Exit to Montenegro Opens a New Chapter with a Spectacular Debut on Velika Plaža

The Exit Festival Begins in Ulcinj

From late afternoon until sunrise, music lovers danced across the beaches surrounding Ulcinj before gathering at the GAIA Main Stage, where the first performances officially launched the inaugural Exit to Montenegro festival.

As the sun dipped below the Adriatic horizon, visitors from around the world joined locals in admiring yet another unforgettable sunset over Velika Plaža (Long Beach), creating the perfect backdrop for the opening night.

Indian DJ, producer, and singer Avantika welcomed the evening with her distinctive interpretation of "Rhythm Is a Dancer," performed in Hindi. Her unique blend of Indian classical music, melodic techno, and house immediately energized the crowd, inspiring even those planning to save their energy for the night's headline performances. 

She was followed by Deer Jade, the French-Swiss electronic artist whose melodic grooves have taken her to renowned destinations including Ibiza, Albania, and Austria. Her atmospheric set effortlessly drew festivalgoers onto the dance floor.

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Monolink Receives a Hero's Welcome

The evening's headline performance came from German producer, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Monolink (Steffen Linck), who arrived in Montenegro after appearances at some of the world's biggest festivals, including Burning Man and Coachella.

Known for seamlessly blending live vocals and guitar with electronic music, Monolink captivated the audience with emotionally charged performances of tracks such as "Sirens," "Light Up My Dark," "Powerful Play," and "Ocean." Later, he raised the energy with crowd favorites including "Return to Oz" and "What Else Is There," keeping thousands dancing throughout his set. 

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His performance of Röyksopp's "What Else Is There" received one of the loudest reactions of the night.

As organizers emphasized, Velika Plaža is far more than simply a festival backdrop. The sea, wind, and endless stretch of sand become an integral part of the experience, naturally blending with the music rather than competing with it.

Before the headliner, Serbian DJ Runy b2b Mene (Stefan Rončević) warmed up the crowd with an energetic mix of house and electro, featuring tracks such as "Party Over Here," "Do It Again," "Bounce," "Rider Outten," and "Porque."

The night then continued with internationally acclaimed Welsh DJ and producer Jamie Jones, one of the most influential names in contemporary house and techno. Famous for combining soulful and disco influences with modern electronic sounds, Jones delivered an extended set that kept the dance floor moving until sunrise before handing over to local artists Branko Vuković b2b Petar P.

The festival continues tonight with performances by Stephan Bodzin, Space Motion, Proximus, Audiostorm, Fiona Kraft, and many more.

The inaugural Exit to Montenegro has already attracted visitors from across the Balkans and around the world. The Ulcinj edition runs until July 6, after which the festival moves to Bečići from August 28–31, where audiences can look forward to performances by international stars including Charlotte de Witte, Peggy Gou, John Newman, Hugel, and many others. 

 Source: Boka News

Cover: Primorski portal