There’s only one more sleep until one of the biggest events on the South African music festival calendar kicks-off at the HollywoodBets Kenilworth Racecourse, bringing with it an electrifying atmosphere, another star-studded lineup and a promise of an unforgettable night out.
Also read: Calling all Ultranauts: Ultra SA unveils star-studded final lineup and stages
This year, Skrillex, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Vintage Culture and W&W will take to the main stage as global headliners while Major League DJz and Shimza are set to make waves as the local headliners alongside Kyle Watson, DBN Gogo and more.
To hype up the vibe ahead of tomorrow’s festival, here are five things you may not have known about the Ultra Music Festival:
Ultra SA has brought electronic music’s biggest names to Mzansi
2024 sees the ninth edition of the Ultra Music Festival taking root on South African soil and has become on eof the largest festivals on the local music circuit.
As the festival continues to cement itself as a leader in the electronic dance music space, Ultra SA remains the gateway to bringing some of the greatest international acts to South African audiences.
Over the years, David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Skrillex, Martin Garrix, Hardwell, Axwell^Ingrosso, Zedd, Galantis, Afrijack, Steve Aoki, The Chainsmokers, Oliver Heldens, Timmy Trumpet, Gorgon City, DVVBS, Robin Schulz, Dash Berlin, DJ Snake, Carnage, Feliz Jaehn, KSHMR, Headhunterz, Nic Fanciulli, Fisher, Krewella, W&W, Nicky Romero, Blasterjaxx, Above & Beyond, Infected Mushroom, Vini Cici, Camelphat, Seth Troxler, Fedde Le Grand, The Martinez Brothers, Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano have all graced the stage at the iconic music festival.
A celebration of local music
Beyond delivering international heavyweights, Ultra Music Festival consistently enriches the festival feel by incorporating some of Mzansi’s favourite top local acts to the lineup.
Not only does this add some lekker local flavours to its festival experience, it also amplifies the host country’s vibrant music scene and subsequently making room for growth in the local music industries.
From Cape Town and Johannesburg to Miami, Tokyo and Ibiza, Ultra Music Festival has become a platform for both internationally acclaimed artists and each respective country’s local stars, creating a blend of sounds that transcends borders and fosters a global sense of unity, cultural exchange and shared love for the power of electronic music.
And that’s what makes each edition of the festival a truly immersive and unforgettable experience.
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Ultra Music Festival has a history spanning over two decades
Although 2024 sees the ninth edition of the Ultra Music Festival in SA, the festival was birthed in Miami way back in 1999 by Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes.
The first festival was a one-day event that took place on the beach in Miami, Florida. The festival featured only a few artists on the lineup, but became an instant hit.
In 2011, the festival in Miami expanded into a three-day event and in 2013, the festival grew to two three-day weekends – the first time a major electronic dance music festival did so anywhere in the world.
A global expansion
As the Ultra Music Festival continued to grow in Miami, interest started to grow in taking the brand globally.
In 2008, Ultra Brazil was announced and Ultra has since debuted worldwide festivals in Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Singapore, Spain, Australia, Mexico and, of course, South Africa.
Depeche Mode helped inspire the Ultra Music Festival
Russell Faibisch revealed that a live performance of the iconic electronic group Depeche Mode inspired him to kick-start plans for the festival.
He told the Miami New Times ‘It was Depeche Mode in [1993] for the Devotion Tour at the Miami Arena that everything clicked for me and I realised that this was what I want my life to be. Somehow, someway, but I hadn’t figured out exactly how yet.’
Russell was so inspired by the performance that he named the festival after Depeche Mode’s 1997 album Ultra.
Tier 3 and 4 tickets, as well as Tier 2 and 3 VIP tickets, are still available on Ultra SA’s website.
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Picture: Supplied
