Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor stars in celebration of diversity, music and community at Marcus Garvey Library

Marcus Garvey Library underwent a major transformation on Thursday night as the festive party spirit brought residents out for Rhythm Stick, the latest in Haringey’s Library Lates series.

“Rhythm Stick x Library Lates” was an inclusive club night organised by and for people with disabilities in celebration of diversity, music, and community. The night starred Alexis Taylor, lead vocalist of world-famous electronic group Hot Chip, who headed a line-up which also included a participant of the Rhythm Stick scheme, Roisin Rodney.

The evening was the culmination of Alexandra Palace’s Rhythm Stick programme. Launched in 2019, the annual programme sees a group of adults with disabilities get together weekly to socialise, and develop skills in events management and production. The ten-week programme equips attendees with skills relating to events planning, promotion and management and the group co-produce the final evening.

The night featured a diverse mix of tunes, including disco, house, electro, grime, and more. Designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all, the event also featured a calm sensory space in the venue for anyone who needed a break from the dancefloor.

Library Lates is a collaboration between Haringey Council’s libraries service and Alexandra Palace. Previous editions have been organised in Haringey libraries by the Alexandra Palace Young Creatives network, giving young people the opportunity to get hands-on experience of cultural production through designing and organising unique creative events.

Cllr Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities, said:

“As a council we have ambitious plans to put culture at the heart of everything we do, building on our heritage as a rebel borough of changemakers and innovators. As we launch our bid to become London Borough of Culture for 2027, this event is a great example of the work already going on in Haringey to bring arts and culture to the people in community spaces in every corner of our borough.

“In Haringey, libraries are about more than just books. The Libraries Lates programme shows the exciting, imaginative and inclusive approach we are taking, giving people from right across our community unique opportunities to organise creative events featuring high profile performers.”

Roisin Rodney, aka DJ4BLUE, one of those performing at and curating the event, said:

“This is the second time I’ve been organising Rhythm Stick. I DJ’d online when we did it during Covid.  Tonight I’ve been DJing live and it was really fun. Everyone has been dancing loads and having a great time.”

Alexis Taylor, member of Hot Chip, who headlined the event, said:

“What an amazing night. Brilliant to meet young people from my area who are so into their music, and even better to share a stage with them. Having an inclusive and safe space to listen to music, DJ or perform is so important for young music makers and fans. There isn’t one type of musician, or one way to do things, and I think it’s so brilliant that Alexandra Palace is promoting the idea of a creative place for all to get involved.”