Exit Fest – Novi Sad, Serbia

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 · View Comments

EXIT (also known as State of EXIT) is an annual summer music festival in the Petrovaradin fortress of Novi Sad, Serbia. It is staged annually since 2000 and usually lasts four days (since 2003).

exit fest01 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia

Held in the picturesque setting of an eighteenth century fortress by the Danube, the festival quickly grew in stature and reputation. From its grass roots political beginnings, over to occasional problems with financing, and ending with wide praise it’s lately receiving, EXIT tries to stick to its initial mission of providing relevant entertainment to Serbian youth while also bringing pertinent social topics to the forefront.

exit fest02 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia

The festival was started in 2000 by three University students from Novi Sad: Bojan Bošković, Dušan Kovačević, and Ivan Milivojev. In 2000 and 2001 the festival was organized through the Students’ Union of Faculty of Technical Sciences and University of Novi Sad. In the meantime several NGO’s and commercial companies have been involved in the organization. Since 2007, the festival has been a subject of several official and unofficial takeover bids.

exit fest03 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia

UK Festival Awards 2007, together with Yourope, the European Association of the 40 largest festivals in Europe, awarded EXIT as the Best European Festival. Public from all over the world voted for about a month, and among 10 festivals, EXIT won this award that is being awarded for the first time in the category of the Best European Festival

exit fest04 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia

EXIT 08
After winning the UK Festival Award for Best European Festival, organisers revealed that Exit 008 will be held from July 10 to July 13 2008, at the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad.

exit fest05 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia

Performers that participated on the festival were 2ManyDJ’s, Audion, Axwell, Bad Copy, The BellRays, Ben Watt, Booka Shade, Claude VonStroke, Danger, DatA, Deep Dish, Dillinja, DJ Hype, Francois K,Capibara,Gentleman & The Far East Band, Gogol Bordello, Gossip, High Contrast, The Hives, Juliette and the Licks, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Laurent Garnier, Let 3, Manu Chao, Miguel Migs feat. Lisa Shaw, Ministry, Moomin, N.E.R.D., Nightwish, Noisia, Paul Weller, The Presets, Primal Scream, Roni Size, Sex Pistols, Sham 69, Shy FX & MC:SP, Soulwax, Sven Väth,Tiamat, Tiga, Tom Novy, Vatra, Zdob şi Zdub and the Easter Parade. Pekinška patka, a cult Serbian punk band, has reunited specially for Exit. Over 600 performers took part on Exit 08.

exit fest06 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia

Icelandic singer Björk was scheduled for playing at the 2008 edition of the festival, but her show was canceled due to, according to the management of the singer, Björk’s recent support of Kosovo independence.

exit fest07 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia

The organizers of EXIT, however, denied these claims, even though they conceded the email evidence was authentic. Later, they publicly claimed to have extended a new “open invitation” for Björk to perform at Exit.

exit fest08 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia

During the third day of the festival, a branch fell from a tree in the Exit camp because of strong winds. The branch landed on a tent, killing one person and wounding three more.

exit fest09 Exit Fest Novi Sad, Serbia