Ultra Music Festival wrapped this past weekend (March 22-24) as its most successful year yet. Over 330,000 electronic music enthusiasts descended upon downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park to attend the massive event which took place for the first time in its 15 year history over two weekends: March 15-17 and 22-24. Ultra Music Festival will return next year March 28, 29 and 30, 2014.
Each of the six days were streamed live over the internet via UMF TV reaching over 10,000,000 viewers, making it the largest viewed festival event in the U.S. to date. Over 200 of the world’s leading DJs and electronic musicians as well as emerging artists participated each weekend.
This year Avicii debuted material from his upcoming new album. Wrote Alexei Baranuevo of the New York Times (3/25/12), “In a preview of his as-yet-untitled debut album, due this summer, Avicii shared the stage with the country and bluegrass artists Mac Davis, Audra Mae and Dan Tyminski, as well as three members of the alternative band Incubus [Mike Einziger, Jose Pasillas, Ben Kenney]. It was a set unlike any other at Ultra, which spanned two weekends this year for the first time, featuring seven stages and more than 200 D.J.s.” Aloe Blacc also joined the performance.
There was also iconic, Grammy-winning guitarist Slash who along with Betatraxx joined Chuckie during his main stage set for a performance of their collaboration “Rocktronica.” Wrote Katie Morse of Billboard (3/23/13), “Chuckie hopes that this collaboration will spawn a new sound and says that he would love to ‘take it all over the world with Slash.’” Martin Solveig was joined by indie-pop singer Kyle for the debut of “Hey Now.”
Another highlight of the festival was the final show from Swedish House Mafia. Wrote Joshua Erenstein and Matthew Spitz of USA Today (3/25/13), “As fans have come to expect from a Swedish House Mafia show, mind-numbing lighting and laser effects, dynamic visuals displayed across massive LED screens, pyrotechnic displays from the band's beloved "Pyro Pete" and a fireworks finale kept downtown Miami alight for as far as the eye could see. During the waning moments of the show, Axwell grabbed the microphone and asked, ‘Can we have the last dance with you?’ The crowd responded with one last burst of energy as the band's finale, ‘Save the World’ (feat. John Martin), rocked downtown Miami. ‘Miami is where it all started,’ proclaimed Axwell. Now Miami is where it has ended for Steve Angello, Axwell, and Sebastian Ingrosso… for now.”
For more information, visit ultramusicfestival.com.
