Billboard unveiled this morning the very first phase of the lineup for the 2009 Ultra Music Festival, and it's actually time to get excited. As the festival has expanded in size, its organizers have made laudable stabs at taking the lineup into the new dance-music frontiers of the 21st century. Yes, all your favorite dino DJs will still play, but this coming year's edition features even more innovative groups that ride the rock/electronic edge, including a few who have rarely played Miami, like...
Cut Copy and Crystal Castles! The last time Crystal Castles were here was WMC 2007, before they really blew up, and as for Cut Copy.... If they've played here at all in the last couple of years, I don't remember -- but their live show is a lot of fun, no matter how many times you've heard their indie-club hits.
Also returning to Miami, but making an Ultra debut, is Simian Mobile Disco, who totally destroyed the eyes, eardrums, and minds of the crowd who caught them on the last Saturday of WMC at Studio A this past spring.
Other artists confirmed for the lineup so far include Santogold, the Ting Tings, Bloc Party, the Presets, Busy P ... and from dance music's last golden age, Roni Size Reprazent (for the collective's first U.S. apperance in seven years), and, of course, Tiesto and Carl Cox.
Two-day passes for the festival currently cost $99.95 (plus taxes and service fees), or $350 for the VIP version, through the Ultra web site. As you know from previous years, those will go up, eventually capping at $149.95 for a regular two-day pass, organizers say.
Stay tuned to Crossfade for further lineup announcements.
