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Ultra Music Festival 2017 Bigger & Better Than Ever Words by Claudia Paredes • Photography by thomas Bender It doesn't get much better than Ultra Music Festival, and it's no surprise that general-admission tickets sold- out well before the show opened its gates on Friday, March 24th. After all, this event only happens once a year in Miami, and rain or shine, it's the party that everyone is waiting for. This year the world-famous music festival blew attendees away with an outstanding production, impressive lineup, surprise guests, fireworks, flames, and even water fountains spouting on stage. Ultra Music Festival unites the world. People come from every corner and proudly carry flags from their home country. Natalie Taylor, 36, from Liverpool, England, flew here exclusively for Ultra, and attended all three days of the festival. "I'm just excited to be here, and be part of the festival," she says. "I'm here for the experience." Every day was filled with surprises, starting with Friday. The festival kicked off at 4 p.m., where Raiden was ready to start the festivities with just a small crowd in the beginning. By the end of his 15-minute set, the crowed had tripled, and by the time Don Diablo took the Main Stage, it was difficult to navigate your way to the front. The lineup at Ultra was more than anyone could ask for. There was something from everyone, even if you're not that familiar with the EDM scene. This year the headliners on the Main Stage and the acts on the Live Stage were big names that everyone recognized. On the Main Stage, Major Lazer closed the show Friday night and played crowd favorites like "Light It Up" and "Lean On." Before the Main Stage, Diplo was at the UMF Radio stage where Mad Decent & Friends were scheduled to play at 9 p.m. Major Lazer followed, Martin Garrix, the Dutch DJ who was ranked number one on DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs in 2016. This was a tough act to follow, given that this young DJ played many new tracks during his set and crowd-pleasers like "In The Name Of Love," which he collaborated on with Bebe Rexha.