Monday, November 4, 2013

Festival Guide
Ultra Fest 2013

Personal Top 5 Music Festivals

We are in November, and that indicates that we have reached the end of the 2013 festival season. Yes there will be a few straggling festivals in the twilight of 2013, but they are on the smaller side, and feature lesser lineups and production value than those that occur mid-year. I have decided to give a quick rundown of my favorite festivals over the past few years to give readers an idea of where to go come season! I have attended all the aforementioned festivals and have been to enough to be able to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Lets get on with it.

The Trap Stage from Tomorrowworld
  1. Tomorrowworld (GA) - Tomorrowworld was my 2013 festival climax, this was the end all for my attendance in 2013, and it did not disappoint. TW featured the highest production values, the best lineup, and overall best experience of all festivals that I have ever been too. The Trap stage could of been put on a better stage, but I'm nitpicking, this was by far the best of the year.
    Fatboy Slim @ The Megastructure Ultra 2013

  2. Ultra Music Fesival (FL) - Ultra is a fantastic festival, pulling many great artists, and providing high quality stages, you know what you're gonna get with UMF. However that is also the problem. Ultra as of late has been continually raising it's ticket prices, but not doing anything more impressive than before, causing other festivals to leapfrog it. While 2013 was a fantastic 2-week affair for myself, it was over-crowded and very sterile in comparison with TW and other festivals.
    Mainstage @ Sunset Music Festival

  3. Sunset Music Festival (FL) - This smaller festival took place in Tampa in May and was one of the biggest surprises for me in the festival scene. I was able to enjoy plenty of artists over the course of 2 days. Unlike the other festivals which go three or more days, SMF didn't leave me dead from over-dancing, but instead gave the perfect amount of time to let go. I left wanting more, not yearning to leave. I hope for a 2014 installation!
    EDC Orlando 2012
  4. Electric Daisy Carnival Orlando (FL) - EDC Orlando 2013 is right around the corner, and those going are heading in with lofty expectations set by EDC Vegas promos and such. Unfortunately for their expectations, they have been vastly raised to a level where they will never be met. EDC Orlando was a fun event, and I would recommend going if you have never been to a festival, but it certainly ranks near the bottom for me. I'm including it in this discussion because it did have some stellar moments, but those were brought on by the artists, not the production value. This is a good fun time, but is not even in the same ballpark as TW, EDC Vegas, or UMF. This is on the same level as SMF, however I give SMF the edge over EDC Orlando.
    Identity Music Festival 2012 @ Bayfront Park, Miami


  5. Identity Music Festival (FL) - Identity Music Festival didn't take place in 2013, but it did come to Bayfront Park in Miami during August 2012. It is a traveling music festival and its lineup varies city to city. This festival gets my #5 spot for multiple reasons: It was clean, and featured the friendliest crowd I have ever been a part of. It was $40 for a ticket, granted it was only one day, but that is fantastic. Finally it featured artists who were not found on the radio, as in it's headliners were not Guetta, Hardwell, Tiesto, etc. It featured music that I couldn't hear by turning on my top 40's radio, and I really appreciate that. I hope it comes back in 2014.


    I can't make it to every festival, and as I've gotten older I've had to pick and choose more and more, however I will always make a conscious effort to attend as many as I can.
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