Scene History

Are you stoked about the history of your town? Do you find out interesting nuggets by talking to those who came before you or by scouting out details on Wikipedia? Do you want a reason to hunt out some people you respect for them to fill in the gaps?

Well, here's an opportunity to do just that. Microcosm's Scene History series documents moments in history, specific to their time and place, that might otherwise slip under the radar. These small books focus on "scenes"—communities built up around a specific movement in music, art, poetry, food, theater, dance, activism, etc.— that were alive and vibrant to those who lived them and teach us important lessons to apply in our own lives and to the future. We publish two to four issues per year, each one honing in on a scene that tells the stories of the characters and interactions the scene has with the outside world. 

If you want to write about the history of a music scene that you are knowledgeable about or willing to research, we'd love to check it out! 

Suggested length is 15,000-30,000 words. Get as creative as you find gratifying. Learn about your favorite places and how things developed.

Fill out our submissions form to send us your idea or manuscript!

Scene Histories so far (find all the published ones here:

1. Punk in NYC's Lower East Side, 1981-1991 by Ben Nadler

2. The Rock & Roll of San Francisco's East Bay, 1950-1980 by Cory M. Linstrum 

3. Out of the Basement: From Cheap Trick to DIY Punk in Rockford, Illinois, 1973-2005 by David Ensminger

4. The Prodigal Rogerson: The Circle Jerks and The Golden Years of LA Punk by J. Hunter Bennett

5. Obsessed with Bass: The Essential History of Miami Bass, 1985-1993