A look back to this year’s EXIT Festival 2023
EXIT Festival is a legendary event and for good reason. It is not only huge in scope with more than 40 stages and hundreds of thousands of music fans from all over the world, but also it goes down in an iconic setting. The Fortress is hundreds of years old and steeped in history that you can really feel as you move around amongst the towering walls and next level lights, lasers and sounds systems.
This year’s festivities started with an opening at the Pachamama powered by Rosa stage. It had meditative music and an ancient cocoa ceremony with an empowering performance by Vylana Marcus at the mts Dance Arena and the first-ever festival opening from space at the Gorki List Main Stage.
Musically it is a few days packed with highlights no matter what you are into. Alesso, Claptone, Chase & Status, Hot Since 82, Vintage Culture and Viagra Boys are just some of the more than thousand performers who play to a total crowd of 200 000 visitors who all sent their energy into the universe on this special weekend.
For us the most memorable set on the first day was, after Swedish punk band Viagra Boys and before Chase & Status, The Prodigy. They kicked off with Breathe and sent the crowd mad as they brought out a hologram of late frontman Keith Flint. Day one’s other highlights include a fine set from Ben Ufo, tight minimal techno from Belgian Amelie Lens and a special back to back between Trop boss Nina Kraviz and new school star Indira Paganotto.
On Saturday night, Sofi Tukker thrilled the festival crowd, Gioli & Assia brought their indie dance sounds to the mts Dance Arena plenty more cats from the tendon vanguard impressed. Sunday was the day many were here for though – an epic set from Wu tang Clan in celebration of 50 years of hip hop. The New York legends delivered an explosive rap performance with a live band that blew our brains and will never be forgotten. The closing was a series of supersets from Adam Port, &Me, Rampa and Keineinmusik that was a fine emotional roller coaster. There is no festival on the sale of Exit so make sure you get it on your to do list.
