EDM Identity
  • News
  • Music
    • Exclusive Mixes
    • Playlists
  • Events
  • Culture
  • Interviews
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
EDM Identity
No Result
View All Result
April 13, 2017

Ultra Music Festival 2017 || Cliff’s Experience

Cliff Moore
Ultra Music Festival 2017

Photo Credit: Ultra Music Festival

Although I’ve heard mixed reviews about Ultra Music Festival both from friends and online, I decided to make the journey to Miami so I could experience Miami Music Week and Ultra for myself.

On the flight from New York, I decided to throw any preconceived notions about the festival to the wind and I’m glad I did. Ultra Music Festival is known for having a stacked lineup in Miami, and this year I was intrigued by acts like Justice who premiered their new live set at Ultra, as well as acts like Sasha and John Digweed who haven’t played together often recently. There were plenty of artists I’d seen several times and was eager to catch again, as well as artists I’d never seen perform and was excited to see for the first time.

After a smooth check in at the press entrance, we decided to get the lay of the land and explore the festival grounds.

One thing I noticed right away was the size of the venue. It was bigger than I expected but still quite small. I was concerned that there would be some sound bleeding between the stages but this ended up being a non-issue for the most part which impressed me. ID check for the 21+ wristbands took less than a minute each day and there were a plethora of food options. Bars were conveniently placed all around the festival so we never had to walk far for drinks or wait in a huge line.

The main stage was massive and each artist had beautiful and unique visual production appropriate for their sets. The only thing I didn’t quite like was the trees blocking the view from far behind in the crowd. I’m just as interested in the production aspects of live sets as the music, so it was hard to get a good view of the stage unless you were more towards the front or the middle.

Ultra Music Festival 2017
Photo Credit: Sera Tonin Photography

The live stage offered plenty of space to sit down, relax, and rest, which was something I seriously appreciated. There were also lots of food options nearby, so it was a great meetup spot and a perfect place to chill in between sets. The live stage also had some seriously epic performances too, but more on that later. As for the Arcadia Spider, I was impressed by its design and look but it was much smaller than I pictured. This wasn’t much of an issue as there was still plenty of room to dance underneath it. The Carl Cox Megastructure was massive, and the sound and production underneath it made it both the most immersive and appealing stage for me.

Another thing I found interesting was Ultra’s merchandise area. It was an air-conditioned building with a DJ, and you could actually browse and order merchandise directly through your phone and have it ready when you got there. Other festivals could and should implement this innovative and efficient idea, and I think it’s the future of merchandise browsing and purchasing at not only festivals but concert events worldwide.

But let’s talk about the most important thing, the music!

On day one we started with Tchami. Tchami was a great choice for a main stage act as he has just wrapped up his Prophecy Tour and the momentum was still going strong. He has recently released new music to accompany the tour and the crowd really enjoyed his set. Afterwards, we caught about half of Alesso’s set and towards the end of our evening, we headed to see Jai Wolf at the Worldwide Stage.

There was a very relaxed and low-key vibe as he played an uplifting set and ran through his beautiful Kindred Spirits EP. After Jai Wolf, we had to make a difficult decision: who to close with? We were torn between Boombox Cartel and Rabbit in the Moon and opted for the latter. I am so glad we did! I can best describe Rabbit in the Moon as an avant-garde performance piece with elaborate costumes, body paint, and themes that poked fun at the electronic music scene and industry as a whole. If you have a chance to check out one of their live sets I highly recommend it.

Day two was all about techno and house for us…

We started at the Arcadia Spider for Matador and stuck around for the surprise special guest, who ended up being none other than Nicole Moudaber! Dancing under the Spider to some classic techno might have been one of my favorite parts of the weekend. The Spider definitely had the most chill and low-key vibe out of any other stage at the festival in my opinion.

Ultra Music Festival 2017
Photo Credit: Christopher Rivera

Afterwards, we headed the Megastructure for Sasha and John Digweed. I really enjoyed listening to their music, but we had a rather negative experience in the crowd. At around this time, it started to rain heavily, and people were pushing and shoving to get under the Megastructure to get out of the rain. We decided to leave early and head to Above & Beyond, and that was definitely the right call. We sheltered ourselves underneath the trees to shield ourselves from the rain as much as possible, and there was something about A&B’s music in the rain which made it so much more magical. They even had some new music up their sleeves which made the set that much more special and worth attending, and I enjoyed it quite a bit even though I had just seen them at RC Cola Plant days before.

Another act we wanted to catch was Chase and Status so we rushed over there as soon as we had our fill of Above & Beyond. They played some of the hardest drum and bass, grime and dubstep that I’ve ever seen or heard in a live setting. Chase and Status was an act I hadn’t explored before on my own, so I left as a fan of their music.

