Ultra Music Festival 2017: Weekend Highlights & Live Sets

The streets of Downtown Miami along Biscayne Boulevard were once again shut down this past weekend for the return of the annual Ultra Music Festival. As the world’s premier music festival, and hailed the “#1 festival in the world” by DJ Mag, Ultra has become a staple among veteran enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Ultra 2017 completely transformed Bayfront Park into an electronic oasis from March 24, 25, & 26, 2017. The famed event drew tens of thousands of partygoers across its three days, which brought hundreds of the biggest names in dance music across eight stages. It was a weeklong string of events taking place across South Beach that lead up to the main event — a sold out edition of Ultra Music Festival. More than 165,000 festival-goers from more than 60 countries made their way home to Downtown Miami.

For the fourth year running, Ultra Music Festival became the #1 trending topic on social media, drawing 41+ million mentions across all social media platforms, making it the most tweeted about event in electronic music history. Surprise guests over the course of the weekend included Future, Alessia Cara, Kygo, Louis Tomilson, 2 Chainz, and Lil Jon.

Photo: Rudgr

What’s even more remarkable about Ultra is the global impact of its Ultra Live stream. Broadcasting from UMF TV all weekend, the HD stream was viewed by millions across the globe. on Friday 3/24, Saturday 3/25, and Sunday 3/26, Ultra Live broadcasted sets from the MainStage, Megastructure, Ultra Worldwide, and Resistance Arcadia Spider on BE-AT.TV. This year, Ultra Live’s record-breaking 26-hour live stream (presented by UMF TV, produced by NOMOBO, sponsored by Guitar Center and Paramount Pictures’ ‘Ghost in the Shell’) attracted more than 7.5 million worldwide viewers.

Ultra Live 2017 sets by day included the who’s who of dance music: Friday, March 24 with Armin van Buuren, Resistance, Major Lazer, Martin Garrix, Alesso, KSHMR, Tchami, Slander, Netsky, Don Diablo, Justin Oh, and Robin Schulz; Saturday, March 25 with Carl Cox, Above & Beyond, Axwell /\ Ingrosso, Afrojack, Chase & Status, Tiësto, Cypress Hill, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Steve Aoki, Sophie Francis, OWSLA, Cedric Gervais; and Sunday, March 26 with Hardwell, Armin van Buuren (ASOT Megastructure), DJ Snake, Justice, Andrew Rayel, W&W presents NWYR, Fedde Le Grand, Aly & Fila, Zedd, Galantis, Sander van Doorn presents P.Haze 3, and David Guetta.

Relive some of the Ultra 2017 live sets from UMF TV:

This year’s MainStage, which was once again intricately crafted by Ultra stage designer Rich Milstein, consisted of LED screens that told a story, spewing fire and spitting water, confetti showers and streamers, hypnotizing lights and laser displays, and pulsating pyrotechnics and fireworks. From the MainStage and Megastructure, Resistance Arcadia Spider and Worldwide, UMF Radio and the Live Stage, to Biscayne and Oasis, one thing’s for certain: Never underestimate the production quality of Ultra Music Festival.

Resistance returned to Miami this year even bigger than ever before. The 2017 Resistance expansion brought new Ambassador, Carl Cox, and two dedicated stages: Arcadia and the Megastructure for Carl Cox & Friends. This year’s Resistance also brought the highly-anticipated return of underground DJ and production maestros, Sasha & John Digweed.

Photo: aLIVE Coverage

Armin van Buuren made his annual A State of Trance return to the Megastructure on Sunday, March 26. The Miami edition of ASOT 800 (#ASOTMIA) included sets from W&W presents NWYR, Ferry Corsten presents Gouryella, Andrew Rayel, Aly & Fila, Sander van Doorn presents P.Haze 3, David Gravell, Ruben De Ronde, Arty presents Alpha 9, and Vini Vici.

Diversely displaying various musical genres, the eclectic Live Stage hosted performances by Underworld, ZHU, Justice, The Prodigy, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, Chase & Status, GoldFish, KSHMR, Rabbit In The Moon, Bag Raiders, and more. Among the eight stages at Ultra Music Festival this year, curators included Resistance, A State of Trance, OWSLA, Jacked, Mad Decent, Ultra Worldwide, and Space on tour.

There were some new views for Ultra this year fresh off a new partnership with Spectacles, built by Snapchat, and some Main Stage sets broadcasted in Facebook Live 360°. Former two-time DJ Mag #1 DJ, Hardwell, broadcasted his MainStage set in 4K 360° HD on Sunday night.

Photo: aLIVE Coverage

So, what exactly is left behind at Bayfront Park following Ultra’s 3-day imprint each year? An abundance of hangovers, a handful of souls, piles of confetti and streamers, thousands of Heineken cans, a plethora of 4K HD live sets and recorded audio sets, and plenty of memories to last a lifetime.

The globally acclaimed Ultra Worldwide brand delivers editions on the road home to Miami every March, including Ultra Japan, Ultra Europe, Ultra Korea, Ultra Beach,

Ultra Music Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary in Miami next year on March 23, 24, 25, 2018. Check this space for next year’s pre-registration details and be the first to find out what’s in store for Ultra 20.

Watch “Thank you from #Ultra2017:”

For more information visit ultramusicfestival.com.

Featured photo: EDMKevin