Ultra Music Festival 101

South Africa has well and truly become a hotspot destination in the world of EDM, perhaps no more aptly demonstrated than with the arrival of Ultra Music Festival in February 2014.

This followed months of speculation and online commentary as to whether the rumours were true. Well by now, if you’re an EDM fan – which is very likely since you’re reading SA’s No.1 dance music magazine – this is likely to be old news but how much do you know about the event and the internationals that will be performing?

Well here’s a full run down on what you need to know…

Russell Faibisch – Founder, Executive Producer and CEO of Ultra Music Festival and Ultra Worldwide had this to say:

“South Africa is without a doubt one of the most burgeoning territories in the world when it comes to their ever-growing enthusiasm towards electronic music. Their demand for world-class electronic acts has become truly overwhelming of late, and the infrastructure in place to put on an event like Ultra is healthier than it’s ever been. This thriving scene, coupled with the additional fact that the two venues we’ve found for the first edition are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever come across, made the decision to expand into Africa an extremely exciting one to make.”

ABOUT ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Ultra Music Festival is an annual outdoor electronic music festival that happens in the city of Miami, every March. The festival coincides with the annual Winter Music Conference, also held in Miami. It started as a one-day festival from 1999 to 2006, a two-day festival from 2007 to 2010, and then became a three-day festival in 2012, which saw a record breaking 55, 000 people attend per day.

In 2013, for the first time in festival history, UMF took place across two consecutive weekends. Since its early days in 1999 the festival has grown to international greatness, moving to Ibiza, Spain; Buenos Aires, Argentina; São Paulo, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Seoul, South Korea; Split, Croatia, Hvar, Croatia and now it comes to South Africa!

Adam Russakoff – Executive Producer, Talent Booker and Director of Business Affairs for Ultra Music Festival and Ultra Worldwide adds:

“If there’s one ethos that characterizes each and every one of our worldwide events, it’s the unmatched experience that we offer our fans. This unique ‘Ultra’ experience is ultimately achieved by delivering the very best forward-thinking line-ups alongside unbeatable production values, and I can absolutely guarantee that next year’s inaugural edition of Ultra South Africa will be no exception. The local promoters we’ve chosen to work with have an exceptional reputation for putting on the biggest and very best events in South Africa and our expansion into such a booming market is something I’m very much looking forward to.”

WHEN and WHERE?

The events will be happening in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. The Cape Town show will be at the Cape Town Ostrich Farm on 14 February 2014 [Valentine’s Day, woohoo…], the same location that hosted both Swedish House Mafia and Skrillex.

The venue is really close to Cape Town (20 minute drive) and has become a popular space for music events. Joburg will take place at Nasrec Showgrounds on 15 February 2014, a venue that is well known and equipped for a multitude of different events and expos.

THE INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS

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TIËSTO

Dutch superstar DJ, producer and Musical Freedom label boss Tiësto is a firm favourite with Ultra fans across the world, and without doubt one of the planet’s most in demand DJs. They don’t really get much bigger than Tiësto in the world of dance music. He even performed at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and can boast a string of hits worldwide.[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]

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NICKY ROMERO

Nicky Romero is a genuine superstar DJ/producer. You need look no further than any top EDM compilation and Romero’s name is sure to appear. Also hailing from the Netherlands, he has worked with, and received support from the likes of Tiësto, Fedde Le Grand, Sander van Doorn, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Armand Van Helden, Avicii and Hardwell. He was named MTV EDM Artist to watch in 2012 and shared joint residency with David Guetta in Ibiza.[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]

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W&W

There’s more Dutch awesomeness for Ultra SA in the form of trance duo, W&W. Consisting of Wardt van der Harst & Willem Van Hanegem they were tipped by Armin van Buuren as “the best up-and-coming production duo out there” in 2007. Their remixes have proved equally popular – most notably on Armin’s Rain, Remedy (by UK pop starlet Little Boots) and those of Sander van Doorn, Leon Bolier, Sied van Riel, & others.[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]

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ALESSO

Move over Swedish House Mafia , your country has a new EDM superstar on the block; Alesso is a 22-year old producer/DJ who gained worldwide attention in 2011 with massive support of his productions from Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, Tiësto, Sander van Doorn, Kaskade and many others. His remix of Pressure was one of the most played EDM songs of 2011.[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]

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KREWELLA

Hailing from Chicago, USA Krewella is an electronic dance group. The group consists of Jahan Yousaf, Yasmine Yousaf and Rain Man. Their EP, Play Hard was released on 18 June 2012 exclusively on Beatport followed by an iTunes release on 26 June 2012. After their performance at Ultra Music Festival 2013, Billboard declared that “Krewella is going to be huge!” Their debut album Get Wet, charted in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 200 in its first week.[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]

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SA SUPERSTAR SUPPORT

In South Africa we love and support our local heroes as enthusiastically as any of the internationals that will be gracing the stage at Ultra SA.

Joining the international big hitters are Cape Town based duo GOLDFISH, underground house star BLACK COFFEE and the stellar three-piece outfit hailing from Johannesburg, MI CASA. Last but by no means least, legendary house music partners EUPHONIK & DJ FRESH will be stepping up to represent South Africa in style.

It’s safe to say that EDM has arrived in South Africa in a big way (as it has worldwide) and now with Ultra Music Festival South Africa firmly on the calendar, Shaun Duvet, MD at Electric Music – the South African partner and co-organizer of the festival has the final word…

“Over the past three years we (Electric) have successfully toured the world’s biggest DJs and in doing so feel that the South African audience has been building up momentum to take on a festival of massive proportion… All electronically focused of course. Having been to Ultra Miami and Europe, we felt the market was indeed ready for Ultra, South Africa, and judging by the levels of anticipation here, it is.”