ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Ultra Music Festival is a ground breaking event which allows EDM enthusiasts around the world to come together in one immense outdoor arena. The festival has featured many of the biggest names in Electronic Music performing their hits that kept iPods playing and dance floors moving since 1999. David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, and Major Lazer are just a few among the impressive list of high profiled performers in the festival's legendary set list over the years. As the winner of the “Best Music Event” by the International Dance Awards for six consecutive years, Ultra Music Festival has begun promoting the 2014 edition to their iconic concert series in the form of an Early Bird Special for their fans.
To explain what it’s like to attend Ultra Music Festival isn’t quite that easy. Sure, those who can’t grasp exactly what “EDM” is just don’t get it. To love house music along with it’s accompanying sub genres, is truly a sort of cult our generation has embraced. Over the course of 3 days, Weekend 1 welcomed well over 50,000 people. In retrospect, that’s a tiny portion of the music lovers around the world. But to us? Nope. It felt as if it was the only type of music surrounding us in our own little heaven.
Skrillex and Boys Noize make a pretty damn good team. The tag team ripped up the Ultra Worldwide tent on Sunday, March 17, as they made their debut at Ultra Music Festival as Dog Blood. The set was killer and it was a treat since they were only on the lineup for the first weekend. Needless to say, festival goers had quite an experience to watch Skrillex drop the bass alongside his other half; Boys Noize who brought his signature beats.
Deadmau5 and his distinct "mau5" head will be returning to Ultra Music Festival this weekend, March 16th, to headline the Main Stage. This moment will mark Joel Zimmerman's first major appearance of 2013 and it should be quite the experience for those attending. It's been a whirlwind of success for the mau5 man as his work and material from ">album title goes here<" earned him a GRAMMY nom for "Best Electronica Dance Album."
To add more, out today on Ultra Music is deadmau5's and Imogen Heap's new single "Telemiscomminications," a very soft and melancholic song that is a step in a different direction from the usual material he's known for. The track also features remixes from Crookers, Copy Paste Soul, John Roman, and Kölsch. Watch the official video below and you can get the song on iTunes here and on Beatport here.
Just before the Ultra festivities kick off, deadmau5 will make an appearance in Austin, TX at SXSW where he is participating as a panelist with Richie Hawtin for "deadmau5 & Richie Hawtin: Talk. Techno. Technology," where both artists will discuss their careers along with a huge focus on innovations in technology and the power of social media. Later on, the pair will play a one time performance together at the Media Temple official SXSWi Closing Party at Stubb’s. This weekend catch deadmau5 make his return to the main stage of Ultra Music Festival on Saturday, March 16th and again on Saturday, March 23th.
Finally, we're down to 10 days until the first weekend kicks off for Ultra Music Festival. Two weekends means twice the fun and just in the nick of time, the folks over at Ultra have released the site map of Bayfront Park! The various stages are in the process of being put up with hints of some "surprises" to go along with them. Head over to the official Ultra Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up to date. Weekend 1 tickets are almost sold out, so grab them quick!
Miami Music Week is down to the 10-day countdown and it’s about that time to start setting your plans in stone. Miami will be home to not only the fans but an ultra-stellar group of all-star artists, Thomas Gold being one of them. Gold and his camp have revealed his various parties throughout WMC/MMW and of course, Ultra Music Festival.
Friday, March 15 marks the kick off party at Space with “Thomas Gold Presents Fanfare” featuring special guests Feenixpawl & Otto Knows. The following night, Saturday, March 16, WALL welcomes Thomas Gold and Friends before he makes his weekend one appearance at Ultra on Sunday, March 17 with a performance on the “Megastructure” stage.
In excellent fashion and not like we were doubting them, but Ultra Music Festival has geared up to bring dance music lovers to dance music heaven to celebrate 15 very successful years. The official Phase 2 line up has been unveiled which includes mega talent as well as a few surprises. They weren't joking when they said "2 weekends, 2 unique experiences" because that's just exactly what it's going to be.
The jam packed roster will include an array of different acts and include Ultra veterans like Laidback Luke, Hardwell, Dash Berlin, Fedde Le Grand, and Steve Aoki all who are no strangers to the fest. Newcomers such as Danny Avila, Alesso, Madeon, as well as Dog Blood (Skrillex and Boys Noize side project) also join the roster. Techno giants Loco Dice and Luciano will bring their sounds to Ultra and EDM fans will get a taste of Hip-hop acts like Snoop Dogg, the ever brassy rapper Azealia Banks, and singer/songwriter The Weeknd for live performances.
Part of the Big Beat recording fam, the genre defying band, Rudimental is finally crossing the pond and setting out to play in North America...and their doing it big. On the brink of their debut album release this coming spring, the quartet will be bringing their eclectic blend of sounds (which range from House to Garage to R&B) to some of the biggest music showcases this year.
Rudimental will be one of the live acts appearing at the first weekend of Miami’s Ultra Music Festival, and the guys will also headline a series of major concert dates including New York’s Bowery Ballroom;San Francisco’s Popscene @ Rickshaw Stop; and at the famed Troubadour in West Hollywood. In addition, they'll showcase their diverse influences through live DJ sets playing a string of Black Butter showcases in Miami, New York and LA. Additionally, their jam packed schedule also sees them making a number of appearances at Austin, Texas’ annual South By Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference, scheduled for March 12th – 17th. For full details, please visit www.rudimental.co.uk.
Rudimental has earned global applause for their effulgent vision The Hackney-based group made an astonishing breakthrough last year with their blockbuster single, “Feel The Love" feat. John Newman. The distinctive dubstep-flavored anthem was just the track to push them into huge success, entering the U.K. Singles Chart at #1 before spending 11 consecutive weeks in the Top 10. It was even named as iTunes’ 'Dance Song of the Year,' and is currently among the nominees for the Brit Awards’ prestigious “British Single” honor, slated to be awarded February 20th in London.
From their stunning sound clash of live instrumentation, eclectic beats, and soulful songcraft, the foursome without a doubt will be creating one of the popular sounds of the future. Check out their US tour dates below and listen to another goodie "Hell Could Freeze" feat. Angel Haze.
Is the second weekend of Ultra Music Festival facing some major opposition? Legally speaking, yes.
The City of Miami is making a bold move against Ultra with a resolution to prevent Bayfront Park from hosting the second leg of the two-weekend festival. The resolution faults the festival with traffic and noise complaints, as well as disrupting commerce for local businesses and daily life for residents.
As we all know, Ultra has already sold a massive about of weekend two tickets (ticket holder right here!) so let’s hope the City of Miami can come to an agreement with our beloved festival.
Interview by Haley Edelson
The unique and funky house duo of Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano laid down a powerful set at this year’s Electric Daisy Carnival in Orlando. We were privileged enough to sit down with them and talk personal taste, humble beginnings, and the key ingredient to get the crowd on their feet.
So let me start off by saying you guys played quite the high energy set this evening and I could definitely see it effect the crowd. What's different about playing shows in the States compared to Europe? The reason why it's a different experience in the United States and Europe, is because the people in the United States are really enthusiastic and have a lot of soul and a lot of passion. It's a cultural thing I guess you could say, while in Europe everyone is able to party and enjoy where ever and when ever they want. So for the DJ to get the energy for the people in the United States is insane because you get so much energy back and in turn you play better.
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