LCD Soundsystem own Lowlands 2016

Lowlands is a gem of a festival. With enough stages and goings on to keep even the most energised minds entertained over three days in the Netherlands come torrential rain or beautiful sunshine. The culmination of the weekend is where the real highlight comes into play, with LCD Soundsystem headlining the Sunday night. Prior to this though there are treats galore. First up are <strong>Pumarosa</strong>, who have a fierce and determined sound reminiscent of Savages’ minimalist approach, but it surrenders to a much larger scope and they have no issue getting the crowd dancing. Over on the Alpha stage, <strong>Die Antwoord</strong> are an experience everyone should go through at some point. From God (yep) turning up the hype ready for Ninja and Yolandi Visser to bound onto the stage and fully reap the reward, it’s chaos and carnage; exactly how it should be. Clouded in fog and atmospheric lighting, <strong>Warpaint</strong> give Friday afternoon a hazy and dreamy soundscape to match the undetermined outside weather. On Saturday, with immense beauty and perfection, <strong>Sigur Ros</strong> encapsulate the unending emotion that thrives within their unique sound; they’re a band that utilises both their music and visual accompaniment to a fantastic level. On the other end of the spectrum, <strong>Jack Garratt</strong> gives an energised set that surprisingly holds no prisoners, giving Holland a glimpse into why he’s slowly becoming a national treasure on our fair shores. <strong>Local Natives</strong> don’t let the Sunday downpour stop them from bringing their sunny and warming sound to an eager tent, getting the crowd moving and their minds away from the torrential weather. The duo of Alex Turner and Miles Kane, aka <strong>The Last Shadow Puppets</strong>, cement their place as a must see, if just for their on stage chemistry. Performing with a small string quartet, the cinematically grandiose songs are only topped by Turner’s flourished movements and attitude. Since the return of <strong>LCD Soundsystem</strong>, James Murphy and co have been <em>the</em> band to watch. With no specific tour plans and sporadic festival appearances, this is a comeback that has been much sought after. Here at Lowlands, they prove just why that is. Bringing their mixture of dance, funk, rock and just about anything else you can fit onto a stage, Murphy’s as focused and controlled as ever, with the band executing the classic LCD sound perfectly. Opening with ‘Us vs Them’ and ending with ‘All My Friends’, the set is a sight to behold - a melding of what’s been and what’s to come. There couldn’t be a more fitting set to close out a festival that has such character and mastered execution.