“Devoted to new acts from around the world" - THE NEW YORK TIMES
"It operates out of independent venues packed close together, giving the festival a truly buzzy feel for attendees" - Billboard
"It's a lot, and it's not for the faint of heart." - Paste Magazine
“New Colossus is the smaller but well-formed new kid on the block aiming to step into its shoes as New York’s showcase festival of choice” - DIY MAGAZINE
Since 2019 we have provided up and coming artists / bands from around the world and opportunity to showcase in NYC. Now entering our 8th edition, this week long event is set for 9-14 March 2027.
The 2026 lineup included Alien Chicks (London), BRNDA (Washington, DC), Bussy Queen Power Trip (Chicago), Catherine Moan (Philadelphia) .Cootie Catcher (Toronto), FEET (London), Honey, I’m Home (Amsterdam), Lip Filler (London), Lucid Express (Hong Kong), Makara (Bangkok), Mannequin Death Squad (Melbourne), Sean Nicholas Savage (Montreal), Sex Mask (Melbourne, AU) The Sewing Club (Nashville), The K’s (London), TVOD (NYC) & more:
Festival alumni include Baby Queen (ZA), Balaclava (US) CHAII (NZ), Delivery (AU), Die Spitz (US), Ducks ltd. (CA), FEET (UK), GIFT (US), Hachiku (AU), Jaywood (CA), Kiwi Jr. (CA), La Securité (CA), MX Lonely (US), NOBRO (CA), Peel Dream Magazine (US), Penelope Isles (UK), Personal Trainer (NL), Pom Poko (NO), Pom Pom Squad (US), Pop Music Fever Dream (US) Prewn (US), Prostitute (US), Robber Robber (US), Shower Curtain (US), Sid Simons (US), Slow Fiction (US), Sobs (SG), Starcleaner Reunion (US), The K’s (UK), The Orielles (UK), Thus Love (US), Water From Your Eyes (US), Ultra Q (US), Zoon (CA) and over 1000 other artists.
Our previous partnerships include 8mm Fest, A La Carte Records, Annibale Agency, Anniversary Group, Bands do BK, Ben Sherman, Born Losers Records, Brooklyn Vegan, Crafted Sounds, Dedstrange, DISCO, DIY Magazine, Ernest Jenning, Exclaim!, Flood Magazine, Focus Wales, German Consulate in NY, God Is In the TV, Groover, Joyzine, Latin Lense, Left of the Dial, Line Of Best Fit, Kanine Records, Maker Park Radio, M for Montreal, Misguided Spirits, Mothland, Paste Magazine, Planetary Group, Radio Free Brooklyn, Solid Merch, Speedy Wunderground, The Spanish Wave, Tokyo Calling, WFUV & more.
We also host stages with festival alumni all over the world including at Iceland Airwaves, Left Of The Dial (Rotterdam), 8mm Festival (Berlin), Second Summer Festival (Toronto), Taverne Tour (Montreal), , Square Festival (Braga, PT) & more.
The New Colossus Festival creates a communal, fun and friendly vibe where people can come and check out newly emerging international artists in more intimate spaces. All of the shows take place within walking distance from one another in Manhattan’s historical Lower East Side. Similar to other showcase festivals like TGE, Focus Wales, SXSW, music fans can see a wide variety of excellent artists each day and night. While the festival is geared toward attracting industry people to come see the artists / bands, but is also open to the public. Artists meet and support each other, making contacts around the world that frequently help with future touring. Many artists have found TNC Festival as the perfect introduction to performing live for the first time in NYC with a welcoming and loving music crowd.
The majority of the bands that will be performing will be coming over from Europe, UK, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia and Asia with some on their way to SXSW.
The showcases are set up within twelve independent Venues on various stages all across the Lower East Side of Manhattan. We will be hosting Day Parties / Showcases and Night Parties / Showcases.
Participating Venues (13 Stages Across 12 venues)
- Arlene’s Grocery (95 Stanton St)
- Baker Falls (192 Allen St)
- Berlin Under A (25 Avenue A)
- Bowery Palace (327 Bowery)
- Ki Smith Gallery (170 Forsyth Street)
- Niagara (112 Ave A)
- Nublu (151 Loisada Ave)
- Nublu Classic (62 Loisada Ave)
- Old Flings (25 Avenue A)
- Parkside Lounge (317 E Houston St)
- Pianos (158 Ludlow St)
- Silver Lining Lounge (145 Bowery)
- Sour Mouse (110 Delancey St)
The New Colossus
By Emma Lazarus (1883)
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”