The poster below still heralds more to come, so I guess the lineup for Keep it Low #12 this October in Munich still isn’t done — room for Colour Haze, if they can make it — but adding Slomosa, Belzebong and Hällas to the top of the bill isn’t gonna hurt, classic heavyproggers Mondo Drag, doom metal torchbearers Early Moods, and ascendant post-genre explorers Coltaine are part of this cohort as well, along with Thronehammer and The Delayed. They join the ranks of 1000mods, The Devil and the Almighty Blues, Kombynat Robotron and a bunch of other cool bands for the two-dayer, held annually at Backstage.

You can see the full bill below for the Sound of Liberation-associated fest, which has become over the years an anchor for its appointed weekend for Fall European tours, put on by SOL and others. Along with Desertfest Belgium, Up in Smoke, Lazy Bones, Høstsabbat and others spread around Europe, it plays an important role in the circuit.

From the PR wire:

KEEP IT LOW 2026 – SECOND BAND ANNOUNCEMENT

The second wave has arrived – bringing even more heaviness, darkness and mind-bending energy to the lineup.

📍 Backstage München
🗓️ 09 – 10 October 2026

Tickets: https://tickets.soundofliberation.com/produkte/173-tickets-keep-it-low-backstage-muenchen-am-09-10-2026

Get ready for a powerful expansion featuring:

SLOMOSA – leading the new wave of Desert Rock with massive riffs and irresistibly catchy hooks

HÄLLAS – blending Prog and Hard Rock into their unique, story-driven Adventure Rock universe

MONDO DRAG – hypnotic, organ-driven Psychedelic Rock with rich vintage tones

EARLY MOODS – pure, unfiltered Doom Metal in its most classic form

BELZEBONG – cult legends of instrumental Stoner Doom with colossal, fuzz-drenched sound

BEEHOOVER – raw, bass-driven Heavy Rock with a truly unique edge

THRONEHAMMER – monumental Funeral Doom built on melody and crushing weight

COLTAINE – atmospheric Post-Metal with emotional depth and dynamic intensity

THE DELAYED – gritty fuzz Rock packed with energy, groove and attitude
 

Two full days of heavy rock, doom, sludge & psych. Two stages, an outdoor beergarden, and all the vibes you need to get lost in the low end.

More riffs. More fuzz. And there’s still more to come.

https://www.keepitlow.de/
http://www.sol-tickets.com
https://www.soundofliberation.com/
https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/

Slomosa, Tundra Rock (2024)

You’ll pardon me if I spare myself looking back to see I’ve probably said the same thing every year for the last decade or so, but Keep it Low is always a very particular kind of daydream. First of all, it’s the kind that usually includes Colour Haze, and that’s an autowin as the Munich-based heavy psych progenitors have a tendency to do the hometown party. But second, among all the busy times happening around Europe each and every October, Keep it Low has always stood out to me in having vibe as part of the mission from the go. Like it’s not just about you and the bands in the room, but how that space is being shared.

I’ve never been, which is kind of a bummer, and I’m not expecting to go anytime soon, but it’s a pleasure to see who’s going to be there and wonder at the implications for who might be on the road next Fall between the likes of 1000mods and Spirit Mother, etc. I’m pretty sure this is the first October-weekend fest announcement I’ve seen — you have to admit, it’s early — but the low-key-killer first announcement below is part and parcel to why I’ve lost so many minutes over the years wondering what it would be like to actually be at this thing.

From social media:

KEEP IT LOW #12 – ⚡️FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT IS HERE⚡️

Keep It Low Festival returns to Munich in 2026 — heavier, louder and fuzzier than ever.

📍 Backstage München
🗓️ 09 – 10 October 2026

We’re kicking things off with a massive first wave of bands:

1000MODS
THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES
DEATHCHANT
SPIRIT MOTHER
FOMIES
SUCK
SKYJOGGERS
KOMBYNAT ROBOTRON
LEBER
& MANY MORE TO COME!

Two full days of heavy rock, doom, sludge & psych. Two stages, an outdoor beergarden, and all the vibes you need to get lost in the low end.

