Ultra Music Festival 2022 Day One Review: Kygo, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, Alesso

After the logistical nightmare that was the 2019 edition on Virginia Key, Ultra Music Festival posted a letter on Twitter apologizing to festivalgoers and announcing it would be moving out of Miami and looking for an alternative location. Luckily, a few months later, the festival was able to come to an agreement with the city and downtown residents, allowing it to return to its longtime venue, Bayfront Park, in 2020.Then the pandemic descended, thwarting Ultra’s return for two years and leaving people wondering if the festival would ever come back. But here we are. On Friday, March 25, the festival returned to Bayfront Park with dominance, bringing a sense of familiarity between PLUR-crazed ravers, pyrotechnics, tropical shirts, and fan clickers — so many fan clickers.

There were also new flavors — live music taking the spotlight and the Cove Resistance stage offering a blend of relaxation and deep underground sounds. With perfect weather and fireworks lighting the sky, the crowd of more than 50,000 flocked to every stage to shake off pandemic woes and expose itself to illuminating LEDs and bass-to-the-proverbial-face.

With one day down, the festival has reasserted that home is where the rave is: in Bayfront Park.

Alesso

Known for his progressive-house-meets-pop sound, Alesso covered the Main Stage with all of his favorite hits, including “Progresso,” “Again,” and his Katy Perry collaboration, “When I’m Gone.” The crowd was thoroughly entranced and dancing during the set, while local celebs like David Grutman and Dave Portnoy were spotted enjoying the beats backstage. The setlist included Alesso’s newest single, “Only You,” featuring Sentinel, a fan favorite that had the crowd singing and swaying along to the catchy pop number. Mary Gibson

Armin van Burren B2B Reiner Zonneveld

Sure, the Dutch DJ/producers could’ve taken the easy way out. The duo could maybe take…