20 Acts You Must See at Ultra Music Festival 2013
The countdown for the Ultra Music Festival 2013 is official upon us. We are only two weeks away from a three-day weekend of nonstop dancing, tomfoolery, and of course, BASS!
We are far from underwhelmed by the behemoth slew of artists included in this year’s lineup. To make your life easier (and ours too), VIBE factors out a way to catch as much diversity, newbies, legends with a list of the top 20 artists you should check out during UMF.
See you in Miami. →
Compiled by soon-to-be-tan-beat-freaks: Gabrielle Pharms & Sarah Polonsky
We are far from underwhelmed by the behemoth slew of artists included in this year’s lineup. To make your life easier (and ours too), VIBE factors out a way to catch as much diversity, newbies, legends with a list of the top 20 artists you should check out during UMF.
See you in Miami. →
Compiled by soon-to-be-tan-beat-freaks: Gabrielle Pharms & Sarah Polonsky
20. Tiësto
Face facts, this music festival is not the same without this Dutch gem. He covers a kaleidoscope of dance music ranging from electro house to trance. It just wouldn’t be UMF without Tiësto.
Face facts, this music festival is not the same without this Dutch gem. He covers a kaleidoscope of dance music ranging from electro house to trance. It just wouldn’t be UMF without Tiësto.
19. Carl Cox
Just like Tiësto, British DJ/producer Carl Cox is a dance legend. He is renowned to the point that he even has his own stage at UMF, 'Carl Cox & Friends Arena'. Surely he will bring his A-game for his house and techno saturated set this year.
Just like Tiësto, British DJ/producer Carl Cox is a dance legend. He is renowned to the point that he even has his own stage at UMF, 'Carl Cox & Friends Arena'. Surely he will bring his A-game for his house and techno saturated set this year.
18. Steve Aoki
Aoki stage dives into the crowd with a raft. There’s cake! Oh, and there’s also “Turbulence.” Although you kind of know what to expect at an Aoki set, he still manages to captivate us with his bottomless energy and on-stage antics.
Aoki stage dives into the crowd with a raft. There’s cake! Oh, and there’s also “Turbulence.” Although you kind of know what to expect at an Aoki set, he still manages to captivate us with his bottomless energy and on-stage antics.
17. Kerli
Estonian singer/songwriter, Kerli, is much more than a pretty blonde. She channels the eccentricity of Bjork while manifesting heartfelt emotion through her potent candy sweet vocals.
Estonian singer/songwriter, Kerli, is much more than a pretty blonde. She channels the eccentricity of Bjork while manifesting heartfelt emotion through her potent candy sweet vocals.
16. Green Lantern
Green’s involvement in hip hop and electronic dance music, specifically trap music, makes him a double threat. He recently released the trap mix, Altitude. We love his trapped out “Jigga Man Bootleg” track in which he samples JAY Z’s “Jigga My Nigga.”
Green’s involvement in hip hop and electronic dance music, specifically trap music, makes him a double threat. He recently released the trap mix, Altitude. We love his trapped out “Jigga Man Bootleg” track in which he samples JAY Z’s “Jigga My Nigga.”
15. Madeon
18-years-old and already taking the mainstage this year… impressive. However, it won’t be the only big show the Parisian DJ prince has performed at recently.
18-years-old and already taking the mainstage this year… impressive. However, it won’t be the only big show the Parisian DJ prince has performed at recently.
14. UZ
UZ, the trap mastermind, will continue to be masked. Though we are there to twerk to his trapped out mixes, we are also looking for every Where’s Waldo type of clue we can find for this DJ’s identity.
UZ, the trap mastermind, will continue to be masked. Though we are there to twerk to his trapped out mixes, we are also looking for every Where’s Waldo type of clue we can find for this DJ’s identity.
13. Porter Robinson
The youngblood DJ is a legend in the making. We've been watching his live sets evolve since he was 19, a year ago. Even the most jaded of electronic music fans can't deny Porter's ability to keep the dancefloor moving.
The youngblood DJ is a legend in the making. We've been watching his live sets evolve since he was 19, a year ago. Even the most jaded of electronic music fans can't deny Porter's ability to keep the dancefloor moving.
12. Fatboy Slim
British big beat pioneer, Fatboy Slim, will grace us with his classics. Our wish list of tracks to be played during his live set is “The Rockafeller Skank,” “Praise You,” and “Everybody Loves A Carnival.” Look what FBS did in Brighton.
British big beat pioneer, Fatboy Slim, will grace us with his classics. Our wish list of tracks to be played during his live set is “The Rockafeller Skank,” “Praise You,” and “Everybody Loves A Carnival.” Look what FBS did in Brighton.
11. Hot Chip
A band at UMF? Absolutely. British electronica quintet represents dance music’s omnipresent permeation into every music genre – including rock music.
