Words: Miljan Milekić
Exit Festival‘s Dance Arena has earned legendary status during its two decades, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. With its star-studded lineup, it quickly became a “go-to” place for every electronic music fan, and de facto took the crown from the Main Stage as the most important corner of the festival. Personally, I did watch some amazing shows there, but as the lineup is dominated by house and techno, and neither is really my thing, I’ve usually spent most of my time elsewhere. However, once in a while Dance Arena has some sets I’d love to see, and this year’s day three brought two of them – British house superstar Duke Dumont and Faithless‘ own Sister Bliss.
Dumont came in first, quickly firing the crowd up with his blend of deep house and tech house, perfect for summer nights under the open sky. Accompanied by massive production and pyrotechnics, the owner of smashing hits like ‘Need U (100%),’ and ‘I Got U’ provided a set fitting for both – his fans and casual festival goers. We didn’t watch his whole set due to the clash with Noisia‘s and Foreign Beggars’ sets on the Main Stage, but besides the huge opening we were there to see the grand finale and ‘Ocean Drive.’
Sister Bliss, however, brought a real treat for electronic music fans. Combining remixes of Faithless classics and some less popular work with her solo stuff and the finest selection, she successfully greeted the first rays of sunlight. Spreading energy and positive vibes, she delivered a strong set, definitely the one to remember. After seeing Faithless live on the Main Stage of the exact same festival back in 2015, this made a full circle.
