Northern Soul is a cultural phenomenon twice removed from its original source in Britain in the late 1960s. Rooted in gospel and rhythm and blues music, with pounding "four-to-the floor" beats, it is often accompanied by swirling strings, vibraphone flourishes, and infectious clapping. Since the 1960s Northern Soul has spread globally, via the Internet and migration, to such unlikely places as Medellin in Colombia. By giving voice to the members of this scene, this book explores theories about how identity and cultural literacy evolve through engagement with popular culture. It seeks to contribute to understandings about patterns of economic and media consumption, informal learning, intercultural communication, and about how migrants perceive themselves and form connections with others.

Paul Mercieca is a lecturer in the School of Education at Curtin University in Western Australia, where he coordinates postgraduate programs in applied linguistics. He has worked in the UK, Egypt, Oman, Australia, and Vietnam, and completed doctoral research into migrant subcultures in 2010. Currently, he is the executive editor of the English Australia Journal.