Ultra Music Festival 2011 - changes announced, tickets on sale

(Winter Music Conference)

On November 16, the electronic-focused Ultra Music Festival, which takes over Miami's South Beach every year, announced an expanded event for 2011, with three days of music rather than two and an expected larger international lineup. The events runs from March 25-27, 2011

Early bird tickets, announced November 16, reportedly sold out in five hours.

Another big change from last year is that the festival will now be disentangled from the previously concurrent Winter Music Conference, an electronic music event mostly aimed at music professionals, held in Miami in March. While the two events cater to electronic music fans, the 2011 Ultra Music Festival is scheduled to follow the Winter Music Conference by two weeks.

Last year's event, which sold out, was held at Bicentennial Park with headliners such as Axwell, Tiesto, David Guetta, and Deadmau5. It was reported to be one of the highest grossing musical festivals in the United States.

Founded in 1998, the festival is considered a top outdoor event for electronic music lovers. In 2009, an estimated 85,000 people from 65 countries swarmed Miami to see more than 250 artists on 16 stages. The festival won Best Music Event from the International Dance Music Awards in 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2005 and Best International Dance Music Festival by the Ibiza DJ Awards in 2008.

The 2011 lineup has yet to announced but the event covers a range of electronic music, from dubstep and breaks to trance and electro. Miami News Times recently announced that the band Crystal Castles is expected to perform.

Tickets for a three-day pass are now on sale for $179.95 (133 euros).

http://www.ultramusicfestival.com/