corto.alto

On 29 January 2027 at Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow, corto.alto takes the stage under the direction of Liam Shortall, the Scottish multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer behind the project. Rooted in Glasgow’s jazz scene and wired to club culture, the band folds brass-led arrangements, hip-hop pulses and electronic textures into a live set where improvisation meets sharp, sample-informed production. The result is a fluid conversation between horns, drums, bass and synths, shifting from tight motifs to open sections without losing the groove.

After a packed 2026 with US and EU dates and festival appearances at We Out Here, WOMAD and Montreal Jazz Fest, corto.alto arrives with fresh material. Recent releases WHODIS, a collaboration with Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins, and THIEF sketch the current direction: crisp beats, low-end weight and melodic lines that leave space for the band to stretch on stage. Following an AIM Awards win for Breakthrough Artist, Shortall brings the collective back to Glasgow for a set built on energy, interplay and a sound that blurs the borders between club and concert.