Small Town Joy

By Carrie Marshall

From glam rock to hyperpop: how queer music changed the sound of Scotland

Queer musicians have long mined beauty from the darkest of seams – and today’s artists are taking that treasure and using it to make magic. Trans writer, broadcaster and musician Carrie Marshall travels from bothys to the Barras to discover and share the sounds, the stories and the sheer joy of queer Scots music through interviews, fan recollections and more, inviting readers on Carrie’s own journey to experience the music she’s going to help you fall in love with.

Part musical journey, part social history, Small Town Joy tells the story of how LGBTQ+ musicians changed the sound of Scotland. From glam rock through political pop and indie rock to folk, hip-hop, house and hyperpop, Carrie Marshall discovers the musical threads that queered mainstream music. A celebration of the songs that changed the culture, the enormous impact of Scots musicians on global rock and pop, and the faces and places continuing to shape the sound of Scots music at home and around the world, Small Town Joy is a must-read for any fan of Scotland’s monumental musical influence.

Featuring interviews with Shirley Manson (Garbage), Lauren Mayberry (CHVRCHES), Sean Dickson (HIFI Sean), Maya Evan MacGregor and many more.