Once again, Ultra has returned for it's 9th session. Ultra has been somewhat of a religious gathering, I've been going since 2001 and always feel much better after attending this event. This year Jason, Will, Desmond, and Chris (Will's younger brother) joined me on our pilgrimage down to Miami.
In case you don't know what Ultra is, its one huge electronic music festival with a lineup of over 100 DJ's ranging from Chillout artists like Kruder & Dorfmeister, Breaks such as DJ Icey and Hybrid, to fast paced D&B and Goa. This year's celebration was the first time running for two days as oppposed to just a single Saturday event.
Day I:
We arrived in Miami around 2pm, just enough time to check into the hotel (compliments of Desmond). Arriving at the venue, the sounds could be heard from at least a ½ a mile away. As usual, there was a very limited search before entering.
The first act we say was one of my favs, Kruder & Dorfmeister. They has some good tracks, but most of it was straight beat, contridicting to their usual downtempo syncopated beats.
We wandered around for a few hours, checking out the arrangement of the stages and getting a feel for the environment. There was a really cool spot in the middle of the park where cargo shipping crates were arranged to form two areas. One side had graffiti art all over them.
As the sun set, Junkie XL was playing over at the main stage. It was a fantastic show with plenty of energy. I expected nothing less after seeing the 2005 Ultra DVD with his performance. He even played a remix from the DVD, I'm sure the crowd recognized the track.
After some more wandering around a little more, we returned to the main stage for a two hour Tiësto set. A great show.
Day II:
We started out the day with Rick West, one awesome DJ & producer that's been around for seven years. It was nice hearing some syncopated beats, there was a lack of a Breaks stage on Friday.
Some more wandering around followed, and then a 3pm came Christopher Lawrence. I've heard of him before, but never knew what he spun. Turns out to be some Goa-ish type tracks that just brought the crowd to a new level.
Immediately after, came Ferry Corsten. He's an incredible DJ & producer from the old days and played a decent set as well. He did this trademark gesture of looking up at the crowd after each high point and smiled, them immediately looking back down tp the tables. Awesome!
Now I was starting to feel a little Breaks deprived again, so we started heading over to Icey. But alas, the rain really started coming down, and we had to seek some sort of shelter. Everyone (like 50K people) where trying to get into the tents out of the downpour. We managed to get into one of the smaller ones, and this really funny scene came about.
The artists just switched, and apparently he had turned the mixer volume way up. I like loud techno and everything, but this was LOUD. But this guy was standing right in front of it, jamming away, and I figured he'd be deaf within five minutes. Then some real nasty feedback played, and he made this wincing face and covered his ears. Within thirty seconds though, he was back infront of the speaker. I'm guessing he'll be experiencing some sort of permanent hearing loss.
After about thirty minutes, the rain let up and we proceded back on track to Icey. He played a really amazing set, full of the bass he's famous for. Baby Anne even got in on it and started to dance up on the stage. But we saw some more rain coming, and went to get a tent spot before it arrrived.
We got crowded into a Red Bull tent over by the House stage. The tent was only about fifteen feet square, and there must have been at least 150 people packed in. The actual stage wasn't entirely audible, since the tent was on top of a hill and the other areas were also heard. But a few people where able to carry the beat up the hill and the whole tent started to erupt in cheerfull singing.
When the rain let up, we got some food and no more than fifteen minutes, it started to really pour. We rushed into the biggest tent (500ft x 100ft), Carl Cox and Friends. It started raining so hard, the people where ripping the sides off to get in. This giant puddle started filling up in the middle, apparently it's the lowest point in the whole park.
So the puddle is filling up, and we're all pushing back to try and not get a waterborne illness. All sorts of mud, trash, unconsumed food, half empty bottles, and I'd imagine human waste started accumulating in the tent. There was this one guy, dancing right in the middle of it. Just stomping away in the nasty water for at least an hour. I'm sure he'll be acquiring ringworm.
After that really funny display, we headed over to catch Rabbit in the Moon. They always put on a kick ass show. First the rabbit comes out with a sweet light up outfit sporting some sort of fog shooter and hoses the front rows down. Then came some pyrotechnics and fire juggling. Lastly, the song from the 2005 DVD started palying and he emerged in a large inflatible ball with glowing strands strapped to him and rolled out on top of the crowd. After getting back up onto the stage, he comes out of the ball and stage dives. Everyone pulls off the sticks and passes him back to the stage. What a show!
A better shot (thanx 2 Will)
The last acts of the night included Uberzone (live) and BT. Two very cool artists that put on a wicked show. Watching a live performance really brings out the energy and effort put forth by the artists and shows the people that it really does take effort to create an electronic based tune.
All in all, this year's Ultra was as good (if not better) than any previous I'd been to. After the first night, I was thinking to myself there was still another whole day of festivities ahead. I hope Ultra lasts two days next year too!
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