EXIT Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia - July 12-14

Approaching the Petrovaradin Fortress (Novi Sad, Serbia) along the bridge spanning the Danube, a growing sense of urgency arises in my body. It is dark. It is unknown. A gentle rhythm pulses from beyond the hills and walls. Perhaps my adrenaline rush is caused by the collective frenzy of the hordes storming the fortress. Perhaps it is an unknown primeval excitement engrained in my blood from a past life of terrorizing the lands. The onslaught of the crowd passes through the street vendors along the narrow cobblestone street, constanly flowing upwards. The cobblestone worsens, the slope increases, the walls rise, and the pulse of the music begins to float from all directions as we move upwards along the fortification.

The festival is held throughout the grounds of the fortress, 29 separate venues interspersed among the empty moats, stone tunnels, ramparts, rock tunnels, and hills within the medieval landscape. Arriving later than expected, The Prodigy had already performed, so we advanced through the crowd towards the main dance area. Cresting a hill, we peered down into the pit that was the dance arena. This crucible, bounded by impregnable hills and walls, was a furor of people throbbing and stirring to the beats being pounded out by Richie Hawtin, and further enticed by a sensational vibrating raver in pink, flaming poi spinners, and futuristic wardens throwing sparks into the crowd. As the sun rose over the horizon more than 5 hours later, the crowds showed no signs of abating.

The biggest draw for me was seeing The Beastie Boys live. After being 'banned' from listening to them as a teenager, it only served to heighten my fascination with them as they continued to evolve their music and style. They have certainly endured the test of time (to get ill). The festival was four days long, of which I had only intended to stay for three. The evenings began around 10pm and lasted until well after the sun shone across the throbbing crowds. On the last evening (morning), the drum and bass sounds of LTJ Bukem continued to echo off buildings for the full hour walk back home. As I laid my head on the pillow at 8am (for my half hour of sleep before going to the train station), I heard the parting words of LTJ shutting down, just as my own system did.


The beach party during the day, where more DJs continued to spin. The fortress lies on the hill in the background across the Danube.




The dance pit absolutely stacked with people... and this is about 7am!


Another view of the dance pit from atop the fortified hills.


The fortress snaked its way along bridges, under ramparts, and through cobblestone walks. Each corner providing a new stage for a different style of performer.


More beach party daning during the day after day after day. The campgrounds which I did NOT stay at were packed beyond belief nearby.


Market stalls in Novi Sad. The people were amazingly friendly and Novi Sad was a great city to visit.