for us all to pay attention and document the culture happening next to us.
For many reasons, an amazing read!

[Kevin Braddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the subject itself (music and community centres which are, sadly, fast disappearing from the urban landscape of the UK), we need more books like this. It's written from the point of view of a participant-observer, and very sensitively so, with a big message: make some space for gathering, because we and future generations need it

[Maria Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book giving us insight into the magic of the Total Refreshment Centre . It’s filled with fascinating and heartfelt personal stories and thoughts about TRC and the emphasis is on how precious spaces are for creating an atmosphere where people can celebrate coming together to create music . It’s inspiring as well as being a tribute to very special place .

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very important book and should be read by young people and adults alike. Through relaying the fascinating story of a building and venue that made a significant mark within culture, it highlights the importance of providing spaces for people to create at a time when these spaces are being withdrawn. Reading this book made me feel inspired, I can see it becoming a cult classic.

[Jason Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book for anyone interested in space activation, regeneration, history, London, music, venues and anything related to community development. Warren has brought together so many people and stories to ensure those at the heart of this gem (TOTAL REFRESHMENT CENTRE) are not lost. Excellent read.

[Steve Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a such a great book. It's not long, but it made more impact on me than some several times the length I could name. It's a straightforward story about one studio/events space and the people, artists and musicians who passed through it. More to the point, it's a passionate, political, yet calmly made case for the need to create the physical space in which culture can thrive.

[Jim Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the architecture of this book which welcomes you in and makes you feel you were been part of the scene at Total Refreshment Centre. It cleverly encourages you imagine that more places like this could exist and that you can be part of something that is important for all of us.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma’s evokes the feelings that arrive in you on the dance floor in spaces and places you share with like-minded souls. Timely and so very necessary.

[VickiC · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book of 2019

[Deanna Heer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic and engrossing book. Essential reading for anyone who wants to know how to make good things happen against the odds.

[Dom Eccleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read which you should pick up regardless of whether you know anything about the London jazz scene (I didn't prior to reading). It's a really well crafted book that's clearly meticulously researched, carefully assembled and full of energy and love for its subject matter.

[Sean Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life affirming.