Award-winning hip-hop star Akala played an exclusive evening gig for young people at Toxteth Library on 13 July 2010.
More than 120 young people from Toxteth-based music and writing groups attended the set in the new exhibition and performance space at the recently renovated Toxteth library.
Akala’s Toxteth performance kicks-off a summer of tour dates across the UK’s libraries with the final show taking place at the British Library in London in November. The tour is in partnership with the national charity The Reading Agency and Akala's Hip-hop Shakespeare Company. It is part of a major drive to fire up young people about reading and transform the way they think about libraries.
The free evening shows consist of a half hour performance by Akala, accompanied by the renowned drummer Cassell 'The Beatmaker.' These are followed by a Q&A session with Akala about how his love for reading has influenced his new album DoubleThink - inspired by three works of dystopian fiction: George Orwell's 1984, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Yevgeny Zamyatin's We.
Akala, winner of the 2006 Best Hip-Hop Artist MOBO Award, said:
''I'm really excited about this library tour and hope that it will open young people's eyes and help them to see libraries as thriving hubs of creativity, rather than stuffy, solitary places. My passion for reading pervades my own creative work and new album, so I also hope that these performances will challenge preconceptions and encourage young people to develop a passion for reading and words.''
Akala's tour is part of The Reading Agency's campaign to bring reading into the 21st century, and inspire more teenagers to read and get involved in creative activities.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Funded by the Arts Council and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, The Reading Agency is an independent charity working to inspire more people to read more (www.readingagency.org.uk).
Photos by Christian Smith for Liverpool City Council