For Tiesto, it was more run of the mill music from the legendary producer. While he didn’t break any new ground, he wasn’t really expected to. He put on a crowd-pleasing performance that featured an appearance from The Chainsmokers, where they debuted their new song with him. Finally, for those that were still standing, and there were certainly a lot, Knife Party took the stage for a dark, hard-hitting set that turned it to 11 and didn’t let you catch your breath for even a second.
When day two began, the first act we caught was Dash Berlin, who was exceptional as usual. An emotional and uplifting set that mostly steered away from the pure trance (as that was saved for Dash’s second set of the weekend), it was a strong mix of music that had the feels going in the crowd.
Next up was Martin Garrix, and an absolutely packed stadium welcomed the young prodigy with open arms. Kicking off with his usual intro, “Dragon,” the Dutch DJ flipped through all of his recent tracks, such as “Break Through The Silence,” “Don’t Look Down,” and “The Only Way Is Up,” while also throwing in a few exciting mash-ups.
Following what was easily one of the weekend’s best sets, we caught a little bit of Zedd before checking out the Resistance stage, where, like at Ultra Miami, an intense dance party was going on as the very best of the underground music scene were spinning their beats.
The 360-degree design of the stage was just as effective as it was in Miami, and provided a refreshing change of pace from the main stage/stadium atmosphere, as it was positioned outside and away from the more crowded areas. It was a more laid-back setting and definitely not as hectic as inside.
Making our way back for the last half of Axwell /\ Ingrosso, we patiently awaited Saturday’s headliner, Armin Van Buuren. Thankfully, the trance god did not disappoint, putting on a dazzling and beautiful set that put us in a state of trance for a mesmerizing two-hour journey, with some very well-timed fireworks going off near the end and a surprise appearance by Mr. Probz, all of which capped off another incredible night. Personally, I enjoyed it more than his Ultra Miami set (though it was certainly similar in parts) and walked away very impressed. But then again, what else would you expect from Armin?
It’s around 9:30 as we made our way into the stadium on day 3, just in time to hear W&W’s blasting beats. Our feet were pounding and our bodies were sore everywhere, but we keep moving and dancing to the sounds of Willem and Wardt. Following the dutch duo was Nicky Romero, who went a bit more progressive with a number of his biggest hits.
David Guetta was next and while I’m usually not a fan, his set was certainly strong, mostly comprised of his original records and some solid production on the stage. Angello and Hardwell closed things out, and while neither was disappointing (Angello in particular was great, even premiering a bit of new music), the whole festival ended a bit anticlimactically. It seemed like Hardwell was supposed to play one last song as an encore, but for some reason, it didn’t happen. Instead, Ultra’s announcer, Damian Pinto, came on stage and closed down the festival. It was a bit odd, to say the least, but Hardwell’s set that proceeded the awkward moment was certainly memorable.
After three exhausting but incredible days, the thing I took away most from my experience at Ultra Europe was that the brand is stronger than ever. Drawing an estimated 150,000 people throughout the week, it’s clear that no matter where in the world you are, Ultra means something to dance music fans, and for them, it signifies unparalleled production, eclectic and all-encompassing line-ups and larger than life performances, all culminating in one unforgettable event.