The 7 Best Acts To See At Ultra Music Festival

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There's big, and then there's Ultra big. While the weekend long soiree down in Miami might not have the largest attendance or physical stage out of the American festivals—those two titles belong to EDC Vegas—it stands above the rest in terms of its historic and celebrated presence, and the fact that it closes things down on the coattails of the Winter Music Conference, the biggest dance-oriented week of the year.

A coveted element of the festival is the utter diligence and forward-thinking precision the organizers put into the programming of the three-day event. Seasoned festivalgoers know that many lineups throughout the year look rather similar, with many of the same artists gracing our eardrums. Ultra, however, seems to have nailed the task of carefully curating the eight various stages in Bayfront Park to offer a vast collection of artists, sounds and genres that will please almost any a dance music reveler. With the festival a mere two days, two hours, four minutes and twenty seconds away, we thought it'd be a good time to talk about some of the DJs we're most amped to shake it to:

THE GLITCH MOB:

One of the most prized elements of Ultra's musical offerings is the unique and diverse Live Stage. Many of today's electronic music festivals provide an array of live acts, but only Ultra devotes an entire stage to performances that blur the line between a DJ and full-on musical spectacle. Yes, many of these live acts will still only be pushing a button or two, but expect an array of synths, wires, guitars and even actual microphones!

This year the Live Stage offers tons of quality music but one of the most anticipated acts is the three-piece LA outfit, The Glitch Mob, who are hot of the heels of their new album Love Death Immortality and will surely blow minds with their futuristic, adrenaline-fueled live performance.

ERIC PRYDZ PRES. HOLO/CIREZ D

It's safe to say that Eric Prydz is a certified legend. The Swedish maestro has come a long way from the 2004 pop smash "Call On Me" and holds a secure status as one of the most celebrated producers and DJs in melodic and hypnotizing progressive house. For the better half of the last five years Mr. Prydz didn't appear on this side of the Atlantic due to a severe flying phobia, but last year he made his grand return to the Miami stage for Ultra. We're thrilled to see him back on the lineup along with his coveted HOLO stage setup, which he promises will be the biggest hologram installation in North America. Woah.

Prydz, or Pryda as he is often known, will put down an early evening set on the Main Stage the first day of the festival, but will be back on Sunday to close out the Ultra Ibiza Stage under his techno-fueled moniker, Cirez D.

GESAFFELSTEIN:

Gesaffelstein is French, wears an array of very sharp dark suits and makes some of the best techno you will find anywhere on Earth. But if you're still not convinced, you better check out his headlining set on the Live Stage on Friday. This dude mixes better then almost anyone around and will have you deep in his dark and devious clutches before the first drop.

JAMIE JONES:

Ultra always succeeds at featuring DJs who represent both sides of the musical spectrum. From the more pop-tinged realm of the mainstream all the way to the more eclectic trenches of the underground—there's something for everyone. While Tiësto closes out the massive Main Stage on Friday, underground hero and Hot Creations label boss Jamie Jones will throw down his energetic, sunny house rhythms on the Underground Story Stage. This guy is one of the most iconic selectors in the business, so if you're looking for something besides big-room EDM beats, this is where you want to be.

TIËSTO:

You can't talk about Ultra Music Festival without including Tiësto in the same sentence. This dude has been with the festival from the very beginning and his Friday night headlining sets have become something of legend. He knows the Ultra crowd almost better than anyone and has all the tools to give the crowd exactly what they want. His opening track always sets off the 50,000 person crowd in a matter of seconds, so the only real question this year: How will he start the show?