Get back: analysing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Lowlands festival

This article investigates the impact of COVID-19 through a case study of Lowlands, a music festival in the Netherlands. Analysing how the Cultural and Creative Sector is affected by and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic has received growing attention among academics. This article contributes to this body of research by analysing the structure and dynamics of the production network of Lowlands, combining elements of the Global Production Network approach and Grabher’s project-ecology framework. With this novel lens, we unravel the embeddedness of linkages between Lowlands’ management and its partners. We conclude by showing how these strong ties are simultaneously Lowlands’ strength and weakness, as recursive collaborations create an efficient production process but are also prone to fall away in crises like COVID-19, leaving the management without reliable alternatives. However, bonds of trust and friendship motivate and underpin mutual support, and therefore form a crucial key for its resilience.