Ultra Live Stage 2017
Photo Credit: Christopher Rivera

We stuck around for The Prodigy, and I was extremely excited to catch an act that introduced me to electronic music over a decade ago. Their set was a combination of new music and classics and placing them on the live stage was a very good choice. We closed our day dancing under the Megastructure to Carl Cox. We had to make sure to catch his last set at Ultra, as he was heavily involved in the design and lineup of the Megastructure himself. Oh yes, oh yes!

By day three, we had a good sense of the layout of the festival and navigating it was no problem.

After conducting some interviews, we watched Vini Vici’s set from the press boat. One thing I noticed was some problems with the livestream. The audio was coming through just fine, and I was enjoying the psy/progressive trance combination that Vini Vici is known for. However, the video on the livestream was lagging quite a bit. Comments from various Facebook groups online suggested that many other people were having the same problem with the livestream. This didn’t change the fact that I still had a blast on the ground in Miami though.

After finishing our interviews we decided to head back into the festival to watch Galantis. They delighted the crowd with their hit tracks likes “No Money”, “Peanut Butter Jelly” and of course “Runaway” and “Love On Me”. They even threw in a brand new remix of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” and a bit of hip-hop as well as high energy tracks from Dada Life to keep the set flowing. I’ve seen Galantis several times and this was probably my favorite time seeing them play. I also enjoyed the fact that they were playing drums while spinning.

Galantis at Ultra Music Festival 2017
Photo Credit: Rukes

After Galantis we watched Ferry Corsten Presents Gouryella. On day 3, the Megastructure was taken over by ASOT, and this was the perfect environment for Gouryella. One thing I admire about the Gouryella project is Ferry Corsten’s ability to take fans on a true trance journey while playing almost entirely his own music.

Towards the end of the day, I headed back to the main stage to watch Zedd. I have to say that I enjoyed watching him play at Life Is Beautiful 2013 at the height of Clarity more than his set at Ultra this year. However, he did run through all his biggest hits like “Spectrum”, “Stay the Night” and “I Want You to Know”, and there were some surprises like Missy Elliot’s “Get Ur Freak On” which brought me right back to the early 2000s.

We closed our night with Justice at the live stage, and this was definitely the right decision. I had looked forward to seeing them again ever since Coachella 2008 and was curious to see what the live set had in store. It felt fresh and familiar with classic tracks like “D.A.N.C.E. and “We Are Your Friends”, yet still unique and original. Seeing them play on the live stage, which was a much more intimate setting than any of the other stages was great.

Ultra Music Festival 2017
Photo Credit: Sera Tonin Photography
Overall, I had a great time at Ultra Miami. The three days were packed with great artists and there were minimal drawbacks.

After experiencing UMF for myself, I have to say that I don’t really understand why it’s gotten such negative attention online. Perhaps the increase to an 18+ audience made a big difference, but the lineup was worth the ticket price, the audio/visual production was on point, and the crowd was pretty respectful for the most part, aside from only a few bad apples. Ultra and Miami Music Week was a great experience and I fully intend to return next year.


Follow Ultra Music Festival on social media:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website | UMF TV

Featured Photo Credit: Ultra Music Festival

ShareTweetShareShare

Cliff Moore

Cliff Moore

Originally from the Seattle area, Cliff moved to Southern California in 2009 to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. After settling there, he discovered a blossoming EDM scene and has since enjoyed club events all over the world as well as large festivals. Cliff originally developed his interest in dance music by listening to electronica artists such as Benny Benassi, Crystal Castles and mashup DJs like Girl Talk and Super Mash Bros and 2ManyDJs. Cliff currently resides New York City, but travels extensively and is rarely home. Cliff’s other interests include shopping for streetwear and researching German Shepherds. Cliff is the A&R Representative for Music Lovers Anonymous and East Coast correspondent for EDM Identity.

Recently From Cliff

Culture

ID Spotlight || Kristoffer Francisco

Club Events

Fiction Presents Lossless Showcase || Event Preview

Featured Interview

Featured Interview || Lookas

STAY IN THE LOOP

Subscribe to notifications
  • NEW EDMID PLAYLIST: 🎧️⁠
The @coachella 2023 lineup is teeming with incredible artists spanning many genres, and we made a playlist for you to explore them all! 🔍️⁠
⁠
This year’s headliners are some of the most noteworthy in Coachella lineup history, as Bad Bunny and @blackpinkofficial⁠ will both make history as the first Latino and the first K-pop group, respectively, to headline the festival. Frank Ocean, who is notoriously elusive when it comes to playing live shows, is set to headline both Sundays and will surely draw in massive crowds with his silky voice and beloved R&B beats. For dance music lovers,@calvinharris will return to the desert this year with euphoric festival anthems in tow. 🌵⁠
⁠
All the artists on this year’s Coachella lineup are worth checking out, so we’ve made an all-encompassing playlist to help you explore some of the most loved tunes from each artist. Check out our playlist on Spotify, and make sure to check out our other playlists while you
  • Looking to kick off festival season in a tropical music oasis with six stages and beats of every kind? Enter our contest to win a pair of GA Weekend Passes to @okeechobeefest 2023! 🎫⁠
⁠
HOW TO ENTER: 👇🏽⁠
Tap the link in our bio, tap this featured image, and fill out the entry form via Gleam.⁠

