MiamiNights - Miami Night Clubs, Nightlife

Well well Ultra finally announces what we can expect for 2009. I have to say I am pretty surprised with the selections thus far. Is Ultra moving from a pure EDM festival to something a bit more diverse? Here's a snippet from Crossfade. For more deetz hit the Crossfade link below.

Cut Copy and Crystal Castles! The last time Crystal Castles were here was WMC 2007, before they really blew up, and as for Cut Copy.... If they've played here at all in the last couple of years, I don't remember -- but their live show is a lot of fun, no matter how many times you've heard their indie-club hits.

Also returning to Miami, but making an Ultra debut, is Simian Mobile Disco, who totally destroyed the eyes, eardrums, and minds of the crowd who caught them on the last Saturday of WMC at Studio A this past spring.

Looks like the Ultra people are starting to finally listen to the cries of those who want an assortment of talent as opposed to strictly EDM.

[Via Crossfade]

Not much word on a lineup yet but ULTRA tickets are already on sale for $99 for both days, VIP $350. That's a pretty sweet early bird deal. Only a limited amount of tickets are available at this price so if your a junkie for repeat acts then jump on this (Am I being to pessimistic to early about the lineup?). Not included however is EMT services in the likely case you will OD by the close of day 2. If you have any insider deetz on the schedule feel free to comment. Better yet, who do you think Ultra should book? Keep in mind I'm looking for acts that haven't graced the Ultra stages every effing year like clockwork.

UPDATE: I'm hearing disturbing rumors of the possibility WMC will be moving to Vegas in 2010 and Ultra going to Orlando...Mind you these are rumors being churned over at Talknightlife, which doesn't mean anything. But isn't there always a sliver of truth to rumors?

From the newly redesigned -- thank fucking god, last years was an orgy or too many colors and flashy things -- Ultra website comes the announcement they will be selling tickets this month. Congrats on finally moving to a blog-centric style site.

ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL MIAMI
EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE THIS MONTH

Ultra Music Festival 2009 Event Dates and Early Bird, Reduced Priced Tickets will be released this month!!! Check back soon as we begin releasing essential festival information over the next few weeks.

Here's hoping we get a lineup the likes of Sonar this year. Diversity is key Ultra peeps!

Last year's Get Physical party at Studio A was perhaps the most talked about party and M.A.N.D.Y. was largely responsible for that. This year Patrick Bodmer and Philipp Jung return to kick some more Miami ass at the Get Physical 2 party as well as Ultra Music Festival. So before we let them here our bodies talk (sorry, I had to), Miami Night's asked Jung a few questions about their appearance at Ultra, the Get Physical party and more! 

MN: Last year's Get Physical party during WMC was one of the most talked about parties. What do you think is it about the Berlin and Get Physical sound that people love?

PJ: WE WERE QUITE A BUNCH A PEOPLE AT THIS PARTY. OUR PHYSICAL CREW WITH ALL THE FRIENDS, THE BARCLAY (CLAUDE VAN STROKE) POSSE, THEN DIXON, EVERYBODY INVITED SOME NICE FRIENDS, SO THERE WAS ALREADY A SOLID PARTY CROWD TO GET THE PARTY GOING. AND THEN THERE WERE A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE SUPPORTING OUR EVENT! THINGS LIKE THIS YOU CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN! THE GUYS LIKE ADAM [AND DIEGO] AND OUR AGENT JOEL ZIMMERMANN DID A VERY GOOD JOB PROMOTING THE NIGHT. SO IT ALL WENT RIGHT!

Continue to full article >>

We bitched, we complained, and we were heard. Ultra Music Fesitval organizers are now selling one-day passes for a limited time. A pass for Day 1 goes for $69.95 plus fees, while Day 2 is $89.95 plus fees. Two-day passes are still priced at $129.95. Now if only they could work on their dismal lineup we'd be in business.

Editor's Note: This a three-part series of our choices for the best WMC parties. Duran, B.A.C. and Lackner will give you their top 5 picks on what you absolutely cannot miss during the week of WMC. Don't forget you can post your WMC even on Miami Nights by clicking here.

In 15 days Winter Music Conference will finally be here! I already have everything planned out on what I must attend, and now I will offer you a bit of knowledge on what I think will absolutely be the best parties during the week. Some of you might disagree with me, but just so you know I'm always right. So here we go:

MSTRKRFT, Benny Benassi, Boyz Noise, Fischerspooner & friends @ Mansion Tuesday

Why? Because where else are you going to see such an amazing lineup? Mansion’s Tuesday night WMC opening party is becoming legendary in my book. The Opium Group takes a huge risk in booking progressive acts that stand out amongst their tried-and-true lineup of the usual suspects. Last year it was Peaches, The Presents, Crystal Castles, Junkie XL, Brazilian Girls and DJ Hell, and this year they followed it up with more amazing bookings. In addition to the aforementioned artists, hometown hero Lazaro Casanova and more are expected perform as well.

DJ Hell, Tommie Sunshine, LA Riots, Jesse Rose, Treasure Fingers, Kill the Noise and more @ The Vagabond Tuesday

What was once just considered the day to have most of the low-key WMC parties, it turns out that Tuesday this year will be a killer. The Vagabond will jump into to the Miami club scene with its first proper party this day. And what better way to get things started than with Tommie Sunshine and LA Riots? Un-fucking-believable.

