Forget the canals, tulips and coffee shops, the Netherlands' festival scene is the chief reason to go to the country in 2019. And it's the mighty Lowlands - a behemoth of a camping music festival with its own distinctive aesthetic - that's the major go-to.
With the latter held 16 - 18 August 2019 on the outskirts of the village of Biddinghuizen, Gigwise will be returning there after being won over by it in 2017, when the likes of Iggy Pop and At The Drive In completely slayed. We love its mix of stellar live acts, eye-popping artful design, science pop ups, social activism, wellness, and stonking camping site parties; a hedonistic pilgrimage for many: stocking up well and living life to the full is what's expected at Lowlands.
And considering today 24 new acts have been added to the bill (see the full list here) we've taken into consideration those new names and those added on earlier to present the acts we're most excited to see. This seven are worth the trip, which is faff-free train ride from Amsterdam to Lelystad and then a quick shuttle bus, alone.
Colin Benders – Heavy modular synthesis bliss
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining modular synth show anywhere in the world. Utrecht-based music conservatory wizz Colin Benders is the master. Watching him create his richly melodic and danceable soundscapes on his self-built modular stack, it's ace seeing someone operate with such a keen ear for detail; his focus and own astonishment at the sound coming out - expressed in the way he starts wobbling his head - is infectious. Benders' sound is the ultimate antidote to thin, plastic plug ins from digital systems or decks, which don’t quite resonate across your whole body in the way his does.
Louis Cole – Los Angeles’ coolest
Being a Super Nintendo and sci-fi fan, as well as a master of funk and jazz, gives Louis Cole a brilliant range of sonics at his viral cut cooking fingertips. A virtuoso on anything he puts his hand to, Brainfeeder’s Louis Cole can conduct a big band, play frenetic jazz drums, write lyrics to make you laugh hard, play funk bass, and sing directly to your soul through his magnetic, melodic falsetto. Our hero from Los Angles will be one of the sets at Lowlands where people rave about it for years to come. Do not miss this one.
The Growlers – Beach goth retro revival
Self-proclaimed “Beach Goths” Growlers weave spectral psych guitars and Dick Dale surf with a vocal which comes across confidently like a more raucous Lee Hazlewood. Their vintage-leaning sound has, ultimately, informed the way certain people dress, hold their guitars, and the music they listen to over the course of this decade. Expect hordes of gushing fans attending the set: Growlers just don’t play a huge amount of European festival shows so it will be satisfying.
Bodega – frenetic, arty guitar music
New York’s nouveaxu post-punk’s Bodega are the ultimate choice at Lowlands for fans of Parquet Courts, Sonic Youth and Modern Lovers. And when the Netherlands' most exciting new music includes post-punk referencing acts such as the Homesick, Steve French and Real Farmer, it's a strong indicator that there's a hungry appetite for Bodega in the Netherlands. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, listen to ‘How Did This Happen?’ below. You know it’s going to be a wild affair and a well-needed adrenaline boost to entertain a great night out.
De Staat – a local favourite
Fomer Muse and Rolling Stones support band De Staat are touring in support of their latest album Bubblegum and are one of Holland’s favourite live acts. Their synth-tinged doom funk of latest single ‘Tie Me Down’ (feat. LUWTEN) is an experimental joy. And we’re big fans of their 2016 album O, which spawned the award-winning video for 'Witch Doctor'. The dynamic imagery of the video conveys the level of movement possible from a crowd watching them. Making Lowlands a great place to see the band is the fact we spotted their singer Torre wondering around the fields in 2017 when they weren’t playing. It implies he’s a big fan of the festival and here's to hopeing something even more extraordinary than usual from them as a consequence.
The Chats – A viral hit machine with a bright future
When we first discovered the Cosmic Psychos and The Saints influenced pub rockers’ track ‘Smoko’ – quite literally an ode to being left alone on a smoke break – we thought, ’ok, fun, and great meme’. It’s the sort of track you would fight for the aux cable at a party to put on and get a whole room enamoured with their mullet-revival style. It’s become viral hit: currently up to 7.2 million views. But ‘Smoko’ is merely their business card and now they're thought of a serious proposition and have a publishing deal with Universal and are filling up some of the most prestigious venues in Europe. Don’t miss the band who are still in their teens and define themselves as "dropkick drongos from the Sunshine Coast of Australia.”
Tamino – Belgian Jeff Buckley
Admittedly the list of bands so far has been all about a visceral, pummelling, mostly catchy sound. But sometimes your mood calls for a melancholic, evocative singer who can send shivers down your spine. Tamino is that guy. Heavily compared with Jeff Buckley, the young Belgian has an incredible voice and will cause your jaw to hit the ground. The singer’s quite connected to the Dutch underground scene as he’s played an extensive number of gigs here and has built up a strong following. Atmosphere ought to be incredible.
