Mainstage at the Ultra Music Festival 2007
Something I’ve gotten tired of as I’ve gotten older is people telling me what I do or don’t like. Hey, you can’t like football if you like techno. You can’t like folk music. You can’t like PBR. You can’t like dubstep if you like house music. You can’t like house music if you like dubstep. You can’t like minimal if you listen to anything else, and you can’t like anything else if you listen to minimal. You can’t like this because you like that; you have to like this because you don’t like that. Enough already!
Each year I’ve gone to Winter Music Conference, I’ve heard the same thing, though in the three years it’s gotten progressively worse. “What do you mean you’re going to Ultra?”
It’s for kids, for posers, for the masses, for people who don’t know about the intimate cool parties or the super underground shows that start in somebody’s apartment at 7 in the morning. I love the intimate parties, I dig the underground, but if you’re even the least bit interested it what it means to be big, bright, and loud – go to Ultra.
Just in terms of size and scope, it’s one of the bigger production efforts in the world of the electronic music scene. Literal mountains of speakers and phenomenal visual presentation are what Ultra is all about, with however many tens of thousands of people all mashed together, milling in Bicentennial Park.
The music there isn’t generally groundbreaking. The mainstream trance, progressive, drum and bass, and techno performers generally play about what they should, and everybody has a good time listening to things they’ve already heard. If you’re looking for what’s next in music, look elsewhere. However, if just want to relax into the comfortable – go to Ultra.
It gets a little hard to move around eventually, especially after dark, and you can take or leave your social commentary about the state of the rave scene and candy kids if you start observing your surroundings too critically. But if you want big and booming, if you want a loud, anonymous, organic experience – go to Ultra.
There are always few standout performances there, too, so don’t automatically discount the musical potential, either. Loco Dice and Luciano in the Carl Cox tent last year was mindblowing. Ferry Corsten is always a trip to watch. Josh Wink three years ago. Deadmau5 put on quite a show a few years back. Roni Size Reprazent. Etc.
It’s worth mentioning that Sasha & Digweed will always have a special place in my heart because of Ultra. Three years ago, playing in the rain under garbage bags, absolutely crushing everyone brave enough to dance through the storm. And those who saw Sasha & Digweed’s set two years ago were certainly treated properly. I remember they closed out with “Total Departure”, and as the music faded out into complete silence, there were several thousand people holding their brains in with one hand and picking up their jaws from the floor with the other.
Some of the main performances have a tendency to fall flat on the big stages, too, if they aren’t careful. The Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Prodigy, BT, Richie Hawtin-type shows can be a little too hyped for what you actually get.
Whatever you decide though, to Ultra or not to Ultra, just make sure it’s your own decision, so you won’t regret it later. It’s not always good, but it’s always fun.
Click here for the complete Ultra Music Festival 2010 Lineup.
9 Comments
Even the editorial says “If you’re looking for what’s next in music, look elsewhere”. I’m sorry, but “what’s next” in music is the whole reason I go to the Conference. I’m not paying $140 (just to get in!) to go hear a bunch of weak tracks and dated styles over a massive sound system or two. Not when i could be making the rounds down on Collins and Washington or downtown hearing the real shit in sick clubs that have more than adequate sound systems themselves.
never did ultra on the advice of friends, and glad. i prefer the days before ultra where i can meet other producers and hear the guys who actually make the music. not to say ultra totally sucks, it’s not for everyone. i’m somewhat lucky to live near an area that gets those big time ultra dj’s coming through at least once a year, so i’d rather go to the wmc parties and see the guy who never goes on tour.
if you have a negative mind set before going, OBVIOUSLY you’re gonna have a crappy time. we’re all there to party and just have fun :]
awesome article ryan!!! i agree about the cheesy rave scene.. but people watching is also part of the fun :P
hilarious and so, so, so true. thanks for putting that out there! my biggest concern is that glow sticks don’t glow in the daylight ;)
and what’s the point of being judgemental – it’s a music party, we can analize it all we want but if mass amout of people have a good time then it’s fullfilled its purpose.
So with thick humidity and 80 degree sun beating on you for HOURS while being taunted by $50 bottles of water (exaggerated obv)…..just relax and go comfortable.
“However, if just want to relax into the comfortable – go to Ultra.”
Don’t worry though, the sun goes down eventually.
“It gets a little hard to move around eventually, especially after dark…”
That is just a bit of sarcasm. My real issue with Ultra is not anywhere near an accurate reflection of different talent at WMC. Lots of people go down for all different styles of music yet only a select few are offered at Ultra and the overwhelming majority of acts are classifiable into only a few genres. It is a heavily biased line up which alienates many wmc visitors. There is a 130bpm and up theme going on at this event. Just what the sun and expensive water need, another menacing ally….130bpm.
Feel free to flame me for saying there are no acts below 130bpm (I never said it but that doesn’t stop some….) but that is the bias of the lineup.
Awesome post!
It’s really simple. Here’s my humble analogy: You have a had a rough few months at work and you wanna get away and relieve some stress. You could go to a beach resort in the middle of no where and enjoy the quietness with your significant other and drink and awesome cocktail with an umbrella, or you could go to Vegas and go wild, gamble, party, yell… all the good stuff.
Neither of those choices bad, it’s just a matter of personal preference or what you feel like doing at the time. Actually, if you have enough money and a long enough vacation you could do both and you would still have a good time :)
never did ultra on the advice of friends, and glad. i prefer the days before ultra where i can meet other producers and hear the guys who actually make the music. not to say ultra totally sucks, it's not for everyone. i'm somewhat lucky to live near an area that gets those big time ultra dj's coming through at least once a year, so i'd rather go to the wmc parties and see the guy who never goes on tour.