Downtown Riot 2 @ Studio A Wednesday

Maybe I being a little biased here because Miami Nights co-hosted the Downtown Riot party last year. But last year’s lineup of MSTRKRFT, Tommie Sunshine, Princess Superstar, Chromeo, Lazaro Casanova and Conway was amazing even if it didn’t pack the house like the Fixed and Get Physical parties the nights before. Well I have a feeling this year will be a bit different. Switch, Sinden, Jesse Rose, Annie Mac, Duke Dumont and Drop the Lime take the helm. I think it’s going to interesting to see how the sounds of London, Berlin and New York blend together into one cohesive party.

Ultra Music Festival Day 1 @ Bicentennial Park Friday

If you have to choose a day to go to Ultra, please choose Day 1. While Day 2 is stuck in dance music past, Day 1 is well balanced and varied. Justice, Deadmau5, Digitalism, M.A.N.D.Y., Boyz Noise and the dark horse booking The Bravery. What’s the only thing wrong with Day 1’s lineup? The fact that Tiesto is headlining when we know the man will be back in town probably a week after Ultra. Organizers should have given his ass the boot and paid more money for Justice to bring down the glowing cross and Marshall stacks.

Fixed NYC @ Studio A Saturday

Three words: Simian Mobile Disco. Not convincing enough? How do the names Erol Alkan and Gui Boratto sound? Add on to that emerging and soon to be household names like Radioslave and Riton plus Fixed resident DJs Dave P. and JDH and you’ve got yourself a fucking party. My only disappointment is that the Ed Banger crew is nowhere to be found. 

Because tomorrow, I will finally see the light! Miami Nights will be going on a road trip to Club Firestone in Orlando tomorrow. B.A.C. and myself are giddy with excitement! For you poor souls missing out, don't worry Justice will be performing at Day 1 of Ultra Music Festival -- sans Marshall stack and glowing cross. I know, it's a crime.

Far be it for me to heed rumors, but this bit of info piqued my interest and I couldn't resist asking, "Is there any truth to this?" We all know there is some hint of truth to every rumor, no matter how far fetched. The grape vines in Miami have fed me this tid bit of info to exciting to pass up (unless it's common knowledge, in which case I feel like an ass). I think it's pretty well known through this site that we find Ultra's lineup to be to monotonous. So upon hearing of an alternative to Ultra I immediately asked for deetz. Obviously being a rumor not many were available but it was interesting non the less, and so I share them here to verify.

From what I heard there would be an entirely separate electronic dance music event held the same Friday as Ultra Day 1. With a completely different type of lineup and format I was told the event would be held in a large warehouse like venue sectioned off into rooms with over 30 artists spanning the globe. Rumors of broken contracts, closed door meetings and Ultra staffer meddling abounds. This was definitely some juicy industry bullshit. I can say the person feeding me the info is reliable and I have a knack for sniffing out bullshitters (pfft, who am I kidding. I'm as gullible as a blond).

Doesn't this sound interesting though? An alternate to Ultra? Much like the all the satellite art shows that occur during Art Basel, it would force an evolution for conference week. I would love to verify these "rumors" and be interested in hearing details if indeed this alternate occurs. Any readers heard about this? If I can get my hands on some solid information I will post it immediately. Until then let us know what you think or have heard in the comments!

He likes them white girls, black girls, brown girls and mixed-race girls. It's Calvin Harris, who is no stranger to WAO. At only 24 years old, Harris has exploded onto the indie-dance music scene to become a pop music darling in the UK, already producing tracks for Kylie Minogue and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. His own album I Created Disco received a bit of mixed reviews, but so far most of the singles have been big dancefloor hits -- well at least in Europe; the States has been slow to catch on.

Calvin Harris' appearance at the Scion Penthouse Party at the Raleigh Hotel on Friday and Ultra Music Festival Day 2 on Saturday will mark his first time performing in the States after achieving much success. I find it hard to believe that more people aren't clamoring to get this guy over here regularly. Also word is Harris will be performing live, not DJing, at Poplife at White Room after his Ultra appearance. So if you love Harris, White Room will provide a super intimate show that you aren't going to get at Ultra.

Anyways, I leave you with the first proper record he released, Acceptable in the '80s, which is still to this day, my favorite track. It's synth-y and borderline cheesy, but it's gold:

Not sure if Ultra Music Festival's lineup is complete, but more acts were added. Organizers added The Bravery, Eric Prydz, Junkie XL, The Veez, Monk, Galaxy Girl, Les Schmitz and Brian Cross to the Day 1 lineup. In addition, I guess the hype around Deadmau5 reached Ultra organizers as they bumped him up from the Dance Rock Stage to the Main Stage. Day 2 sees the additions of Uberzone, The Freestylers, Hydroz, D-Lerium & Phaze, Brazen, Autonomous Bass Heads, Killa Kela, DJ SS feat. Green Law, Sub Focus, Simon Bassline Smith, John B and DB. Also you may want to look over the Day 2 lineup as some acts have mysteriously disappeared -- although none of them I would consider major acts.

If this is the final lineup, Day 1 is clearly the winner here, although Underworld and Calvin Harris on Day 2 are tempting to me. I also sort of refuse to believe the best headliner Ultra organizer could get for Day 1 is Tiesto; there has to be another announcement waiting to happen.

Now all that is left to do is for Ultra to offer damn day passes!