Ultra Music Festival is Back

by Julian Malagon, The Scene, March 2009

The moment so many have been waiting for is only days away. No, not prom but the Ultra Music Festival. It ends the annual Winter Music Conference (WMC) a week-long exhibition of artists, deejays, producers, promoters, and record labels from around the world. Although WMC started in Miami Beach in1985, Ultra has only been around since 1999 and was held on South Beach until the festival had violated the beach permits due to the number of attendees a few years later.

From there, the festival moved to the Bayfront Park Amphitheatre until 2005, as Ultra had sold out with 50,000 attendees, according to the event’s website. Since 2006, it has been held at the even larger Bicentennial Park and in 2007 it became a two-day event. However, the music festival continues to grow, as last year it broke a City of Miami record for most tickets sold at a single event, estimating 70,000 attendees.

Now in 2009 expectations for Ultra are bigger than ever, with performances from the Black Eyed Peas, Bloc Party, Santogold, and the legendary Prodigy. Of course, there are still the annual performers, such as Paul Van Dyk, Tiesto, and Carl Cox who are considered some of the greatest electronic deejays and producers in the world.

The festival will take place Friday, March 27^th from four in the afternoon to midnight and Saturday, March 28^th from noon to midnight. Considering that our 2009 prom is Thursday, March 26^th, students attending both are in for a pricey yet eventful week.

“This is my first year going to Ultra and I’m really hyped, because almost everyone has told me it’s the craziest experience worth having,” said senior Agustin Ovide.

Yet many are unnerved by Ultra, as each year there are frequent arrests due to drug deals and the fact that an ambulance makes its way through the crowds several times for overdosing attendees. It is no secret that marijuana, alcohol, and ecstasy are swarming the festival grounds, amongst other drugs.

Despite commonly held beliefs by those who have yet to attend, Ultra Music Fest keeps ravers and party animals alike coming for the exclusive performances with their glow sticks in the air.

“At first I was a little worried because I had heard about a lot of people doing crazy drugs, but now I’m just excited about the concert,” said Junior so and so.

However, Ultra is much more than just a concert, as many previous attendees will tell you. Bicentennial Park will be decked out with 16 stages and over 100 deejays, producers, and bands over the two days of the event. This year, more attendees are expected than ever before, despite the fact that ticket prices can range anywhere from $89.95 for one day with general admission to $350.00 for both days with the VIP package. Nonetheless, this is one festival you do not want to miss out on.