A fresh current in Jazz

Following a successful first edition with artists like Corinne Bailey Rae, Alune Wade, Camilla George, and Brintex Collective, New Tide Festival returns to Amare on March 5 and March 6, 2027. Across two full days, the festival brings together established names and the next generation of artists pushing jazz in new directions. With multiple stages throughout the building, visitors can move freely between seated listening rooms, energetic club settings, and surprising crossovers. It is an open space where seasoned jazz fans and curious listeners meet to experience how the genre continues to evolve.

We are excited to share the first batch of names for 2027: Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ravi Coltrane’s Translinear Light project featuring Brandee Younger, Madison McFerrin, Emma Smith, ZENA, and Genevieve Artadi. More artists to be announced. read more about each artist and their music below.

Cecile McLorin singing in back and white

Cécile McLorin Salvant

Composer, vocalist, and visual artist Cécile McLorin Salvant has spent over a decade expanding the possibilities of modern vocal music. A MacArthur fellow and three time Grammy winner, she unearths forgotten songs from vaudeville, theater, and global folk traditions, bringing them to life with sharp wit and great storytelling. That curiosity runs through celebrated albums like Ghost Song, the multilingual project Mélusine, and her 2025 release Oh Snap. Supported by longtime collaborators like pianist Sullivan Fortner, Salvant remains one of the most distinctive and brilliant voices in jazz today.

Translinear Light the music of Alice Coltrane ft Ravi Coltrane with special guest Brandee Younger

Translinear Light celebrates the spiritual legacy and musical vision of the great Alice Coltrane. The project is led by her son, Grammy nominated saxophonist and composer Ravi Coltrane, who produced and performed on Alice Coltrane’s celebrated 2004 album of the same name. He is joined by special guest Brandee Younger, an acclaimed harpist and composer who weaves spiritual jazz and classical technique with contemporary R&B and hip hop rhythms. Backed by pianist David Virelles, bassist Robert Hurst, and drummer Jeff Tain Watts, this world class group approaches the music with raw energy, warmth, and fresh life.

MADISON MCFERRIN

Singer and songwriter Madison McFerrin has long captivated listeners with her rich vocal arrangements, but her sophomore album SCORPIO reveals an artist fully stepping into her own power. Named after her sun sign and its themes of rebirth, the record documents a major personal evolution following the end of a long term relationship and business partnership. Songs like I Don't and Run It Back explore the full spectrum of heartbreak, moving openly between sadness, desire, and the relief of starting fresh. Through layered harmonies and honest storytelling, McFerrin turns personal turmoil into a confident celebration of independence and self love.

EMMA SMITH

British vocalist Emma Smith is one of the most energetic and compelling performers in modern jazz, known for her sharp musicianship and natural swing. Raised in a musical family with deep ties to the jazz tradition, she brings both reverence for the past and a lively contemporary stage presence to her work. Over the years, she has performed everywhere from Ronnie Scott’s to Birdland, collaborated with names like Michael Bublé and the Quincy Jones Orchestra, and earned a Parliamentary Jazz Award. On standout albums like Meshuga Baby and her latest release Bitter Orange, Smith combines classic vocal technique with honest storytelling that feels completely alive today.

ZENA

Formed by Kokoroko keyboardist Yohan Kebede and bassist Menelik Mulugeta Claffey, London duo ZENA brings a fresh perspective to East African music. Taking their name from the Amharic word for legacy, they build upon the iconic Ethio jazz sound of innovators like Mulatu Astatke, mixing it with dub, psychedelic textures, and alternative R&B. After catching early attention through underground Hackney jam sessions and releases on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, they cemented their sound with their debut EP TEMESGEN. Fusing traditional rhythms and lyre style bass lines with modern soul, ZENA creates a natural bridge between cultural heritage and London’s forward thinking music scene.