Stay tuned — this is just the beginning! 🔥

https://www.keepitlow.de/
http://www.sol-tickets.com
https://www.soundofliberation.com/
https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/

1000mods, Cheat Death (2024)

The day splits are out for Keep it Low #11, which is set for this October in Munich, and if you look at the bill, it kind of sells itself. Immediate vibe on the Sound of Liberation-associated fest, now a staple of the Fall festival touring circuit in Europe. Masters of Reality and Graveyard reside at the top of the lineup, but with Colour Haze and Lowrider and My Sleeping Karma and Kanaan and Conan and on and on to Rotor, Godsleep and Bikini Beach, who are newly added and The Vintage Caravan coming from Iceland to support their new album and Blue Heron on their first European run, it’s two days unflinching in their quality.

I’ve sweated this fest pretty much since its inception, not the least so I could go to the place on earth that has Colour Haze as the house band. Someday, maybe. In the meantime, the daydreaming helps keep my mind loose, and that’s a good thing because gawd forbid one should be able to concentrate on a thing basically ever.

From social media:

KEEP IT LOW #11 – ⚡️DAY SPLIT IS HERE + NEW BANDS ANNOUNCED!⚡️

Hey Keepers,

It’s time to plan your riffs – the day split for Keep It Low Festival 2025 is here!

Check out which bands are tearing down the stage on which day – and yes: day tickets are now available! 🔥

Friday:
Colour Haze • My Sleeping Karma • Conan • Siena Root • The Great Machine • Kanaan • Bikini Beach • Thra

Saturday:
Graveyard • Bongripper • The Obsessed („The Church Within“ set) • Lowrider • Mondo Generator • The Vintage Caravan • Rotor • Psychlona • High Desert Queen • Ritual Kings • Kant • Blue Heron • Hidas • Godsleep

Joining the lineup: Godsleep, Rotor & Bikini Beach – welcome to the madness!

🗓️ 10 & 11 October 2025
📍 Backstage, Munich, Germany

Cheers,
Your Keep It Low Crew

Join the Facebook event for more updates at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1200732624331625

Tickets are on sale at: www.sol-tickets.com

https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/
https://www.keepitlow.de/
https://www.soundofliberation.com/
http://www.sol-tickets.com

My Sleeping Karma, “Ephedra” live at Desertfest Berlin 2025

Don’t tell Keep it Low, but I’ve had a secret crush on the Munich-based Fall fest from Sound of Liberation pretty much since its outset. The look has gotten a little different over time, a little more in line now with the likes of Up in Smoke or Desertfest Belgium, but the vibe has always struck me as laid back even on the scale of pro-shop Euro heavyfests, and once again I find myself looking at the poster, seeing the bands getting added — in this case: My Sleeping Karma, Mondo Generator, Psychlona, Ritual King, Kant, Bikini Beach and Thra — and daydreaming of an absconding that’s not to be. Another year, another Keep it Low as my loss.

But it’s a win if you’re headed there, from Graveyard and Bongripper and Colour Haze‘s annual hometown throwdown to Blue Heron and Hidas and whoever’s still to come. You’ve got Conan and Lowrider and Kanaan and High Desert Queen and, well, yeah. Imagine taking two days of your life and dedicating them to the purpose of experiencing this thing. Just for a minute, think about it. Here’s the poster with the full list of names as it stands and the latest short announcement from the festival, which is set for Oct. 10 and 11 at Backstage, again in Munich, which does have its own international airport:

KEEP IT LOW 2025 – ⚡️NEW BANDS ANNOUNCED!⚡️

Hey Keepers,

More sonic firepower incoming – 7 new bands are joining the Keep It Low Festival 2025 lineup!

My Sleeping Karma
Mondo Generator
Psychlona
Kant
Ritual King
Bikini Beach
Thra

Prepare for psychedelic journeys, desert grooves, and crushing heaviness! 🔥

Hosted by Sound Of Liberation (Desertfest Berlin, Up In Smoke, Lazy Bones Fest a.o.), Keep It Low will be taking place between 10. – 11. October 2025 at Backstage.

Join the Facebook event for more updates at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1200732624331625

Tickets are on sale at: www.sol-tickets.com

https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/
https://www.keepitlow.de/
https://www.soundofliberation.com/
http://www.sol-tickets.com

My Sleeping Karma, “Ephedra” live at Desertfest Berlin 2025

Five more names for the 11th edition of Munich’s Keep it Low Festival, set for this Oct. 10-11 as part of an always-busy Fall fest season in Europe. You can see the full lineup as it stands on the poster below — pretty gosh-darn sweet; good to see Colour Haze making their regularly scheduled hometown appearance at the fest; they’re kind of the unofficial house band, which is a major part of the reason I’ve always sweated attending this one — and the latest to be added to the mix are Lowrider, Bongripper, High Desert Queen, Blue Heron and Kanaan.

