Full name Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise, the story behind this festival is one of the oldest music event tales in Europe.
The previous version of Lowlands was first held in 1967. Then titled A Flight To Lowlands Paradise, a local artist organised the festival as an 18-hour event with breakfast included!
While the initial event had no jaw-dropping headliner it did offer experimental theatre, poetry, dancing, films, body painting and massage.
However in its second year the festival was more ambitious. Although it came at a cost. Not only did the festival postpone its date to try and get Jimi Hendrix to attend the event, an attempt that failed, but Lowlands ended in unrest which required police intervention.
With Pink Floyd and Jeff Beck on the bill 18,000 tickets were sold. Yet many of those punters were unable to get inside to actually experience the event.
25 years later organiser Willem Venema created a new Lowlands, slightly altering the festivals name in the process.
With the 1993 lineup involving the likes of Tool, Iggy Pop, The Smashing Pumpkins and Rage Against The Machine the rebirth of Lowlands was ultimately more successful than its predecessor.
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However the festival did not continue annually until it was held again in 2000. Since then consistently indelible lineups have allowed Lowlands to attract an audience size of over 55,000 people.
It’s little surprise. When a festival can attract Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age, Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and The Prodigy in the one year (2005) it’s bound to be successful.
With over 200 acts across 10 stages that are named according to the NATO phonetic alphabet – with the exception of one stage that is sponsored – A Campingflight To Lowlands Paradise is very much as its title suggests, a three day music and culture utopia.
Lineup
Like many of the major European festivals that have already announced their summer lineups the two headlining acts arep The National and Queens Of The Stone Age. But joining them with their magnetic live show is Bristol three-piece Portishead.
While the full lineup, at the time of writing, is still yet to be revealed the second tier of acts is nothing to snuff at either. The Electric Lady Janelle Monáe, Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit, breakthrough Brits London Grammar, dubstep maestro Skrillex, Grammy winners Imagine Dragons and 2014 buzz act Jungle are all headed to Lowlands.
Australians on the lineup include Boy & Bear, Flume, The Cat Empire and Chet Faker.
Check out the full lineup here.
Where And When
The Dutch festival is held over three days, from the the 15th to the 17th of August, in The Netherlands at Biddinghuizen, at Spijk en Bremerberg, adjacent to the Walibi Holland amusement park.
How To Get There
Return flights from any major city in Australia to Amsterdam cost upwards of $1800. From the airport punters will have to catch a train to Lelystad Centrum. The travel time is around 48 minutes while a ticket will set you back less than $20.
As Lowlands is held in a remote location a free shuttle bus service from Lelystad to the festival site is the final part of the journey.
Where To Stay
Lowlands is a camping festival so punters will have to fully immerse themselves in the festival.
Camping is included in the full festival ticket. Although for those who wish to drive and bring a caravan an additional ‘Camper Camping Ticket’ must be purchased. It is valued at $74.
How To Get Tickets
Only full festival tickets are available for Lowlands and they will set you back €195.
Follow this way to get in on the Dutch music festival experience.
Insider Tips & Tricks/Things You Shouldn’t Miss
As Lowlands is situated across from the Walibi Holland amusement park the festival naturally offers a ticket upgrade for those wishing to visit the park during the festival weekend. Valued at $34 the ticket is also valid for the rest of the year.
Not just a music festival Lowlands has culture to provide in abundance. Film, street theatre, theatre, comedy, literature readings and so much more are on offer at this festival.
The festival also has a web stage initiative which gives young and up and coming bands to share their music to a wider audience.
For more details head to Lowland’s Official Website.
2013 Lineup
Revived and back on the festival circuit Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails will headline Lowlands just as Major Lazer will perform in support of their 2013 LP Free The Universe.
Franz Ferdinand will tease their forthcoming album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action while Slayer will quench the thirst of metal fans.
Natasha Khan’s Bat For Lashes, American alt rockers Band Of Horses and the latters compatriots Alabama Shakes will play in support of their respective 2012 releases. While Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, Foals, Gold Panda, The Knife, and Villagers will spruik their new albums.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Empire Of The Sun, Unknown Motal Orchestra, Tame Impala, Jagwar Ma and The Veils all make up the Australasian contingent.