The winner will be drawn on Wednesday, February 15. Good luck! 🍀
📸: @czarcruise
  • @kasablanca sold out @theechola last night for the only Los Angeles show in their “Am I Dreaming?” tour. @insomniacevents + @thefactory93 coordinated an electric event to showcase the duo’s new live performance tour in a special and intimate setting. ✨

📸: @jst_wandering 
—
#kasablanca #theechoplex #theechola #tour2023 #losangelesvenue #liveperformances #livemusicla #factory93 #insomniac #insomniacevents #echopark #glendale #melodictechnoproducer #melodictechno #amidreaming
  • It
  • SHOW REVIEW:⁠
Millions of people across the globe recently ushered in a fresh Lunar New Year. For those that celebrate, 2023 is the year of the rabbit, which represents peace, self-reflection, and prosperity. And in honor of this celebration, Pulse Events produced two eventful nights at @avantgardnerbk, featuring a roster of Asian artists and two dance music titans – @Gryffin and @KSHMR. 🪅🎶⁠
⁠
The renowned venue displayed a 360 photo booth with a Lunar New Year backdrop for attendees, and a constellation of red lanterns suspended throughout the space with a huge chandelier right in the center of the Great Hall – and our team was there to witness the Lunar New Year magic. 💫⁠
⁠
✍🏽 EDMID Writer Miguel tells the story - check it out! Link in bio.
  • ALBUM REVIEW: 💿️⁠
There are few artists in the melodic house and techno realm more in demand than @marshmusician at the moment. His latest LP to land on @Anjunadeep, Endless, is a glimpse of what the last few years of staying busy have meant to the producer, yet also act as a snapshot of his past as he takes his deepest influences and brings them into the present. This album is the culmination of both the artistry that’s made him a staple of the Anjuna roster over the past few years and the philosophical questions that arise from long journeys. 🛣️🎶⁠
⁠
"I’ve written this entire album on the move, writing from so many different homes. On a deeper, more spiritual level, this has led me to question, what is truly home, and will we experience home after this life?" -Marsh⁠
⁠
🔗 Link in bio for our thoughts on the album! ⁠
✍🏽 EDMID Writer: Lance Milliken
  • Who grabbed their @hardfest tickets today?! 👀🎉

On August 5-6, HARD Summer will make its triumphant return to Downtown Los Angeles by taking over LA Memorial Coliseum, Exposition Park, and BMO Stadium. This new home will provide a refreshed experience for those planning to attend HSMF as the large space will see stages sprawled throughout its grounds. 🙌🏽

HARD Summer Music Festival 2023 ticket sales began today at 10am PT! Head over to their official website for more details and make your purchase via Front Gate. 🎫

What are your thoughts on the venue change for HARD this year? 

🔗 Link in bio for the full details!
🎥: @hardfest
🎵: Track ID: ISOxo - REDloop

——
#edmidentity #hardfest #hardsummer #edm #dancemusic #edmfestival #insomniacevents #losangeles #coliseum #edmlovers #hardsummer2023 #hardfest23
  • ESSENTIAL INFO: 💥⁠
Heading to @gemandjamfestival this year? Be as prepared as possible for the upcoming edition with all the essential info you’ll need to know! 🙌🏽⁠
⁠
Gem & Jam is an incredible event running for longer than many other festivals of the same caliber. This year’s edition is slated to be one of the most memorable ever as the festival continues to improve its infrastructure, access to vendors and workshops, and of course, the diverse music lineup. 🎶⁠
⁠
Beyond all the fun ready to be had on the festival grounds this year, there’s plenty of information that you’ll need to know to make this experience as seamless as possible. Between camping at the festival, arrival times, and essential items to bring along with you, we
  • LINEUPS 👏🏻HAVE👏🏼 ARRIVED👏🏿⁠
Have you seen the latest festival lineup drops lately? Be sure to follow us for the latest trends, news, artist, music, and culture in the EDM scene!🎉⁠
⁠
Swipe to see the lineups! Be sure to head over to our link in bio for more details on some of these upcoming events, and let us know which one is your favorite festival! 🪩✨⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
🌞 @sundream_____ 
👉🏼 @abgrouptherapy⁠
🌵 @deserthearts⁠
🖤 @Awakenings⁠
🎨 @aotwvegas⁠
🍀 @getluckyslc⁠
💥 @officialrezz 
🎆 @veldmusicfestival⁠
🎊 @Tomorrowland⁠ 
⁠
  • About
  • Contact
  • Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

CONTACT INFO

San Diego, California

contact@edmidentity.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Music
  • Events
  • Culture
  • Festival Tips
  • Interviews
  • Shop

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist