The ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL (UMF) - the world's leading two-day electronic music experience - has announced the dates for its 11th consecutive year: Friday March 27 and Saturday March 28, 2009. South Florida's favorite music festival, internationally renowned for its memorable live performances and DJ sets from the world's top electronic and alternative rock artists, will take place during the 24th annual Winter Music Conference at the beautiful waterfront location of Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami (the same grounds it has occupied since 2006).
The initial line-up for the first night of the festival includes Miami exclusive performances from: Tiësto, Bloc Party, The Ting Tings, Santogold and - making their first US appearance as a full band in seven years - drum and bass legends Roni Size Reprazent. Miami exclusive artists confirmed for the second night of the festival include Cut Copy, Deadmau5, Crystal Castles, The Presets, Hercules and Love Affair, Simian Mobile Disco and Busy P. Carl Cox will also return to perform on both Friday and Saturday and will host the legendary Carl Cox and Friends arena with a full complement of special guests TBA. Many additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets are currently available via www.ultramusicfestival.com. Limited 2-day passes are currently available for $99.95. Tickets will go up to $129.95 and then $149.95 as the event approaches. Two-day VIP passes are available for $350.00.
Last year over 55,000 dance music enthusiasts coming from the entire United States and over 50 countries around the world were in attendance, marking it as the largest ever UMF event and ranking at #14 on Pollstar's 2008 Mid Year Top 100 Concert Grosses. "The Ultra Music Festival, which started as an afterthought at the Winter Music Conference a decade ago but has now become its biggest event, more than lived up to expectations this weekend at downtown Miami's Bicentennial Park," wrote Miami Herald pop music critic Mike Hamersly in his review of last year's festival (March 30, 2008). Added the Los Angeles Times (via their blog) of the Winter Music Conference April 2, "…the highlight of the week of DJ-centric festivities was surely the massive Ultra Music Festival. Taking place…over two days at downtown Miami's Bicentennial Park, Ultra did not disappoint."
In addition to the annual Miami festival, UMF has expanded internationally to include events in Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, San Juan, Madrid and Ibiza. UMF recently added a January 2 festival in Cambriou exclusively featuring Tiësto's only 2009 Brazilian performance.
