NYC's New Colossus Festival will be back from 9th -13th of March at various venues in the East Village and Lower East Side.
Venues include Mercury Lounge, Berlin, East Berlin, Pianos, Arlene's Grocery, Bowery Electric, and more, and in addition there will be talks and industry panel discussions.
As in the years before New Colossus is happening the weekend before SXSW Music Festival, and many international and emerging artists stop here first before heading to Austin.
They UK line-up gives you an eclectic mix of artists/bands which includes Qlowski, Enjoyable Listens, The Lotts, Phobophobes and more.
UK Artists/Bands:
Recently signed to an LP deal with Fierce Panda Records, Enjoyable Listens latest single has been supported by Steve Lamacq & John Kennedy so far. His live shows are the avant garde you have been waiting for.
Indie Project Garden Centre features members of Kings of Cats, Joanna Gruesome and Towel and Keel her. According to the band some of their music is based on the experiences and memories of a group of people hanging out on an abandoned plant nursery.
Hailing from North Coast of England, Jango Flash, a 5 piece ‘Kamikaze’ rock and roll band, was founded by producer, songwriter and frontman Jack Angus Golightly (Jango) back in 2018. They already have had a live session played by Huw Stevens on Radio 1, tipped an annual “hot one” accolade by Radio X’s John Kennedy, played a hand full of times by Tom Robinson on Radio 6, playlisted by Amazing Radio for The Unsigned Guide and championed BBC Introducing station as one of their top ten artists for 2021.
Meatraffle is a common chord running through the leftist brigades of the South London art scene. For Meatraffle it is the political, the platonic, the comradeship of the struggle that provides true artistic grist.
Phobophobes feature original Fat White Family drummer, Dan Lyons, and Meatraffle’s organ player, Chris OC and emerged amongst the buzz of Brixton’s infamous Windmill venue.
London based Qlowski entered the studio in late January 2020, crammed in a small studio room with producer Lindsay A. Corstorphine (Sauna Youth, Cold Pumas, Middex) and created a striking, full blown manifesto, where their early post-punk nuances are heightened by an extremely poetic and compelling vision that encapsulates words, imagery and noise. Propulsive rhythms, a modern spin on kiwi-pop and a weird combination of dark punk, noise rock and flower pop are still the foundation of their sound but it’s the combination of bandleaders Mickey and Cecilia’s voices that creates an eerie effortless sense of familiarity.
Transatlantic indie rock band The Backfires, formerly known as Qualia Noir, debuted in February 2021 with the tight nocturnal indie rock of their EP, Consider The Backfires. First formed in London, the band has since moved to New York City. Get ready for sleek guitar solos and flawless drumbeats.
Gaining BBC Radio 1 airplay and 5 singles championed on BBC Radio 6, Radio X & BBC Intro. Debut LP has received critical acclaim.Currently finishing LP deal with 42's Records.
The Lotts formed back in 2018 and are comprised of Henry Bucanan (vox), Adam Bridge (lead guitar), Jamie Evans (bass) and Joel Norton )drums). They cite influences such as Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, the Stooges, the New York Dolls and the Velvet Underground. Their debut EP ‘Out of It‘, was recorded at Rockfield Studios and embraces the ferocious, fast-paced and loud nature on their live sets.
Home recoding DIY project Trunky Juno is a lo-fi pop delight. Combining catchy choruses with a technicolor sound palette. Influences range from The Flaming Lips, MGMT to Father John Misty.
UK Delegates:
Ellie Coden - The Victoria (Jaguar Shoes) Talent Booker (London)
Ellie Coden worked as an A&R/ Events Manager at renowned label Fierce Panda Records. After 7 years at the label, she started her own singles label and live promotion company called Cool For Cats Records, which ran shows across various London venues, as well as compilation label Ghost Babes Records, which exclusively focused on North American bands. Since 2015 she's been the Head Booker and events Manager at The Victoria, one of the top grassroot venues for live music in London which has hosted countless now-established acts, from Fat White Family to Fontaines DC, only to name a few.
James Barker - Mystic Sons PR / Silent Kid Records Director (London)
James is the director and founder of Mystic Sons, a Music Press and Radio company and online magazine based in London. He recently founded a new London-based Record Label called Silent Kid Records, focusing on Digital and Vinyl releases. He worked with artists such as Gary Numan, Squarepusher, Swim Deep, Ladytron, Pendulum, Andrew Bayer and Leftfield to name a few whilst currently artist managing Summer Heart, Trunky, Jole and Tadhg Daly to name a few.
Sammy Clarke - Art's Cool Promotions and Music Management (Margate, Kent)
Sammy Clarke is the Head Booker/Founder of Art's Cool Promotions and Artist Management based in Margate, UK and Programmer/Founder of grassroot music venue Elsewhere, Margate which opened in June 2018. He is now managing a small roster of artists that reflect his passion for the small details and idiosyncrasies that make music and life such a joy and a thrill.
Tim Harper - FreakFreak Founder (London)
FreakFreak helps Artists to amplify their brand by working directly to deliver services that increase visibility and drive sales.
Primary Talent International is a music booking agency, with one of the finest rosters of contemporary live bands, artists & DJs in Europe.
Find the full festival schedule here.
