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Budding MCs take the mic at Tyldesley
Library
Legendary dance MC Rory O has gone down a
storm in a venue traditionally reserved for books rather than beats.
More renowned for waxing lyrical on the mic at top dance clubs, Rory O
and his mix master mate DJ Rasp have been running a four week MC course
at Tyldesley Library.
Rory O is a legend on the Scouse House dance scene, the most popular
form of House music in the North West, and he has performed to sell-out
crowds across the country and abroad. Along with his group the Killer
Kombo he has released three albums with a fourth out soon.
The Tyldesley rapping master-classes gave young people a chance to write
their own lyrics, with assistance from Rory O, before going on to
perform them at breakneck speed to backing tracks spun by champion
turntablist DJ Rasp. At the final session on Monday (October 1st)
everyone recorded their work and took home a CD of it.
Paul Luksus, 17, from Shakerley, said: “This is great because it takes
you off the street and keeps you out of trouble. I’ve never been to a
library before in my own time. Lots of people are coming because of Rory
O. It’s become so popular we could do with an even bigger venue.”
The MC workshops are being funded by a £1500 grant from the Brighter
Borough Fund. Cllr Robert Bleakley, instigated the project after
learning about the type of things the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s
Library Service is doing to attract younger members.
Cllr Bleakley said: “I’m just glad the sessions have proved so popular
and that they are making a bit of a difference. MCing is the ‘in thing’
at the moment and I would rather see youths in the library doing
something they enjoy, instead of being out on the streets with nothing
to do. Libraries are mostly used for reading and research through the
day, so it’s good to have something a little bit different in the
evening. It’s great to see local libraries are adapting to cater for the
needs of the whole community.”
DJ Rasp said: “I think this is a really good idea. It’s a great way of
getting young people through the door and showing them all the things
there is to do in libraries. It’s bringing everyone together and getting
lots of people involved.”
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Libraries Youth Development Officer
Kathy Williams said: “It’s a real coup for us to get Rory O passing on
his MCing skills. We’ve worked really hard over the past few years to
make the borough’s libraries more attractive to young people. We’ve had
bands performing and demonstrations from people like BMX champions and
graffiti artists. More people are visiting our libraries so we’re really
happy that the new ideas we’re trying out are being met with such a
positive response.”
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Notes to Editors
Further information
• For further information contact Kennedy Stewart, Young People’s Press
Officer at Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, on (01942) 486927.
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