20 Artists To Check Out At The New Colossus Festival
New York’s indie music festival The New Colossus kicks off tomorrow in Manhattan. Now in it’s seventh year, the event has grown into a six-day showcase, taking over even more venues in 2026. Arlene’s Grocery, Baker Falls, Berlin Under A, The Francis Kite Club, Niagra, Nublu, Nublu Classic, Parkside Lounge, Pianos, Silver Lining Lounge and Sour Mouse will host new and emerging global acts, ranging from industrial to psych, punk and more.
With 180+ acts performing, we’ve picked 20 acts that are not to be misssed. See the full list below!
activemirror. (@active_mirror)
activemirror is one of those bands that you’ll rave to your friends about. Their sound is a mix of new wave and post-punk from the Caribbean island of Aruba. No, really. They’re playing two sets, so don’t miss them!
Set times:
3/3 9:15PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
3/8 4:45PM @ Pianos (Upstairs)
Bonnie Trash (@bonnietrashband)
Photo Credit: Sara May
Bonnie Trash has a way of articulating life from the shadows. On their latest album Mourning You, their music pummels through grief and pain with force. Expect their powerful live show to push beyond.
3/5 7:30PM @ Ki Smith Gallery
3/7 10:45PM @ Sour Mouse
3/8 7PM @ Baker Falls
Bussy Kween Power Trip (@bussykweenpowertrip)
We’ll let the Chicago duo speak for themselves: “Bussy Kween Power Trip delivers a raucous blend of art punk, hardcore, and danceable grooves, all while tearing up the stage in their signature booty shorts. A drums-bass-vocals trio steamrolling through heavy-hitting bangers, Bussy Kween's irreverent take on Black queer punk is not to be missed.” If that doesn’t convince you, then we don’t know what will.
3/4 7:45PM @ Berlin
3/5 8:30PM @ Parkside Lounge
3/7 5:30 PM @ Pianos (Upstairs)
Die Anstalt (@die.anstalt.band)
Very stoked to catch Berlin post-punk/minimal synth act Die Anstal. A staple of their city’s underground scene, the trio will perform several sets including one at Berlin, for the New Colossus Goth / Industrial party.
3/6 8:30PM @ Berlin
3/7 5:00PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
3/7 8:30 PM @ Berlin
eve claret (@eveclaret_)
New York’s eve claret is a trifecta of post-rock, screamo, and nu-metal. Their visual language is as strong as their sound. It’s strange, moody, yet sweet enough for you to fall in its trap, before swallowing you whole. Proceed with caution.
3/7 7:00 PM @ Berlin
I See Orange (@iseeorangemusic)
UK act I See Orange writes about witches, dolls, and unattainable beauty standards. The band, led by Mexican native Giselle Medina, is for fans of Hole, L7 and other 90s grunge.
3/5 10:45 PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
3/7 10:00 PM @ Baker Falls
3/8 10:00 PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
Lone Aires (@loneaires)
German-Portuguese artist Lone Aires’ sets are described as “a live experience where atmosphere and tension arcs are at the center.” His debut EP It Hurt So Much That It Didn’t Hurt At All blends elements of slowcore, dreampop and shoegaze.
3/4 7:15PM @ Pianos (Upstairs)
3/5 8:30PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
3/6 7:30 PM @ Ki Smith Gallery
Mannequin Death Squad (@mannequindeathsquad)
Australian duo Mannequin Death Squad is bringing their synergy to the Lower East Side. Their songs are riff-forward, heavy, and delivered from a punk perspective.
3/5 10:00 PM @ Berlin
3/6 12:15 AM @ Parkside Lounge
3/8 10:45 PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
midscale (@midscaleband)
Midscale, the “kind of shoegaze” band from Paris, will be making their US debut at this year’s festival. The band is releasing a new EP in early May, so perhaps those attending will get an early peek at the new material.
3/4 11:15PM @ Baker Falls
3/6 8:30PM @ Baker Falls
3/7 9:15 PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
OLGA (@olgaband_666)
If you draw a venn diagram of frightening and fascinating, OLGA is one of those bands that sits right in the middle. “An explosion of sex, violence and good taste,” just about sums it up. Their performances will be as hypnotic as their minimal synth soundscapes.
