The 13th international EXIT Festival was opened on Friday with the concert of the Belgrade band Kriske (Slices), and this year the organizers expect to host 150-200 thousand visitors from around the world. EXIT is one of the most significant music festivals in Serbia, and over the past 12 years it has made the reputation of one of most successful events in Europe, too. It is testified to by many awards the this festival has received, and for the last few years it has been nominated, and even elected the best European festival in the poll of the British website “Festival Awards”.
The British daily “Sun” has declared this year EXIT as one of Top 8 festival destinations. As the biggest advantages, the critics point to the fantastic view of the Danube and the whole city of Novi Sad, seen the from the picturesque Petrovaradinska fortress, where the festival is held, as well as the rich selection of performers.
Originally initiated as students’ political movement, back in 2000, over the years EXIT has become of most significant national events, a recognizable international brand and the mandatory feature on the cultural and tourist map of Serbia. The festival has built its identity through the unique alternative music program, realization of many socially engaged campaigns and active support to ecological, humanitarian and cultural movements and organizations. Each year, the number of visitors was growing. In twelve, years EXIT has hosted the total of two million guests from more than 60 countries of the world. Besides good music and concerts, EXIT is also the place of great fun, where the visitors are able to enjoy remarkable scenery of the fortress and good vibrations of the hosts from Novi Sad.
Among the stars appearing on the main stage this year are soul diva Erykah Badu, rock attraction Wolfmother from Australia and the American icons Guns ‘n’ Roses. Other bands featured on the main stage also include the New Order, Suicidal Tendencies and Plan B. One of most popular places this year will be the fusion stage, where some of the performers will be Toy Dolls, Little Dragon, Citizens! and Buraka Som Sistema. This is also where some of the most popular bands in Serbia and region will play, such as Block Out, Goblini, Obojeni Program and Eyesburn, along with Dječaci from Split, Lollobrigida from Zagreb and many others.
The EXIT camp and other accompanying segments of the festival involves 1,600 volunteers from all over the world. The “EXIT village” camp was open for visitors on June 9, and it is located on a section of the renowned Strand beach in Novi Sad. It is expected that until the closing of the festival on July 15, the camp will have more than 4,000 people staying over.