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From Governors Ball and Afropunk to SummerStage, New York City is chockfull of top-notch local music fests. And one Big Apple favorite is happily making its return next month: the annual New Colossus festival and conference is back for its sixth edition to celebrate independent music communities from both NYC and around the world.
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From Tuesday, March 4 through Sunday, March 9, the six-day music showcase—which was co-founded back in 2018 by a trio of New York music industry vets, including former Lorimer Beacon founder Mike Bell, Kanine Records' label head Lio Kanine and Dedstrange Records co-founder Steven Matrick—will take over eight downtown indie music venues across the Lower East Side, including Arlene's Grocery, Bowery Electric, Parkside Lounge, Sour Mouse, Baker Falls and Nublu Classic. Along with stellar live performances, the festival will be held in tandem with the Colossal Conversations music conference and networking events.
As has become tradition, this year's lineup features a handpicked mix of emerging indie bands and artists from the states, Canada, the UK, Europe and Asia. The 2025 batch will see more than 180 acts take the stages all across the LES, including homegrown outfits like NYC grunge band Das Damen, Brooklyn-based indie rockers Big Girl and dream-pop collective Constant Smiles; Irish groups such as PEER Pleasure, Really Good Time and Basht; Mexican rock band Mengers; Scandinavian imports like Sweden's bubbly-punk Sodakill and Norwegian indie-pop stars Mall Girl; and Australia's Hachiku, RINSE and Delivery bringing the grooves from Down Under.
Festival badges are currently on sale on the New Colossus Festival website, which will get you priority access to the event's music showcases, panel events, parties and happy hours. Tickets to individual shows will be available to purchase at the doors of each venue or can be scooped up ahead of time on the fest's Linktree. In the meantime, check out the festival's full musical lineup via The New Colossus flyer below:
