Forty years ago, Sarajevo, along with the entire region, was the epicenter of the sporting world. All the way back in 1984, the city hosted the Winter Olympic Games. To honor this significant anniversary, EXIT, in collaboration with Sarajevo’s Garden of Dreams, is thrilled to unveil the latest addition to its festival family – the Unity84 Festival! Scheduled for March 2 and 3, the festival will take place during the day on the Olympic mountain of Bjelašnica, while the main event on Saturday, March 2, at the Skenderija Youth Center, will be headlined by global electronic music stars Hot Since 82 and Lee Burridge. Symbolizing unity, the lineup also features Sarajevo’s leading duo After Affair, the Serbian and regional wunderkind Lanna, along with numerous DJs from Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Mostar.
As was the case with previous ventures of the EXIT festival family, this new event celebrates unity, diversity, and the timeless spirit of music. On this occasion, Dušan Kovačević, founder and director of the EXIT festival group, stated: “EXIT’s events always embody the idea of unity, and there is no better place to send a message of peace and togetherness than from the heart of the region on this momentous anniversary, especially at a time when the world needs it more than ever. I believe that Unity84, set in Sarajevo surrounded by Olympic mountains, through the partnership of EXIT and Garden of Dreams, has a unique potential to become a globally recognized winter music festival.”
As one of the few major European cities just half an hour from well-known and well-maintained ski resorts, Sarajevo offers countless opportunities for a unique combination of sports and music events. Renad Čelik, co-founder of Garden of Dreams, also commented on the new festival: “One of Garden of Dreams’ goals from the very beginning was to improve the Bosnian-Herzegovinian scene, and with this in mind, we have already successfully collaborated with EXIT several times, putting Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the global event map. This festival will further highlight the natural potential and strengthen the tourist-economic sector of Sarajevo and the country while officially making us part of the EXIT community.”
Forty years ago, Sarajevo, through the Winter Olympic Games, was a symbol of unity, positive energy, camaraderie, and fair play. The Unity84 Festival offers a chance to revive that spirit and, through music as well as numerous accompanying events, pay tribute to the rich history and significance of this anniversary for the entire Balkan region.
Just as EXIT’s previous festivals have merged music, culture, and social activism, Unity84 is ready to carve out its unique identity. The festival will serve as a crossroads for people of diverse backgrounds, symbolically gathering on Bjelašnica and at the Youth Center to partake in a collective experience that transcends borders.
The festival promises a brilliant winter experience with an excellent music lineup. On March 2 and 3, during the day, in the unique surroundings of the stunning Bjelašnica, good music will serve as the perfect warm-up for the Skenderija Youth Center. There, local DJ talents like Adnoir, Andrej Jelić, Calkins, Coem, Davor B, Eela, Fedja Knajdl, Jasa, Machado and Nemesia will take the stage as great local DJ support.
The main event at the Youth Center on Saturday, March 2, will feature Hot Since 82, the legendary Lee Burridge, the renowned DJ duo After Affair, and the young and talented Lanna.
Hot Since 82, a favorite among local audiences, holds the prestigious award for “Best Tech House DJ” and has been nominated multiple times for various accolades in the electronic music world. His career is marked by numerous hits like “Buggin’“ and “Like You.“ Recently, he delighted fans with a new track titled “Never Enough” in collaboration with Us Two and Paige Cavell, promising to get the Skenderija Youth Center crowd on their feet, just like his unforgettable performance at EXIT last year.
The legendary English maestro Lee Burridge is the creator of perhaps the most popular sound in today’s music scene, blending house, techno, and progressive. Along with Sasha and Craig Richards, he was part of the group Tyrant and is currently one of the world’s most influential DJs. His series “All Day I Dream“ is among the most renowned in the realm of electronic music.
The Youth Center will also feature performances by the DJ duo After Affair, known for organizing the Garden of Dreams event series. In a very short period, this duo has gained recognition beyond the local scene, as evidenced by them winning the Ambassador award for regional DJ of the year.
The young Lanna is the first representative of the EXIT Echosystem Music & Talent Office, a comprehensive center for developing global music stars. She is managed by David Guetta’s agent, Maria May. Starting as the youngest performer in the history of the EXIT festival, she has already shared the stage with some of the biggest global music stars like Paul Kalkbrenner, Nina Kraviz, Amelie Lens, Indira Paganotto, Tijana T, and others. Her collaboration with the renowned British producer Sebastian Haas earned her the title of the youngest producer to appear on Beatport’s Top 100 Progressive-House list!
Following this massive party, the audience can look forward to an afterparty on Bjelašnica on March 3. The exact location and lineup have yet to be announced.
It’s time for a grand gathering that will kickstart a tradition of everlasting love, peace, and unity, and through the Unity84 Festival, pay tribute to this significant anniversary!
Ticket sales for the Unity84 Festival begin on Monday, February 5, at noon at all Gigs Tix outlets and online at a promotional price of 1,500 RSD.
