Cultural districts and the evolving geographies of underground music scenes: dealing with Bairro Alto’s mainstreaming

Abstract

Focusing the case of Bairro Alto, Lisbon, this paper analyzes the challenges faced by cultural districts at the light of the evolving geographies of underground music scenes. The centrality of reputation building mechanisms and symbolic aspects in the sustainability of these areas’ creative ambience is particularly considered. Drawing upon a conceptual framework that combines spatiality (agglomeration effects) and territoriality (creative milieus) to read art worlds, the paper proposes a typology of “spaces” which structure the alternative music scene. At the light of this typology, the evolution of underground music scenes at Bairro Alto is analyzed, discussing the conditions for its resilience. It is argued that the trends for mainstreaming and gentrification of the area, in parallel with technological and economic re-composition of this industry, challenge the role of this territory in several of the scene’s “spaces”, though keeping its centrality on “spaces” related with gatekeeping, conviviality and more specialized functions.