State Of Exit Festival, Serbia

Deep in the depths of the former Yugoslavia, where once war crimes, NATO bombs and food rations were rife, there were more than a generation of young people who had little hope that perhaps one day, life would be better. That was in the year 1999, and back then, little did they know that five years later, the same generation would be proudly standing in the same place experiencing sheer delight and total euphoria.

Set within the walls of the ancient Petrovaradin Fortess, this magical venue has the acoustics to match any great concert hall. More than 20 stages are on show, ranging from the Main DJ Arena to Reggae to Latino to Balkan Fusion to a Café del Mar style beach bar!
 
Born from a student reaction against the Milosovic regime in 1999, today over 250,000 people pass through the walls over the 4-day festival to immerse themselves with something for all the senses. There's the music - Massive Attack, Cypress Hill, Iggy Pop to Roger Sanchez, Timo Maas and Steve Lawler.

The theatre, the art, films are also important, not forgetting the important workshops that educate the youth with positive and forward thinking activities. One can feel a dense cloud of creativity hanging gracefully in the air. It's more than a special event; not simply due to the energy from both the artists and the public alike but also from all who give up their time to volunteer to the cause and the important theme of the year, which is to stop human trafficking. Young people standing up for what they believe in and doing so in a creative and positive way - it's something to learn a lesson from.

So when the likes of X-Press 2, Timo Maas, Way Out West and Massive Attack play, we are all in awe at the unique surroundings and the 20,000 plus sea of faces before them. It is perhaps most aptly summed up when Adam Freeland belts out the infamous Beastie Boys', 'You gotta fight for your right . . . . to PARTY' and we all smile inwardly. Never has a record echoed so true. Long may the State of Exit reign!