Shaun Duvet chats Ultra

Been a while since we first chatted in 2009 and I'm sure lots has happened since then. What have been some of your personal highlights?

Wow, so much has happened since then! Some highlights include touring Deadmau5, Swedish House Mafia, Avicii, Skrillex, Steve Aoki, Hardwell, Carl Cox and producing two Ultra South Africa Music Festivals. Not to forget about opening up my club, COCO, and the new bar underneath COCO, Goldbar. All the above with my great team and partners.

Being involved with such a massive event and franchise must be quite a challenge. How do you and Anything Goes promote Ultra South Africa?

Anything Goes is the marketing arm for Ultra South Africa. We have a dedicated team on the project who work tirelessly constantly to come up with innovative ways to market the festival from digital, print, outdoor, TV and so much more.

How many countries is Ultra taking place in now and how are the countries chosen?

There are currently 20 Ultra Festivals across the world and the festivals are franchised per territory. The Ultra family unit is very important and it's a great culture amongst us all. Most of us travel the world throughout the year visiting as many Ultras as we can to support the global family.

How are the local and international line-ups chosen?

We choose all our artists. We stay close to trends and music and choose the best of the best.

By the looks of things Ultra just gets bigger and better each year. What can this year's party revellers expect?

Two days of magic in Cape Town and two days of madness in Joburg. The festival in each city is now two days, so you can expect double the fun! That, coupled with the hottest international DJ line-up, the best that local talent has to offer, the gorgeous Ultra Angels, killer sound, incredible lighting and effects, and the list continues.

Which acts are you most looking forward to seeing this year?

Skrillex's show is always amazing. I'm also looking forward to Zedd as I have never seen him before, plus Galantis, Fedde Le Grand, Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers... They're all great!

What have been some of your highlights from previous Ultras?

The feeling of watching thousands of people having the time of their lives.

What are your thoughts on festivals like Electric Vines and Ramfest cancelling or postponing due to the poor rand exchange rate and poor tickets sales?

It is a very difficult time for promoters in SA because of the currency challenge, there is no doubt about that. I wish all promoters out there the best and I want the scene to grow as much as it can. Now is definitely the time to look at your business and make the right decisions to minimise risk. I also urge all party people to support your festivals! ;) Without the crowds supporting these events they won't continue. Having said that, it's also an exciting time for local music to shine.

Do you continue to see a strong growth in EDM? What are some of the new trends in EDM?

Deep house has had an incredible year and the growth in dance music now in terms of talent are electronic artists, not only DJs. A lot of DJs and live acts are bringing live elements to their sets, which creates more of a performance. It's exciting and forever evolving.

Early-bird tickets for both events have sold out. Advance, Regular, VIP and VVIP admission tickets are now on sale for the Joburg and Cape Town editions.

Brand new for the Cape Town edition will be the offering to give fans the chance to camp at the picturesque West Coast Ostrich Ranch across the two days. For more information and to book online, go to heartbreakmotel.co.za

ultrasouthafrica.com