A band at UMF? Absolutely. British electronica quintet represents dance music’s omnipresent permeation into every music genre – including rock music.
10. Thievery Corporation
Rob Garza and Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation exemplify the more mellow side of dance music. They are the chai tea of electronic based music amid an assortment of energy drinks. Downtempo combined with acid jazz, dub, and reggae is just what we need after a high intensity Knife Party set.
Rob Garza and Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation exemplify the more mellow side of dance music. They are the chai tea of electronic based music amid an assortment of energy drinks. Downtempo combined with acid jazz, dub, and reggae is just what we need after a high intensity Knife Party set.
9. Art Department
Jonny White (No. 19 label owner) and Kenny Glasgow of Art Department will serve a banquet of sounds ranging from electronica to funk to techno and everything in between. Who doesn’t like variety?
Jonny White (No. 19 label owner) and Kenny Glasgow of Art Department will serve a banquet of sounds ranging from electronica to funk to techno and everything in between. Who doesn’t like variety?
8. Major Lazer
Wes (Diplo) has the Midas touch. Since UMF is all about grandiose surprises, wouldn’t it be an awesome shock to see Diplo partnered with his former ML mate, Switch? Guys, please make it happen.
Wes (Diplo) has the Midas touch. Since UMF is all about grandiose surprises, wouldn’t it be an awesome shock to see Diplo partnered with his former ML mate, Switch? Guys, please make it happen.
7. deadmau5
Mr. Zimmerman is a hell raiser, but also channels the heat from figurative hell into his live sets. Just as there’s never a dull moment in the shenanigans of his personal life, the same holds true of VIBE coverman's stage presence. We particularly hope he brings SOFI out for “Sofi Needs A Ladder.”
Mr. Zimmerman is a hell raiser, but also channels the heat from figurative hell into his live sets. Just as there’s never a dull moment in the shenanigans of his personal life, the same holds true of VIBE coverman's stage presence. We particularly hope he brings SOFI out for “Sofi Needs A Ladder.”
6. Sander van Doorn
Another Dutch DJ/producer with a colorful array of music is none other than Sander van Doorn. The kickdrums, intoxicating synths, and drops in “Joyenergizer” is enough reason alone for us to be excited to see him live. His tracks are like a makeout session that you wish was endless.
Another Dutch DJ/producer with a colorful array of music is none other than Sander van Doorn. The kickdrums, intoxicating synths, and drops in “Joyenergizer” is enough reason alone for us to be excited to see him live. His tracks are like a makeout session that you wish was endless.
5. Justin Martin
Dirtybird Records artist, Justin Martin, takes house music to a whole other level with his incorporation of hip hop influenced rhythms. We’re ready to shimmy and shake to one of favorite Martin tracks, “Lezgo VIP.”
Dirtybird Records artist, Justin Martin, takes house music to a whole other level with his incorporation of hip hop influenced rhythms. We’re ready to shimmy and shake to one of favorite Martin tracks, “Lezgo VIP.”
4. Afrojack
Nick van de Wall brings fun acts to his stage acts like Lil Jon. Who will Afrojack bring up this year to get the crowd "jacked up"? You have to go to find out. We assure you, it will be worth it.
Nick van de Wall brings fun acts to his stage acts like Lil Jon. Who will Afrojack bring up this year to get the crowd "jacked up"? You have to go to find out. We assure you, it will be worth it.
3. Loco Dice
When artists in the current dance world come from a hip hop background, you can expect an unpredictable set (interesting pairing, huh?). Hip hop and EDM veteran, Yassine Ben Achour (Loco Dice), is just the man to give us a taste of a revamped recipe of classic house mixed with the rawness of hip hop.
When artists in the current dance world come from a hip hop background, you can expect an unpredictable set (interesting pairing, huh?). Hip hop and EDM veteran, Yassine Ben Achour (Loco Dice), is just the man to give us a taste of a revamped recipe of classic house mixed with the rawness of hip hop.
2. A State Of Trance Stage
Paul Van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Armin Van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz, Dash Berlin, ATB, Cosmic Gate, W&W, and Tritonal will be on one stage. We know this is a top 20 list, but we just couldn’t leave one trance artist out from the ASOT roster.
Paul Van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Armin Van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz, Dash Berlin, ATB, Cosmic Gate, W&W, and Tritonal will be on one stage. We know this is a top 20 list, but we just couldn’t leave one trance artist out from the ASOT roster.
1. Chuckie
We are eagerly anticipating Chuckie’s Dirty Dutch set. Booty bass, high pitched synth effects and deafening drums is what you can expect to hear during his set. See why we followed him from Amsterdam to NYC.
We are eagerly anticipating Chuckie’s Dirty Dutch set. Booty bass, high pitched synth effects and deafening drums is what you can expect to hear during his set. See why we followed him from Amsterdam to NYC.
