‘This welcome addition to the literature explores the connection between music and the social production of remote places. In a series of case studies from around the world, the book succinctly lays out the challenges of peripheral locales, but we also learn how musical activities emerge because they take place in the periphery, not just in spite of relative isolation. In a timely fashion, Christina Ballico and her co-authors effectively communicate these ideas in the context of a contemporary, inter-connected world.’ —Ola Johansson, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, USA. ‘An important contribution to the growing body of music cities literature, this excellent collection is a welcome introduction to how music scenes thrive in cities isolated geographically or in small communities far away from metropolitan regions. From Australia’s urbanized, yet isolated music hotspot, Perth, to the farthest reaches of rugged, northwest Canada, to a village on the Faroe Islands, the reader will learn how participants in these music scenes leverage their challenges for success.’ —Michael Seman, Colorado State University, USA. ‘Most histories and geographies of popular music have focused on artists and scenes in big famous cities—London, New York, Liverpool, Seattle, Nashville. Yet the most interesting stories come far from the global centres, in the margins. After all, popular music has always had an antiestablishment streak. From Papua New Guinea to Chile, Thunder Bay to the Faroe Islands, authors in this innovative and important collection show how music flourishes in unlikely places, overcoming tyrannies of distance but also seizing opportunities that accompany isolation. As the book renders clear, true inspiration and ingenuity emerges not in the spotlight, but from the shadows.’ —Chris Gibson, University of Wollongong, Australia. This book explores the influence of geographical isolation and peripherality on the functioning of music industries and scenes which operate within and from such locales. As is explored, these sites engage dynamic practices to offset challenges resulting from geographical isolation and peripherality. Dr Christina Ballico is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre, Griffith University, Australia, and the co-editor of Music Cities: Evaluating a Global Policy Concept (2020).