3/7 6:15PM @ Berlin
3/8 7:30 PM @ Pianos (Upstairs)
Par Ásito (@par_asito)
While some psych rock bands like to play with time by stretching it into an infinite hall of mirrors, Par Ásito does the exact opposite. The Mexican band focuses instead on the acceleration, driving through the kaleidoscopic experience faster, with their foot firmly on the fuzz pedal.
3/6 10:00PM @ Sour Mouse
3/7 5:30PM @ Parkside Lounge
SamWoy (@sam.woy)
SamWoy is a one-of-a-kind storyteller, inviting us deep into his psyche. His inner monologue comes through in 2 to 3-minute post-punk bops.
3/6 3:45PM @ Pianos (Upstairs)
3/8 7:45 PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
Sexverbot (@sexv3rbot)
Photo credit: Marina Monaco
German punk band Sexverbot holds nothing back on their self-titled album. Their commentaries on consumerism, government control, and losing faith in the world around you really pack a punch. They also have no problem calling out your bullshit.
3/3 9:30PM @ Pianos (Upstairs)
3/4 10:00PM @ Berlin
3/6 9:30 PM @ Berlin
SHAGGO (@shaggobk)
“I'd say you can expect a gentle femme mosh pit, a lot of yelling, general crowd catharsis (we hope)” shares New York’s SHAGGO. “And specifically for our new colossus showcases, you can expect to hear a bunch of unreleased, heavier new material from our second LP that we'll be recording in early May.”
3/4 6:15PM @ Arlene's Grocery
3/5 11:15PM @ Silver Lining Lounge
3/7 6:45PM @ Pianos (Upstairs)
The Shelter (@theshelterm)
Mexico’s The Shelter has been quietly recording new material with The Strokes’ collaborator Gus Oberg and his producing partner Johnny T Yerington. Their sound lives in a world where post-punk, new wave, garage and electronic forces coexist. This week, they’ll bring their festival stage experience to Manhattan, including the pivotal and coveted closing set on Sunday.
3/6 7:45PM @ Niagra
3/6 11:30PM @ Sour Mouse
3/8 11:30PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
Spirit Hotel (@thee.spirit.hotel)
On March 13th, Salem’s Spirit Hotel will release their debut album Rêve. But first, the band will play their only New Colossus set at Niagara. With their dark shoegaze and psych-inspired style, Spirit Hotel creates daydream-inducing sonic vignettes that stop time cold.
3/6 7:00PM @ Niagra
Two-Man Giant Squid (@twomangiantsquid)
“Theremins & sweaty, sticky dance-punk,” is what Two-Man Giant Squid says you can expect from their Baker Falls set. Without a doubt, the Brooklyn band released one of the best albums of 2025. “We’ll be debuting some upcoming tunes as well.” We can’t wait!
3/8 4:00 PM @ Baker Falls
warmachine (@therealwarmachine)
If there is a meeting point between force and grace, then warmachine has found it. The MA-based trio just dropped their latest EP HELLPHONE 3D, which they say “has been our most testing trial as a band together thus far.”
3/6 2:45PM @ Baker Falls
3/7 7:00PM @ Arlene's Grocery
3/8 7:15PM @ Arlene's Grocery
Welcome Strawberry (@welcomestrawberry)
Over the years, Oakland shoegaze act Welcome Strawberry–led by Cyrus VandenBerghe–has released several projects through Cherub Dream and à La Carte Records. Their latest album, Desperate Flower, pushes us toward a jangle-pop and distortion-washed euphoria.
3/6 4:30PM @ Arlene's Grocery
3/7 2:15PM @ Arlene's Grocery
3/7 7:00PM @ The Francis Kite Club
Wolfschmidt (@wolfschmidtband)
Swedish shoegazers Wolfschmidt have been on our radar since the release of their 2023 single “Suffocated.” Playing stateside for the first time, the band says their sets will prove to be "Soul stimulants with nordic melancholy.” In other words, you’re gonna get chills.
3/6 10:45PM @ Parkside Lounge
3/7 3:00PM @ Arlene's Grocery
3/7 7:00PM @ Pianos (Showroom)
3/7 10:00PM @ Nublu Classic