Certainly one of the most unique music festivals in the world, Serbia’s EXIT has just announced its first lot of names for 2009. Taking over a 17th Century fortress in Novi Sad, the three-day event boasts over 25 stages. This year marks EXIT’s 10th anniversary and the organisers are promising plenty of “surprises”.

The line-up, as ever, is something of a mixed bag. Korn and Patti Smith on the same bill is notable in itself, with festival dependables Manic Street Preachers, Madness, Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy and Lily Allen filling out the headline honours. The vast Dance Arena will host back-to-back sets from scene stalwarts. There’s sure to be a mother-load more to come, too.

The EXIT line-up is often accused of playing it safe, but the atmosphere is almost unrivalled. European travelers take out your diaries: this year’s bash goes down on the weekend of 10-12 July.

EXIT first announcement:

Arctic Monkeys
Lily Allen
Moby
Manic Street Preachers
Kraftwerk
Madness
Korn
Grandmaster Flash
Patti Smith
The Prodigy
Carl Cox vs Green Velvet
Sasha vs John Digweed
Richie Hawtin vs Dubfire
Eric Prydz vs Adam Beyer
Sander Kleinenberg vs Darren Emerson
Steve Lawler vs Lee Burridge
Steve Angello vs Sebastian Ingrosso
Kissy Sell Out vs Alex Metric
Paul Woolford vs Yousef