“I’ve been told that EXIT brings together revolutionaries both on the stage and in the crowd,” said Tom Morello, adding that he had waited 33 years for his first show in Serbia. We, too, have been waiting since EXIT’s first day, as Rage Against the Machine was a catalyst for the festival’s inception.
Before his performance, the grand celebration of EXIT’s 25th anniversary was announced for next year, marking a return to the State of EXIT – an artistic state of mind created by millions who have passed through the gates of Petrovaradin Fortress over the past 24 years. With the first rays of sunshine and a masterful set by Black Coffee at the mts Dance Arena, this year’s EXIT came to a close. Here’s a recap of the past five days of music, energy, love, and the finest festival adventure at Petrovaradin Fortress.
This year’s EXIT Festival spanned five days, featuring performances by some of the world’s biggest music stars. Opening day honored Nikola Tesla with shows by Baby Lasagna, Burak Yeter, Dimash, and Iniko. The first official festival night saw razor-sharp bars and electronic beats from trap pioneer Gucci Mane and DJ legend Carl Cox. We continued with nostalgic dance hits by pop-rap icons Black Eyed Peas, a punk revival with The Exploited, and a signature performance at the mts Dance Arena by Maceo Plex.
The final night featured heavy guitar riffs and relentless mosh pits, coordinated by Tom Morello, the founder and lead songwriter of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Morello delivered an emotional performance of “Like A Stone,” dedicated to Chris Cornell, and ended with the iconic “Killing in the Name,” which resonated across the Main Stage. Simultaneously, Barry Can’t Swim and multiple Grammy nominee Bonobo thrilled the crowd at the mts Dance Arena. Sara Landry packed out the NSNS Stage Refreshed by Heineken Silver before Black Coffee provided a magical sunrise finale inside the festival’s electronic music temple!
This year’s EXIT saw parents and children enjoying the festival together, both on stage and in the audience. Three generations of the Kovačević family – EXIT founder and director Dušan Kovačević, his father Ilija, and his sons Lav and Noa – were present. Newcomers arrived with their parents to see the next generation’s stars, including crowd favorites Baby Lasagna, Joker Out, and Sam Divine. Tom Morello opened his Tesla Universe stage performance with his thirteen-year-old son, guitar prodigy Roman Morello. Earlier, Max Cavalera also performed with his son Igor Junior.
As another magical festival pilgrimage concluded, the next historic and milestone edition began. At midnight, earlier than ever, the campaign for the festival’s next edition was launched, set to take place from July 10 to 13, 2025, celebrating a quarter-century of EXIT and reinstating the State of EXIT. Registration for the most affordable tickets began last night and will be open until Friday, July 19, on the EXIT Festival website.
