Bill Shoemaker’s Music Farther Outside examines how improvisers, composers, and experimental music practitioners in the UK adapted their practices during two major upheavals: Brexit and the pandemic. Focusing on artists from England, Scotland, and Wales, the book includes in-depth interviews and reflective commentary to trace how socio-political disruption influenced creative approaches, identities, and community-building in experimental music scenes.
A key chapter profiles the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra (GIO), situated as an “oddly homely avant-garde”, highlighting its evolving ethos during 2020–2023, including remote collaboration, inventive use of digital tools, and ensemble resilience in uncertain times.
Maria Sappho is featured in an extended interview, where she reflects on her role within the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra during a period of profound socio-political disruption. The book situates her as a key voice in shaping the ensemble’s hybrid, cross-cultural, and technologically integrated approaches, spanning remote improvisation, AI collaboration, and large-scale intercultural projects. Shoemaker highlights her contributions to expanding the language of experimental improvisation and sustaining creative community in times of uncertainty.