In partnership with EXIT Festival
After a triumphant return last summer as one of the first music festivals in the pandemic era, EXIT Festival returns to its home in the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia (July 7-10), with a typically eclectic and exciting line-up. Few other places would dare to book both underground hero Denis Sulta sharing a lineup with pop-rap icon Iggy Azalea, but unexpected and unlikely pairings are what EXIT does best. Whatever youâre into, thereâs something to get you going â take a closer look at EXITâs 2022 lineup here.
If youâre heading out to EXIT next month, youâre certainly in for a memorable experience; the Petrovaradin Fortress makes for a beautiful backdrop for a whole host of varied live performances and DJ sets. And if not? Well, this lot might just convince you to head on outâŚ.
BÄĂTFĂOT
If you havenât yet heard of BÄĂTFĂOT, there could be no better introduction than at EXIT Festival. The Tel Aviv trio fuse rap with post-punk, acid techno and a good dose ofâ 90s rave. BÄĂTFĂOT is the brainchild of eclectic rave duo Red Axes co-founder Udi Naor, who felt stifled in his previous projects. The ethos of BÄĂTFĂOT, then, is to throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks, turning the dial up to 11 and running with whatever they want. From the raucous energy of tracks like â??? FUN ???â and âBĂLLDĂWZERâ, theyâre sure to be a manically fun addition to EXIT 2022.
Calvin Harris
Big-room EDM is Calvin Harrisâ specialty, so heâll certainly be in his element on EXITâs outdoor stage. Headlining the Saturday night, you can expect big production value and rave euphoria from the producer of chart classics like âFeel So Closeâ, âOne Kissâ with Dua Lipa and âAcceptable in the 80sâ. This summer heâs also teasing the return of âFunk Wav Bounces Vol.2â, his funk-lovinâ persona, which returned last week with a new collaboration with Dua Lipa. Â
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
If Calvin Harris brings a guarantee of feel-good rave to EXIT, Nick Cave is the other side of the coin, offering the opportunity to dance out all your troubles and take comfort in a collective darkness. The melodrama of the Australian legendâs back catalogue is deeply moving, and his appearance at EXIT is what makes the festival such a compelling one given its diverse booking decisions. Seeing Nick Cave perform at the Petrovaradin Fortress, with its rich military history, is a bit of a goth dream, too.
ZHUÂ
Heralded by the New York Observer upon the release of his 2016 debut album âGenerationwhyâ as âthe next Daft Punkâ, singer and producer ZHU is no stranger to handling big crowds and expectant audiences. ZHU originally decided to remain anonymous, letting his music do the talking for him; his trademark deep house sound is enough of a calling card. Having performed at festivals like Coachella, this will be his first appearance at EXIT Festival, and not one to be missed.
Coach PartyÂ
The Isle of Wight four-piece are bringing a healthy dose of British scuzz rock to the Petrovaradin Fortress this July â their recent third EP âNothing Is Realâ is a riot, brimming with punky anger and youthful apathy. Theyâve recently smashed support slots for the likes of The Mysterines, Indochine and Sea Girls and their very own UK headline tour; their set at EXIT 2022 promises to bring a magnetic energy that will make them your new favourite band.
Molchat Doma
Belarusian post-punk outfit Molchat Doma have bubbled steadily from a Bandcamp favourite to viral TikTok sensation over the past few years. Formed in Minsk in 2017, their second album âEtazhiâ catapulted them from a dedicated niche audience to the mainstream as their track âĐĄŃднО (ĐĐžŃĐ¸Ń Đ ŃМиК)â (âBedpan (Boris Ryzhy)â) was used 225,000 times on the social media platform. Their cavernous, dark 80s post-punk sound is one for the Nick Cave fans, obviously.
Honey Dijon
Honey Dijon has become one of the biggest and best DJs on the festival circuit, and for good reason. The Chicago DJ has perfected her own special blend of house, techno and disco, making her one of the most skilled and most entertaining DJs currently on the scene. Renowned for starting the party, sheâs guaranteed to bring the good vibes and get the fortress moving.
The Undertones
Another legend takes the stage at EXIT Festival 2022 in the form of Northern Irish punk band The Undertones. Forming in Derry in 1974, The Undertones wrote such classics like âTeenage Kicksâ and âMy Perfect Cousinâ, and although original frontman Feargal Sharkey left the band in 1983 to pursue a solo career, they reformed in 1999 with singer Paul McLoone whose live presence is just as magnetic.
ANNA B2B Samaâ AbdulhadiÂ
Separately, ANNA and Samaâ Abdulhadi are both incredibly talented DJs; together, this back-to-back set will surely be something to behold. Both ANNA and Samaâ have previously performed at EXIT, so theyâre hardly strangers to the festivalâs special atmosphere, and theyâre set to perform a uniquely heavy-hitting techno set which, given ANNAâs and Samaâs tendencies towards the heavier sounds in their own sets, promises to be an absolute rager.
Cera Khin
Cera Khin operates on a basis of harder and faster is better; she plays gabber side-by-side with serious, thumping techno and just makes it work. A fast-rising star of the Berlin scene, she was born in Tunisia and has made a name for herself as an unrelenting DJ. She also founded the Instagram account @technomentalhealth which aims to destigmatise mental health within dance music; expect to fully lose yourself in her EXIT set.
The post 10 essential acts to see at EXIT Festival this summer appeared first on NME.
