NEW COOL COLLECTIVE
Saturday 20 February 2027 | BIRD

Some bands start in a rehearsal room. New Cool Collective started in the middle of the action.

Back in 1993, at Amsterdam’s Soul Kitchen, saxophonist Benjamin Herman jumped on stage with DJ Graham B. While the DJ was spinning records, Benjamin played right through them. No blueprint, no rules, just a vibe that clicked instantly. More than three decades later, that spontaneous collision has grown into one of the Netherlands’ most beloved and boundary-pushing live bands.

Since then, New Cool Collective has taken its infectious energy from underground clubs to major festivals and iconic concert halls across the globe. Whether performing as their signature eight-piece outfit or expanding into a full nineteen-piece big band, one thing never changes: movement.

Their sound pulls from everywhere and belongs nowhere. Afrobeat, jazz, latin, soul, funk and deep grooves blend into something that feels both timeless and completely alive. No nostalgia. No comfort zone. Just musicians constantly searching for new directions.

That restless spirit runs through Everything is OK (2024), an album packed with bold horn arrangements, orchestral touches and the anything-goes attitude that has defined the band since day one. On On Tour (2025), the New Cool Collective Big Band captures what they do best: turning a live show into a shared experience. Recorded after years of sold-out performances, the album bottles the energy, spontaneity and joy that have made the band a fixture on stages from Amsterdam to London.

And they're far from done. New music is already on the way, the creative engine is still running hot, and the mission remains exactly the same:

Get the people moving.