The journey to Ultra begins long before you set foot on the festival grounds. Nestled in the heart of downtown Miami, there are swarms of rave-ready attendees, vendors selling Gatorade and cotton candy flavored vapes, and a line of cars that spans as far as the eye can see. Any responsible raver knows that trying to cram into an Uber or (God forbid) park at the festival is a fool’s errand. Instead, crowds of iridescent music lovers flocked to Government Center to catch the Metrorail about a mile from the venue at Bayfront Park.
Decked in sparkles and swimsuits, the mass migration fostered a strange sense of community before the day had even begun. Many attendees took Miami public transportation for the very first day that day and it served as a sort of make-shift fashion show as commuters and ravers communed on the train.
In a way, the commute underscores Ultra’s Mission Home initiative which was highly present all weekend. The program’s aim is based on five objectives: Waste Reduction, Pollution Prevention, Nature Preservation, Community Engagement, and Climate Action. Throughout the weekend, the festival utilized volunteers for multiple dancefloor cleanups which also diverted trash from the landfill. In 2022, Ultra reports that 67.6 thousand pounds were diverted from the landfill and 100% of its recycling loads were accepted by the recycling facility. The program has been recognized at the local, state, and federal levels and has received awards from The Florida Festivals and Events Association.
Sustainability was front and center all weekend with signs on the main stage that read: “respect this space, leave no trace!” and virtual and augmented reality experiences at the main and Worldwide stage.
Eric Prydz Presents HOLO
Technology felt like a big theme at the Ultra this year with Eric Prydz presenting one of the more unique performances at the festival. Prydz headlined the Megastructure stage to end the first night on a high note. The set––which featured a mashup of dance music subgenres from house to techno––was paired with holographic images and a stunning light show that made the experience entirely immersive. Though Prydz is known for his musical prowess, the high-tech effects stole the show this time around. From robots storming through the crowd to lightning storms raging on the stage, the set was something from out of this world.
Afrojack
One of the most danceable sets of the weekend came from Afrojack who was a master of getting the crowd on their feet. With reliable dance hits filling his set, Afrojack provided a solid good time for anybody who just wanted to party for a few hours.
Zedd
Although Zedd’s set was apparently fraught with issues according to a Tweet, the crowd was none the wiser.
So bummed about the show last night ????.
Complete nightmare disaster.
20mins before stage time somehow my USBs corrupted when I updated the set and NOTHING would load at all.
Was literally airdropping songs to Garrix’s USBs on my way to stage.
Still no idea what happened…
Songs…— Zedd (@Zedd) March 25, 2023
His remix of John Summit’s ‘Where Are You’ was a crowd favorite and had everyone paralyzed with anticipation. The producer also made sure to touch on his greatest hits such as ‘Break Free’ by Ariana Grande and ‘Clarity’ which amped the crowd up even more.
Notably, rapper Ice Spice took the stage to perform ‘In Ha Mood’ and ‘No Clarity’ which samples Zedd’s ‘Clarity’. Though this was a contentious choice for the online rave community, the energy was palpable in the crowd. Ice Spice brought a wave of energy with her internet-famous hits and thousands of people sang every word back.
Marshmello
Marshmello closed out night two on the mainstage with a star-studded guest list.
His set traversed everything from his old-school sound to brand-new music––never before heard, unreleased tracks, to be exact. Marshmello kept the energy going with Glorilla who performed her hit song ‘FNF (Let’s Go)’, Roddy Rich with ‘The Box’, and Farruko (the perfect choice for the Miami crowd) who performed club favorite ‘Pepas’.
Grimes
Another technology-heavy set, Grimes was as weird and wonderful as ever. The DJ took to a small, metal cage and embodied her most elven self, wind-swept hair and all. As usual, her visuals were surreal, ethereal, and otherworldly. One of the most memorable moments of the set was a smooth transition from Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ into Dom Dolla’s ‘Miracle Maker’.
Carl Cox
Carl Cox’s Saturday night hybrid show was easily one of the most talked about sets of the weekend. Cox curated the perfect blend of house and techno to keep the audience dancing and cheering his name the whole time. Topped off with a pretty spectacular light show, Cox proved once again that he knows what he’s doing.
Swedish House Mafia
Perhaps a lowkey sendoff for the festival, Swedish House Mafia closed out night three of Ultra. Swedish House Mafia stuck to their best hits in a set that was jampacked until the last minute. Though the performance was cut slightly short, the closing fireworks show was a pretty spectacular way to close a festival.
Other highlights of the festival include the Cove stage which provided a great space to relax, unwind and listen to good tunes in between sets at the larger stage. Tucked near the back of the venue, the stage was a great place to regroup and unwind while still getting to enjoy the festival atmosphere. There were still plenty of people dancing to great music but with the added bonus of more space, bathrooms only steps away, and a variety of food choices. What’s better than solid dance music and a plate of pad thai?
Tickets for 2024 are already on sale and you can get yours now at Ultra’s website.