It’s ultimately a small contingent of the larger lineup, but a lot of fun to consider on its own, from a veteran act like Lowrider who don’t really tour at this point to the delightful contrast between Bongripper‘s malevolent crush and High Desert Queen‘s posi-outreach vibes, the jazzy instrumental prog of Kanaan and Blue Heron‘s imported-from-New-Mexico heavy desert vibes. Again, it’s part of the greater story of the diverse sounds Keep it Low has on offer for 2025, between Graveyard and The Obsessed and Siena Root and Conan, on and on, but emblematic of the whole just the same.

Confirmation came via the PR wire:

KEEP IT LOW FESTIVAL announces HIGH DESERT QUEEN, LOWRIDER, BONGRIPPER & more new band names for 2025!

Keep It Low – THE annual stoner, psych, rock, doom and sludge metal event in the heart of Munich, Germany, has announced new band names for its exciting, 10th anniversary edition in 2025!

High Desert Queen, Lowrider, Bongripper, Blue Heron and Kanaan will be joining previously-announced acts such as Graveyard, Masters Of Reality, Conan, Colour Haze, The Obsessed, Siena Root, Vintage Caravan and many more!

Hosted by Sound Of Liberation (Desertfest Berlin, Up In Smoke, Lazy Bones Fest a.o.), Keep It Low will be taking place between 10. – 11. October 2025 at Backstage.

Join the Facebook event for more updates at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1200732624331625

Tickets are on sale at: www.sol-tickets.com

https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/
https://www.keepitlow.de/
https://www.soundofliberation.com/
http://www.sol-tickets.com

Lowrider, Live at Hellfest 2022

If you’re the type who likes to take care of things early, well, you’re apparently in good company with the Munich-based Keep it Low Festival. The two-dayer fest, which is one of many under the umbrella of Sound of Liberation booking, is held annually in October, and that’s when it’s set to take place in 2024 as well, at Backstage in Munich on Oct. 11-12. Tickets, however, are on sale almost 10 full months early.

Why? I’m not sure, but I have a definite answer in “why the hell not?,” and I find that when I try to answer that question, I come up blank. So yeah, it seems like that’s really early, but on the other hand, why not put tickets for next year on sale while people are at the fest this year? It’s different, I don’t know if it’s been done before, but doesn’t that just make it a new idea, and is that something so terrible to be chasing down in a climate where live music is trying to draw people out of the entertainment hotbeds we’ve built in our homes?

I’ve gotten sidetracked from this lineup announcement, which came out the other day from Sound of Liberation and hints toward Fall 2024 European tours for at least Fu Manchu, Monolord, Truckfighters, Greenleaf, Messa and Psychlona, but I like to keep an eye for how things evolve from year to year and for all I know, Keep it Low has been doing this every year for the last decade (happy 10th anniversary, by the way) and I’m just picking up on it now because, well, I’m kinda slow sometimes, but it stood out to me as something you might not see all the time. And maybe you like to make early travel arrangements. I know I do.

From social media:

KEEP IT LOW 2024 – ⚡️FIRST BAND ANNOUNCEMENT & TICKETS ON SALE!⚡️

Hey Keepers,

we are super excited to present you the first bands for next year’s edition of the Keep It Low festival!🔥

Please welcome:

FU MANCHU
TRUCKFIGHTERS
MONOLORD
GREENLEAF
MESSA
WOLVENNEST
PSYCHLONA
APTERA
DJIIN
ZERRE
HECKSPOILER
MINDCRAWLER
& MANY MORE!

🎫Weekend tickets are available in our shop.
www.sol-tickets.com

Keep It Low Festival
10th anniversary
🗓️11 & 12 October 2024
📍Backstage Munich

Artwork by Sebastian Jerke

Cheers,
Your Keep It Low Crew

https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/
https://www.keepitlow.de/
https://www.soundofliberation.com/
http://www.sol-tickets.com

Greenleaf, Live at Desertfest Berlin 2023

The lineup for Keep it Low 2023 is finished with the last additions of Zeal and Ardor, a stopthrough from the Howling Giant and Heavy Temple tour, as well as a trio of bands from Germany in Morast, Instrument and Einseinseins. The former rest atop a wild bill, and anyone who would accuse heavy underground music of all sounding the same should go ahead and listen to the first five bands listed here in succession. Zeal and Ardor, Colour Haze, Mantar, The Obsessed and King Buffalo — it wouldn’t work as a Spotify playlist, or maybe it would, but it will make for a killer festival.

