20 Artists To Check Out At The New Colossus Festival
With close to 200 artists performing at this year’s edition of The New Colossus fesival, there’s no shortage of talent. We’ve managed to pick 20 bands to check out from the line up. From the noise punk band Prostitute to alt-rock trio Flowers for the Dead, there’s something for everyone.
For the latest updates on set times, follow New Colossus Festival.
BALACLAVA (@balaclava_is_a_band)
New York’s Balaclava have been making a lot of noise in the NYC scene since their debut back in 2022. On their upcoming set at The New Colossus sets, the trash punk band offers:
A SERIES OF STICKY SWEET SUGARY EAR WORMS PAIRED WITH THE FINE PERSPIRATION OF PEOPLE LETTING IT ALL BE SEEN.
Set times:
3/7 12:15AM @ Berlin
Bestial Mouths (@bestialmouths)
Darkwave/electro-goth project Bestial Mouths will be kicking off their US tour at this year’s festival. The California-based artist will be performing alongside Silent Mass, Flawless Issues and Coatie Pop at the New Colossus’ Goth Post-Punk Party.
Set times:
3/8 9:15PM @ Bowery Ballroom
Black Bordello (@blackbordello)
London’s Black Bordello will bring their avant garde/art-rock sounds to NYC, playing several shows throughout the week. Their 2024 album White Bardo explores dark lyrical themes over hypnotic bass riffs and mesmerizing rhythms.
Set times:
3/5 6:30PM @ Pianos (Upstairs)
3/6 8:30PM @ Niagra
3/9 8:30PM @ Baker Falls
Coatie Pop (@coatiepop)
Sadcore electronic duo Coatie Pop blends techno, industrial and more. Their latest album Unknown God is the sound of strobe lights in a dark basement. For that reason, they’ll be closing out the Goth Post-Punk Party.
Set times:
3/8 10PM @ Bowery Electric 10PM
Eyas (@aka.eyas)
We’ve been following Eyas since she dropped her 2022 dream pop single “Object Permanence.” Since then, she’s continued to release music, weaving together indie pop, jazz, folk and more. On her latest EP Quiet-loud, Eyas gets even more experimental and we’re excited to see her bring her unique voice to the stage.
Set times:
3/5 8:30PM @ Baker Falls
3/8 12:30PM @ Berlin
Flowers for the Dead (@fftdmusic)
If you like crunchy guitars and riffs for days, check out Flowers For The Dead. The DC-based alt-rock trio put out their sophomore album Magnolia last fall.
Set times:
3/7 9:15PM @ Berlin
3/8 4:15PM @ Baker Falls
Genre is Death (@genreisdeath)
Insert feedback here. Genre is Death is a two-piece band that incorporates heavy noise, distortion and the experimental spirit of early no wave acts. The project’s members Ty Varesi and Tayler Lee share vocal duties across their debut album Talk, which is getting released on cassette via Insecurity Hits.
Set times:
3/8 7PM @ Bowery Ballroom
Glimmer (@glimmerisaband)
Glimmer will be making their return to The New Colossus. The NY grungegazers, who we connected with at last year’s festival, just released their singles on cassette via Pleasure Tapes.
Set times:
3/6 8:30PM @ Berlin
3/8 8:30PM @ Sour Mouse
knitting (@knitting_band)
Last year’s Some Kind of Heaven put knitting on several artists-to-watch lists. You’ll have two opportunities to catch the Montreal-based indie rock band next week.
Set times:
3/7 3:30PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
3/7 8:30PM @ Baker Falls
Libby Quinn (@libbyquinnband)
The art-rock/post-punk project Libby Quinn will be bringing their high energy set to Arlene’s Grocery, sharing the stage with alt-rock artist Forest and Faze Waze. Check out the video for their latest single “Macabao” featuring a performance by visual artist Meenah Nehme.
Set times:
3/5 7:45PM @ Arlene’s Grocery
Listener 555 (@listener55555)
The self-described ‘ambient mumble rock’ band Listener 555 from Miami will be making their New Colossus debut at this year’s fest. Their instrumental-heavy record this is my attempt to find joy is the band’s “ode to shoegaze” and acts as a reminder to look for happiness in the little things.
Set times:
3/7 @ Sour Mouse
3/9 @ Pianos
Mahogony (@mahoganyintl)
Post-punk/shoegaze duo Mahogony will be bringing their artistic vision to Arlene’s Grocery. The duo combines music and various types of visual media, a style they define as “hypercube.”
Set times:
3/8 8:30PM @ Arlene’s Grocery
Mengers (@mengersmx)
After spending the majority of 2024 touring across the EU and Mexico, art-punk band Mengers will be kicking off their US east coast tour at the festival. The four-piece has already garnered a spot opening for Irish post-punks Fontaines D.C. in Mexico City. Expect nothing less than chaos.
Set times:
3/6 11:30PM @ Berlin
3/8 10PM @ Baker Falls
3/9 11:30PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
Pop Music Fever Dream (@pmfd.nyc)
The New York no wave/post-punk project Pop Music Fever Dream dropped one of the best EPs of 2024 (it’s true). As we’ve written before, their music drifts between reaction and stream of consciousness. Do not miss.
Set times:
3/6 10:45PM @ Arlene’s Grocery
Prostitute (@attempted.martyr)
Michigan newcomers Prostitute was born with the intention of being an Arab punk band, in the Muslim-heavy community of Dearborn. Their critically acclaimed debut Attempted Martyr touches on geo-politics, the album being written from the perspective of an egotistical Arabian prince. The noise rock four-piece is known for their live performances, blending sampling with live instrumentation.
Set times:
3/8 5:45PM Pianos (Showroom)
3/8 10PM Berlin
Public Circuit (@publiccircuitband)
Synthpop trio Public Circuit makes minimal darkwave lo-fi tunes that will make you move. The Brooklyn band released their debut album Lamb last spring via indie à La Carte Records.
Set times:
3/5 9:15PM @ Berlin
3/6 10:45PM @ Berlin
Silent Mass (@silentmassmusic)
You can expect “a cathedral of sound” during their set, according to New York band Silent Mass. Their atmospheric goth rock performances, which we witnessed last year, include transcendental moments that straddle the physical and spiritual worlds.
Set times:
3/8 7:45PM Bowery Electric
The Laughing Chimes (@laughingchimes)
The Laughing Chimes who dropped their latest album Whispers in the Speech Machine will be bringing their Southern Goth-influenced to the festival. The Ohio band will be playing two sets including a daytime performance during the Indie Pop Showcase at Baker Falls.
Set times:
3/6 7PM @ Sour Mouse
3/7 4:15PM @ Baker Falls
The OBGMs (@theobgms)
SORRY, IT’S OVER, the 2024 album by The OBGMs, opens with an audio clip of an anonymous voice asking frontman Densil Humphrey to seek therapy. On songs like “GET UP” and “I’LL BE OKAY,” Humphrey explores depression, opting to turn anger and sadness into powerful anthems. The Black-fronted punk band from Toronto will be playing two sets.
Set times:
3/7 10PM @ DROM
3/8 10:45PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
Yndling (@din.yndling)
Norwegian dream pop artist Yndling released their excellent debut album Mood Booster last year. The dream pop/shoegaze artist will be making their US debut at this year’s festival.
Set times:
3/7 10PM @ Baker Falls
3/8 9PM @ Nublu Classic
Festival passes are available for purchase now. Listen to the official playlist below!