Exit Festival, Serbia 12-15 July 2012
Well Exit festival 2012 not only lived up to my expectations but exceeded it by miles! This four-day festival really packs a punch with its eclectic line-ups; everything from Duran Duran to Skream and Sgt Pokes!
The festival started on a high for me! I am a huge New Order fan (some might say borderline stalker) so needless to say I was a little excited about being sat next to them on the plane from Manchester. Honestly, I acted cool as a cucumber but it’s not very often you get to offer Bernard Sumner a Fox’s Glacier Mint!
Once we’d checked into our hotel, got fed and water we were ready to hit the 
festival. I was keen to pack in as much as possible; but as Exit offers so much it was going to be hard!
Thursday night saw the Gossip warming up the crowd in a way only the Gossip knows how. 80′s legends Duran Duran followed with equal gusto. An obvious favourite of the Serbian crowd who knew every word. We also had the pleasure of a further guest appearance by a very sweaty Beth Ditto who joined Simon Le Bon for a couple of tracks.
As the main stage wound down we made our way over to the dance arena which is one of the quirkiest I have seen at a festival. As I made the decent down the scaffolding steps into the moat there was a sea of people raving as far as the eye could see – it was spine tingling! Highlights of Thursday in the Dance Arena for me was Felix Da Housecat and Brodinski.
Friday night was obviously all about New Order. We saw the tail end of
Hercules and Love Affair as we were faffing on the walk up to the fort. New
order combined rock and pop with their base heavy electronica. It was great
to see more of the original line-up back in place with Gillian Gilbert
returning. Although Peter Hook is still missing, his replacement on base
did an amazing job to fill his shoes. It made me realise what a huge part
Hooky played in making New Order what they are today.
I got a bit over excitable on Friday so had to take it easy on Saturday night -
it was the heat honest! I did manage to see Miss Kitten who was her usual
sexy vixen self, playing it hard! Richie Hawtin played his usual demanding set.
I’d recovered from my sun stroke in time for Sunday night. It had a much rockier feel and the crowd reflected this. Wolfmotherwere amazing but they are a particular favourite of mine. Chicken Lips remix of Love Train is in my top 10 tracks! We waited with bated breath for Guns
n Roses to grace us with their presence, and waited and waited and eventually Axel flounced onto the stage in full 80′s rock flow. We decided that our brief encounter with Guns n Roses was enough and we headed to the Dance Arena. We found a great spot up on the balcony overlooking the whole arena and spent the rest of the evening there with the likes of Laurent Garnier and one half of Knife Party. The sunrise set is the best thing about Exit and what better way the end the party with the sun coming up to the sounds of Serbian Dj’s playing techno.
Highlights
New Order… say no more
Duran Duran and Beth Ditto duetting
Jacque Le Cont – never fails me
Not queuing for anything
Cheap booze
Staying in a 5* hotel – well worth paying the extra!
I’ve started planning next years trip already!
www.exitfestival.org
