Lowlands A Wrap

Having sold out in February, Lowlands Festival director Eric van Eerdenburg only needed some good performances and decent weather in Biddinghuizen Aug. 16-18. He got both.

The Dutch fest had shifted all 55,000 tickets in one hour and 45 minutes, much quicker than the three days it took in 2012.

Van Eerdenburg’s been in a similar position for the last three years as the 2011 edition sold out in two hours.

It was a little quicker that year, as the festival, which is run by the Live Nation-owned Mojo Concerts, brought forward the onsale to save fans from being hit by a hike in the Dutch VAT rates, which was to go from 6 percent to 19 percent.

It amounted to a saving of a little more than $26 on the $218 ticket.

“It was a fantastic edition. Many great shows – Nick Cave, Editors, Nine Inch Nails Franz Ferdinand, Disclosure, Tame Impala, and Major Lazer, just to name a few,” van Eerdenburg told Pollstar.

“Friday started with a lot of rain. Saturday and Sunday were the best possible festival weather. Not too hot, no cold nights,” was the favourable weather report.

Photo: Bart Heemskerk

Other acts keeping van Eerdenburg happy in Th//e Netherlands included Alabama Shakes, Band Of Horses, Bat For Lashes, Bullet For My Valentine, Hurts, Jake Bugg, Kendrick Lamar, The Knife, and The Lumineers.