Festival 84 among the biggest winter festivals: Over 20,000 people sent a message of unity

JAHORINA, (Patria) - Today marks the end of the first Festival 84, a new member of the Exit family that has already joined the ranks of the world's largest winter festivals after its premiere edition, with a total attendance of over 20,000 people.

At the very place where the 1984 Winter Olympic Games were held, the flame burned again, this time a festival flame, lit by the legendary Yugoslav skier Bojan Križaj with the original Olympic torch. With such an opening ceremony, and with its name, Festival 84 sent a message of peace to the entire region and reminded us of the achievements we can accomplish when we focus on cooperation and unity, say the organizers.

Audiences from all over the region, and from a total of about 20 countries worldwide, partied from March 15th to 18th with numerous world and regional music stars at marathon parties that lasted almost non-stop, on five music stages across the Jahorina Olympic Center.

Đule, the frontman of the band Van Gogh, stated that the phenomenal energy he experienced reminded him of the very beginnings of the EXIT festival, thus hinting at the heights Festival 84 can reach, while the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanović, stated that EXIT in Jahorina could change BiH for the better.

EXIT founder, Dušan Kovačević, added to these assessments: "With Festival 84, Exit's social mission related to regional reconciliation has gained even deeper meaning and has moved to a new, higher level."

At over 1,500 meters above sea level, current world and regional music stars performed, such as British hitmakers Sigma, the cult activist group Asian Dub Foundation, Dutch DJ stars Joris Voorn and Patrice Baumel, Slovenian techno bard Umek, pioneers of oriental house sound Burak Yeter and Mahmut Orhan, Russian hit duo Filatov & Karas, Detroit techno magician Eric Cloutier, German house master Sandrino, and leading regional rappers Bad Copy, Frenkie, Kontra & Indigo, and Sarajevo favorites Helem Nejse. This program was enhanced by a great regional DJ lineup including Billain, Marko Nastić, Dejan Milićević, Mladen Tomić, Siniša Tamamović, Black Acid, Vanyano, After Affair, Woodie, A Skitzo, and many others.

The festival moves to the daytime Addiko Jump stage, where the honor of throwing the farewell party goes to the cult American DJ and producer Eric Clouiter, who arrived in Jahorina after closing the legendary Tresor club in Berlin, and he will be supported in this great task by the most famous "after party" duo, the Banja Luka-Sarajevo combination known to everyone as - After Affair. The farewell party will officially conclude the first Festival 84, which has been playing in the top world league since its first year, and with this result, it will compete for prestigious European festival awards next year.