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A few weeks ago, Ultra Miami took over the city, attracting thousands of music lovers from around the globe. Founded in 1999, Ultra has become world-renowned for its diverse lineups, unique stage design, tasty food, and much more. This year, more than 165,000 festival-goers from around the world attended the Miami event. 

In 2015, the festival launched Ultra Resistance, which aimed to “resist” mainstream music and focus on the hidden gems of the underground EDM scene. This message of resistance is evident in the festival’s diverse lineup, which features a wide variety of artists, from established mainstream performers to up-and-coming underground talent. 

Ultra Miami pushed the boundaries of music through its six stages, which all included innovative sound systems, set design, and layout. The festival featured cutting-edge speaker systems and production equipment that delivered a world-class audiovisual experience, which made it a must-attend event for music lovers everywhere. The festival’s site was carefully selected to take place at Bay Front, giving it room for all stages but just enough walking distance not to get tired. Each stage transported attendees to a unique and unforgettable experience with views of downtown Miami from almost every angle. Ultra’s set design was equally impressive, featuring elaborate light shows, pyrotechnics, and other special effects that added to the overall sensory experience. The three most popular stages include the Main Stage, The Mega Structure, and, The Live Stage. The Mega Structure, a staple over the years, is regarded as one of the most immersive stages, including a massive enclosed tent with lights, lasers, smoke machines, and led displays that were be moved on command. Those aspects and the festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse talent make Ultra Miami a groundbreaking event in the world of electronic dance music.

The headliners at this year’s Ultra impressed even the most discerning EDM fans. The lineup included a mix of established chart-toppers, including techno kings like Eric Prydz, Carl Cox, CamelPhat, in addition to mainstream artists David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and Marshmallow. These performers showcased their unique sound and style and delivered electrifying performances that kept festival-goers dancing all night.

Ultra Miami 2023 is not just about the headliners. The festival also features a diverse range of underground talent, spanning multiple sub-genres of EDM. From deep house to techno and everything in between, Ultra’s lineup features something for everyone, including artists such as Malla, Tale of Us, Ilario Alicante, and Stephan Bodzin. 

Carl Cox delivered an all-time set in the Mega Structure using a train horn to grab the audience. The introduction to his set started with a subtle bass line until a train horn and lights set up around the crowd started going off. The lights created an effect of a train coming toward the crowd. The loud blasts of the train horn captivated fans into dancing and cheering; Cox then dropped a song sending fans into all-out excitement. Cox continued to play phenomenal music paired with perfectly timed visual effects, using the full ability of the Mega Structure to his advantage. 

This year, Eric Prydz had one of the best sets of the week, closing out Friday night in the Mega Structure. Prydz performed his Holo show, an immersive holographic show synced up to his world-renowned techno music. Not only did the show include good music and holograms but also stunning lasers and pyrotechnics. Holo is a one-of-a-kind show requiring the upper echelon of audiovisual equipment. Prydz’s team has worked for years to develop the technology that allows him to put on these shows. Ultra Miami was one of the rare times Prydz performed Holo in the United States, which attracted the majority of the festival to his headlining set. He made another appearance on Sunday under his alias Cirez D, playing back-to-back with Adam Beyer on the same stage, again displaying his mastery of DJing. 

If you weren’t gassed by the end of the night, the city of Miami offered a variety of after-parties that included some of the top names from the Festival. After, Parties took place until sunrise at well-respected clubs such as Space, Factory Town, E11even, and Story. Ultra even opened their own venue space, Resistance, the newest addition to the already insane list of clubs in Miami. 

In conclusion, Ultra Miami 2023 promised to celebrate music and resistance, showcasing the power of EDM to bring people together and inspire change. With a diverse lineup that included both mainstream headliners and more underground talent, the festival offered something for everyone. It’s important to note that Ultra Miami was only possible with all the hardworking men and women who set up and worked the event. On top of that, the overall security of the festival provided a very safe atmosphere which everyone appreciated. Whether you’re a die-hard EDM fan or simply looking for a unique cultural experience, Ultra Miami was an all-time experience.