corto.alto shares new breakbeat nu jazz banger ‘THIEF’ alongside biggest headline tour yet

Mercury-nominated corto.alto returns with new breakbeat and bass-grooved single ‘THIEF’ alongside news of his biggest UK and EU headline tour to date.

Date published: 12th May 2026

Few are pushing the UK-jazz scene into new territory like corto.alto, and the Glasgow multi-instrumentalist is showing exactly why on new single ‘THIEF’, released today via Ninja Tune.

The latest track from Liam Shortall’s ever-evolving project blends chopped classical strings, thumping breakbeats and Jersey club rhythms into something that feels built for both the dancefloor and deep headphone dives. Emblematic of his wide-ranging and improvisational philosophy as Corto.alto.

Alongside the release also comes his biggest UK and EU headline tour to date, with a standout homecoming show at Barrowlands Ballroom in 2027 – the site of his “Made In Glasgow” mini-festival in 2025.

Listen to and watch the official visualiser for 'THIEF' below

Speaking on the track, Shortall said: “I’m buzzing to finally release this one. We’ve been playing it live for a while now and over the last 6 months it’s really grown into something that feels like a new sonic for me. I’ve always loved fat bass riffs and breakbeats, so it felt like the right time to throw them together and make THIEF. The title came from that feeling of time constantly slipping away from you, whether you notice it or not.”

It’s already become a key moment in recent live sets too, opening shows with the kind of energy that’s helped corto.alto build a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts around right now - one that’s only continued to grow since the release of his 2024 Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut Bad With Names.

This summer, corto.alto will appear at festivals including We Out Here, WOMAD, Montreal Jazz Fest and Jazz à la Villette, before embarking on the project’s largest UK and EU headline tour to date.

Listen / Buy / Save 'THIEF' - HERE

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