This is the ninth Keep it Low Festival, the vibe of which I’ve always found particularly alluring from a distance, and for what started as a kind of humble event, this looks pretty huge. It’s still at Backstage in Munich, so the amount of tickets available will be the same as ever, but even as the names get harder to read on the poster below, there’s good stuff to be had. I see The Moth and Lucid Void and Swan Valley Heights down there. It would be far too easy to do worse.

Sound of Liberation sent the following down the PR wire:

Hey friends,

We’re super stoked to present you the last bands for our beloved Keep It Low festival in Munich 2023, including the last headliner! (#128121#)

And alongside we must warn you: our 2-day-passes are almost sold out and you need to be fast if you want to enjoy the full weekend experience!

Please welcome:
ZEAL & ARDOR (CH)
HOWLING GIANT (US)
HEAVY TEMPLE (US)
MORAST (DE)
INSTRUMENT (DE)
EINSEINSEINS (DE)

We can’t wait for October to come!

Two days of heavy rock music, aftershow DJs, outdoor beergarden, “Doom Frühschoppen” & more!(#128640#)

06. – 07. Oct 2023
Backstage
Munich (DE)

Grab your tickets at:
www.sol-tickets.com

This is our last call for weekend tickets!

https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/
https://www.keepitlow.de/
https://www.soundofliberation.com/
http://www.sol-tickets.com

Howling Giant, Glass Future (2023)

And so the Fall tourscape continues to unfold. King Buffalo heading abroad again is news, I think. They’re playing RippleFest Texas at the end of September, and between Keep it Low 2023 on Oct. 6-7 and the also-Sound–of–Liberation-affiliated Lazy Bones Festival in Hamburg, for which they were confirmed last week, it looks like they’ll once more spend at least the better part of a month on the road. Good to know these things.

Joining them in this whopper of an announcement is the e’er aggro Mantar, reinvigorated doom legends The Obsessed — who seem to be hitting the touring circuit that much harder with their revamped lineup — the reliably-unhinged Eyehategod, upstart rockers Slomosa, and Humulus, Dirty Sound Magnet, The Moth (who rule and hopefully have a new record coming), Eremit, Lucid Void and masked marauders Iron Walrus. It’s a busy one, but check out the generational blend between the likes of Colour Haze, The Obsessed, Eyehategod and Alabama Thunderpussy and the likes of Slomosa, King Buffalo, and Lucid Void.

Seems to me like we’re in a pretty killer moment of established acts still getting out and releasing quality material (The Obsessed have a new album that hopefully will be out concurrent to this tour) and newer bands on the rise. As the 2020s play out post-pandemic, this may be the shape of the next few years. Let’s learn from the past and support the shit out of the next generation of bands, hmm?

Here’s the latest:

NEW BANDS ADDED TO KEEP IT LOW FESTIVAL 2023

Hey Keepers,

we’re super stoked to present you the latest additions to our Keep It Low line up!

Please welcome to the bill:

MANTAR
The Obsessed
King Buffalo
EYEHATEGOD
Slomosa
Dirty Sound Magnet
Humulus
THE MOTH
Eremit
Lucid Void
IRON WALRUS

FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1511616365992301

Complete line-up:
COLOUR HAZE – MANTAR – THE OBSESSED – KING BUFFALO – EYEHATEGOD – ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY – BELZEBONG – SLOMOSA – THRONEHAMMER – DAILY THOMPSON – DIRTY SOUND MAGNET – HUMULUS – THE MOTH – EREMIT – LUCID VOID – IRON WLARUS

& MANY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

Weekend tickets are available in our shop.
www.sol-tickets.com

Keep It Low Festival
6. & 7. October 2023
Backstage Munich

https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/
https://www.keepitlow.de/
https://www.soundofliberation.com/
http://www.sol-tickets.com

King Buffalo, “Firmament” live in St. Louis, MO, Jan. 15, 2023