On March 25-27, Respect My Region had the opportunity to attend Ultra Music Festival’s first in-person event since COVID’s interference. We visited all of the stages, VIP areas, and artist areas to see everything Ultra had to offer.
In the end, it was the accessibility of the stages, yacht interviews, and incredible performances that made my first Ultra experience unforgettable. Continue reading to hear about the Ultra experience from a press perspective and for some tips when attending the concert in the future.
Memorable Performances
When I wasn’t doing interviews and networking, I was jamming at as many sets as I could. The stages at Ultra were amazing spectacles that lit up the night; complete with amazing pyrotechnics, dancers, unique artist performances, and more. I saw Madeon, Alesso, Oliver Tree, Afro Jack, and so many other great performances. I even went on stage behind Knife Party, which was a full circle for my little middle school dubstep heart.
Additionally, because I had the opportunity to interview DubVision, I had to make it to their set as well. Luckily, I walked over right as he brought their mom out on stage, which they’d never done before. It was a great moment to see the crowd cheer for her; something her sons get to experience every show.
Easy to Get Around
VIP or not, it’s easy to get to the next set much quicker than at other concerts I’ve attended. The stages are close, so you don’t have to walk miles just to get from one to another.
If you are a GA attendee, you will use the large crowded walkways to get around to each set. If you are a VIP guest, it’s even quicker to get to sets because of the VIP entrance. After going through the entrance, you’ll take a path to all of the VIP areas to see the sets.
Yacht Interviews & Artist Areas
The last Ultra was at a different location in Miami and couldn’t have the mega yacht port up near it. This year, though, the Seafair yacht made its return and I got to see what all the hype was about.
The boat has two entrances: one for staff and one for artists complete with a red carpet. After boarding the boat, I had an overwhelming feeling of luxury drape upon me. This is where I’m doing artist interviews, I thought, life is crazy.
As I entered the interview floor, artists, publicists, interviewers, and more were talking and getting drinks from the bar. Originally, I felt a little overwhelmed because I represented Respect My Region solely on my own; but I swallowed my anxiety and started introducing myself to people. Thankfully, I was received with kindness and inclusion by several people. Additionally, the artists I interviewed, Osrin, DubVision, and Infuze were also nice.
Although I spent a lot of time there, like many others, there were other artist areas I visited as well. For instance, there was a beach for artists to get food, drinks, and to relax. I also visited places backstage where artists would get ready to go up next.
Tips for the Next Ultra Miami Festival
With the Miami location for Ultra, there are a few things to expect: hotels/Airbnbs filling up quickly, traffic, and different forms of city parking. If you understand these obstacles, you can surely beat them next year.
Places to Stay
There are fewer places to stay when Ultra weekend gets closer. Thousands of people go to Miami on any given weekend anyway, but add Miami Music Week and Ultra, and hotels and Airbnbs fill up super fast. I recommend looking months in advance for lodging or you may have to get a hotel in a neighboring city (like I did), ask random people for a place online, or stay in your car.
Traffic
Additionally, traffic is crazy. You may lose an hour or two just because the exits block up as the festival start time approaches. It’s best to try coming either a few hours before the concert starts or adding an hour or two to your suggested travel time to make sure you don’t miss your favorite sets.
Parking
Furthermore, trying to find parking or parking far away may also eat into your time. Planning ahead and giving yourself at least an hour after you park may help you get to the fest on time. There will be several types of parking that you can pay for in Miami: pay app parking, parking lots, and parking garages. With my visit during the weekend, I used all of them for various situations.
Pay app parking in Miami is limited to 3 hours but has lots of availability close to different shops around South Beach. It’s good for grabbing a bite to eat, getting supplies, or taking a quick look around, but not for the fest. I’d recommend using the parking garages or parking lots for festival parking. This way, you can get up to 12 hours or more of parking time so you can settle in and enjoy the whole night of festivities.
