Photographer Barry Macdonald has published a visual history of the London studio and music venue Total Refreshment Centre.

“The Total Refreshment Centre has been one of the most important music and culture centres in London for the last eight years,” says photographer Barry Macdonald. “Numerous musicians and artists have used this space to meet, collaborate and create. From rehearsals, to recording, photo and video shoots to live gigs, the TRC has provided the hub for all of this to happen. It has created a network of musicians, DJs, recording engineers, photographers, videographers, directors, lighting technicians, authors, poets, painters, journalists and promoters. Bands such as Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming, Neue Grafik Ensemble, Snapped Ankles, Bo Ningen, Flamingods, Alabaster Deplume, Rozi Plain, Soccer 96, Vels Trio, Makaya Mcraven and more have all recorded there.

“Hackney Council have not allowed them a new live music license and so the live venue has shut, but the recording studio is still operating.”

The venue, as Macdonald explains, took the council’s decision as an opportunity to present TRC events elsewhere, at London's Barbican, Sete's Worldwide Festival, Cambridge’s new We Out Here Fest, and more. Meanwhile TRC is continuing to run as a record label, recently releasing Neue Graffik Ensemble's Foulden Rd EP. Future releases include a TRC collaboration with International Anthem on a 12" by Emma Jean Thackray, Makaya Mcraven and Gilles Peterson.

The full visual history can be seen on Flikr. All photos by Barry Macdonald.