Picture Credit: Road to Ultra
Music festivals are the biggest celebration of art and joy where thousands and thousands of people gather around to listen and have fun. One such music festival is the electronic music festival, Ultra Music Festival. It started in 1999 and currently happens annually in Miami, Florida. Since March is already here, the time for the Ultra Music Festival to return to its glory is about to happen, so let’s dig deeper and know all about this outdoor electronic music festival.
History of Ultra Music Festival:
The Ultra Music Festival started on 1999 and was inaugurated by Russell Faibisch, Ray Navarro and Alex Omes. Even though currently the festival goes on for 2 days, but back when it started, it started as a one-day festival which happened on 19th march of 1999. Since the first time, the festival turned out to be a success and created sensations among music lovers with performers like Josh Wink, Rabbit in the Moon, DJ Baby Anne, and Paul van Dyk. It was an instant hit which recorded attendees and concert-goers in thousands and was held at Collins Park in Miami Beach. Even though there was a loss in the inauguration year, the Uotra Beach Music Festival returned for the second time in 2000 and since then its continuation made it one of the largest and most popular music festivals in the world.
Growth of the beach festival:
The concept of gathering people in an electronic music festival and to make it an open-ground festival was something unique and refreshing back then and still is. This along with great performances, festivities and enjoyment, the music festival has become a fan-favorite over the years. The music festival set a whole new record of having an attendance of over 70,000 people in the year 2009 where the lineup introduced more live bands and crossover performances. Some of the performances include bands and musicians like The Black Eyed Peas, The Prodigy, Perry Farrell, Crystal Castles, The Whip, etc.
Then the festival sold out for the first time in history and had over 100,000 attendees at its thirteenth annual edition in 2011. Then in 2013, in celebration of its fifteenth anniversary the festival took place for the first time over two weekends. Including artists like David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris, Richie Hawtin, Snoop Dog, The Weeknd, Zedd, Afrojack, etc. as headliners made the popularity of the music festival even higher.
Change in location and pandemic:
In 2019, the commissioners of Miami voted against the festival hosting at Bayfront Park, unanimously. The cancellation was because of the noise complaints and other concerns among the downtown residents. So festival organizers proposed moving the festival to barrier island of Virginia Key, and planned to use the Virginia Key Beach Park and Miami Marine Stadium as venues. Followed by some problems, the festival finally announced its lineup as Chainsmokers, Marshmello, Martin Garix and others as the headliners and hosted at the Virginia Key. Then the next year, the music festival Bayfront Park as the Mayor of Key Biscayne Michael Dave said about the festival that they “did the best they could, but it’s just not the right place”.
Then due to covid-19 the festival was cancelled as the entire world was suffering from the deadly pandemic and large gatherings in close proximity was not allowed. The festival was cancelled for two years, 2020, and 2021 and returned the next year in its full glory at the Bayfront Park location. In 2022, the Ultra Music Festival happened on March 25, 26 and 27 where the lineup included artists like Kygo, Martin Garrix, Afrojack, Tiesto and others.
Ultra Worldwide:
In 2008, the Ultra Music Festival thought of taking the experience worldwide and started Ultra Brazil that took place in São Paulo, Brazil. This now moved to Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Since this global adventure, the festival has taken places in Santiago, Chile – Ultra Chile, Buenos Aires, Argentina – Ultra Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Japan – Ultra Japan, Seoul, Korea – Ultra Korea, Ibiza, Spain – Ultra Ibiza, etc. It also came up with Road to Ultra in 2012 with the concept of single-day, single-stage events.
Awards and recognition:
In the category of DJ awards, the first nomination came in 2007 for the Best International Dance Music Festival. It won teh Special Award – Best International Dance Music Festival in 2008. The festival also won awards for World’s Best Festival in DJ Magazine in 2016 and 2017 and came in 3rd in 2019. It has won Best Music Event from 2008 to 2011 and was also nominated for the Best Dance Event. In 2018, it won the award for being the Best Festival.
So the history and facts supports the Ultra Music Festival as one of the most iconic and celebrated music festivals in the world. If you are a fan of electronic music and beaches, Ultra Music Festival in 2023 should be your destination!
Follow for more: https://ultramusicfestival.com/
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