In 2020, Ultra Australia delivered us one of the last major festivals before the world shut down due to Covid-19. If we knew then the totality of the restrictions the world would soon face just mere days away, would we have reveled a little more in the experience?

Somewhere in the abyss of Western Sydney, March 7th, 2020, Parramatta Park played host to the second instalment for Australia of the flagship event of the Ultra Festival Franchise. Three stages filled with a selection of the elite, both nationally and international on the EDM world stage. The venue, condensed in size from the previous year edition made for easier stage transition, however also compacted the amount people trying to get from one to the other. Through unrelenting rain, the ground struggled with the force of foot traffic and the entire venue became something depicted in a wrestling match I had seen only once or twice before.

Tiger lily and Markus Schulz opened Main stage and crowd warmup for the likes of AfroJack, Zedd, Dash Berlin and Eric Prydz, displaying why they are international headliners in their own rights.

Markus Schulz Main Stage Ultra Australia Sydney, 2020

The local stage, while smaller in stature really did deliver in atmosphere in comparison to the bigger brother stages. The passionate audience showed their support for home grown industry artists, Dimatik, Mash’d n Kutcher, Sunset Bros and Brooklyn all commanding The UMF Stage and delivering some of the favourite performances of the day.

Dimatik UMF stage Ultra Australia Sydney, 2020

Women dominating The RESISTANCE stage brought its own intense crowd for artists like Deborah De Luca, Wild Foxx and Dee Bee.

Deborah De Luca The RESISTANCE stage Ultra Australia Sydney, 2020

Together, it always promised to be one of ‘have to attend’ events of the year. The majority of the crowd pitched camp at Main stage with DJ Snake closing out our last Pre-Covid event with lasers and fireworks beneath the teaming Sydney sky.

Although good music is always a saving grace, nothing important can be said in regard to the event VIP package, except that something went VERY wrong. An offer of ‘access to the VIP platform’ for the financial investment was actually ‘reserved’ seating for ‘VVIP’ for the event including artists and investors ONLY. For the $300 ticket, VIP holders were given a hat, access to one bar and toilet queues to rival boxing day shopping events- the kind where you get to the front of the line and all that is left is literally shit. No “Charging Stations.” No “Chill-Out Zones.” And No “Complimentary Beverage.”

If you didn’t spend all of your money on a VIP ticket, then you were definitely better off for the event. For the difference, I could have bought myself my own shade and charging bank from the very well stocked Ultra Merchandise stand. From event t-shirts, to hats, glasses and flags, everything was on offer to souvenir. The head bands in a variety of colours being the most popular item that everyone had wrapped somewhere.

So, we all wonder not only who but what the next instalment of Ultra Australia will bring? Definitely some major EDM players. But hopefully it will also bring some sun, a little bit of shade, a whole lot of integrity, or at very least a complimentary beverage.

Written by Pieta Clarke

Images by Pieta Clarke

Courtesy of Ultra Australia