Monday 15 August 2011

Sniffing The Grass: A Lowlands 2011 Warmup


Choices, choices, choices. Life's full of it and so is a festival like Lowlands with so many stages. It's bound to have bands playing at the same time and this year isn't any different. So it sold out in 2 hours in December, but when the line-up was complete many people were disappointed. So yes, it lacks a few good headliners. But look past the headliners and you will find a wealth of exciting bands. No time for breaks! What about food? Beer is very nutritious as well and will fill you up if you drink enough of it. What about sleeping? That's so 2010 and very overrated. Let's dig in...

Friday


Our tent is up, the first beer is empty and the first choice arrives: The Wombats that was a must see a few years ago or Foster The People that is much talked about this year? Well Foster the People cancelled but their replacement The Horrors don't make the choice any more easier. Then maybe some nice new soul and dance a little with Fitz and the Tantrums. After that dream away with the sultry voice and looks of Anna Calvi. Then the temperature will rise for a guaranteerd tropical afro-beat party with Jungly by Night. I'm afraid De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig can't drag me away there. The Vaccines cancelled so one less band to worry about. Time to get blown away by the Smith Westerns? Who knows. Maybe Alex Turner will show up at good friend Miles Kane's show. Let's see if Noah and the Whale are as good on stage as their last album. You can't go wrong with dEUS of course but then I have to rush off to see a bit of White Denim, since I don't want to miss that band. To end this day it's another performance by the Arctic Monkeys who managed to impress me twice already this year. Maybe Miles Kane will show up?

Do I have any energy left for a little dancing and drinking? I'm afraid so. What do you say Mr. Grolsch? Would you like to dance with me?





Saturday


And the second day is off to another day of choices. Go see much talked about band Young The Giant whose album I didn't really like? Or go see Di-Rect's Spike with his energetic hobby band The Deaf? Then it's off to these great young rockers DeWolff. Or Bombay Bicycle Club? I think I'll stick with the young dogs and their 70s rock. Mona say they are the next best thing but I missed them on Rock Werchter. I guess I get a second chance. I like jazz a lot so I'm gonna check out the Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest directed by my favourite Dutch sax player Benjamin Herman. Maybe then relax a bit with the blues of Seasick Steve and then find out what Cloud Control is all about. Hello! Cage The Elephant, Selah Sue or La Boutique Fantastique? Tough choice and I'll decide at that time. Maybe go for two out of three. After I finally got Elbow I don't want to miss them, so that's a no brainer. Aaaah, time to relax with pop-corn, beer and 10.000 other people to watch the movie Conan The Barbarian. That's gotta be good.





Sunday


Last day so let's take it a bit slow? I don't think so. Frank Turner, Little Dragon or Cherri Bomb? Enough with the choices! Since Turner manages to impress many people I think I'll go with him. Dutch rockers De Staat are always good for a solid show. Although I'm not a hip-hop fan, you can't ignore legends like The Roots. Let's see if Alison Mosheart can rock hard without Jack White but with The Kills. I'm definitely not gonna miss Happy Camper but that means I'll have to skip Skunk Anansie. Maybe Interpol's last album wasn't their best but they still play nice live shows. So maybe I won't be able to make it to The View. Let's see if Liam Gallagher is any more interesting with Beady Eye than on Rock Werchter. And let's go out with a bang, not with The Offspring (meh!), but with Karnivool, "the Australian Tool" as some people call them.





If I didn't drop to the ground by now, some sangria, maybe some stand-up comedy and some more partying sure will.

Listen to lots albums of artists and bands performing on Lowlands this year with the special 3Voor12 Lowlands Luisterpaal.


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