Ultra Music Festival 2025 Day Two: Skrillex More Than Delivers

There was some worry earlier in the week that the second day of Ultra Music Festival would be marred by stormy weather, but that didn't come to pass. Saturday saw clear skies and plenty of memorable performances.

The second day brought performances by Knife Party, Carl Cox, Hardwell, Kshmr, Gesaffelstein, Deadmau5, and others. However, the most anticipated set of the evening had to be Skrillex. Naturally, the EDM powerhouse did not disappoint, delivering a career-spanning set that included his solo productions, Jack Ü, and Fred Again collaborations. He also brought to the stage plenty of special guests, including British grime MC and producer Flowdan, reggae legend Damian Marley, and Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko.

Check out more of the highlights from the second day of Ultra Music Festival 2025 below.

Knife Party

Aussie duo Knife Party delivered a set that was both nostalgic and forward-thinking on the Worldwide Stage. It started slower than what many expected from the drumstep legends, but the energy picked up in the second half, leaning into dubstep that brought the crowd to life. Notable highlights included the ending, where they dropped "Bonfire," a track that made the crowd erupt. Classics like "Antidote" made their way in, alongside some fresh IDs to keep things exciting. A standout moment was a fun transition involving "Can You Hear My Heart (Riot Remix)," though the set didn't quite reach the madness of their peak era. Despite some mixed reviews, it was a solid performance that showcased their ability to command a crowd and create memorable moments. Osvaldo Espino

Richie Hawtin

The Canadian-American maestro had the coveted sunset slot at the Resistance Megastructure. He played under his new live setup, DEX EFX X0X, dedicated to his seminal 199 compilation album, Decks, EFX & 909. Ambient sounds began to trickle in initially, with low bass hums and barely a beat to pinpoint. Hawtin, a pioneer in minimal techno, then took the audience on an inner, if not terrifying, journey to the heart of the genre. Sounds came from everywhere as Hawtin created music off the cusp. Constant barrages of hard-hitting techno played undisturbed for roughly 90 minutes. Hawtin wanted the music to be such a focal point in his set that the giant LEDs panels hanging from the rafters were turned off and the Ultra dancers were nowhere to be seen. Instead, it was the slow spread of the lighting system and the giant LED screen behind him listing the track IDs that he used as the raw material to contort into something new. Tracks like Robert Hood's "Art Form" and Lake J's "Outlier" played out in some resemblance. Even Hawtin seemed reduced to a robotic function — every movement he made was done with the sole purpose of furthering his set. Ultra has been promoting more melodic music and furious techno by the likes of Charlotte de Witte for the past couple of years. Hawtin, however, showed that the Megastructure can still be a minimalist playground. Grant Albert

Anyma B2B Solomun

The back-to-back set by Anyma and Solomun shifted the tone of the evening, focusing less on visuals and more on sonic innovation. The duo delivered a mix that felt entirely unique, leaning into high-quality remixes and unexpected drops. The highlight was the combination of "We Are the People" with "The Feeling," a mix that resonated deeply with the crowd. It was clear that the two were trying something new, and from the crowd reception, it was working. The show ended on a high with Kate Bush's timeless "Running Up That Hill," a perfect close to a set that balanced legendary status with fresh creativity. Here's hoping that the next show adds a bit of a creative element and we get to see their full genius. Osvaldo Espino

Axwell

Axwell's solo set was a masterclass in energy and crowd control, proving once again why he's one of EDM's most influential figures. From the opening notes of Swedish House Mafia's "Frankenstein," he had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. The setlist included tracks like "Barricade" and "More Than You Know," but the crowd truly came alive when he mixed "Goosebumps" with "Gold," following it with a stunning a cappella that led into one of the night's best drops. He kept the party going with sing-along moments like "Don't You Worry Child" and "Heaven Takes You Home," delivering exactly what fans hoped for. Axwell's ability to keep the energy high while mixing in surprises made his performance unforgettable, solidifying his place as a Main Stage legend. Osvaldo Espino

Kshmr

What began as your typical EDM-styled trance set at the Live Stage evaporated within moments with Kshmr's use of live performers. He played his two tracks, "Magic (Mixed)" and "Over and Out," each replete with trance elements and big-room energy. Then came his track "Blood in the Water." The stage's lighting dimmed, and two gauntlets next to the producer lit up. Two taiko drummers appeared, banging their drums in synch. Behind them were two violinists, a cellist, a flutist, and a trumpeter to tack on live elements. Once the drop came, the string section fist-bumped with their bows. This happened again and again. Just when it felt like a standard DJ set, Kshmr and his bandmates took a creative spin. At one point, the taiko drummers matched the beat of the build-up until the drop. At another, the string, wind, and horn section played the melodies of "Sandstorm," which they mixed in with "Better Off Alone" and "Adagio for Strings" before Kshmr mixed back in a remix of "Sandstorm." He asked the crowd, "Are you with the people you love?" Clearly, he was on stage with the people he cared about. Grant Albert

Skrillex

Saturday's headlining set by Skrillex was nothing short of breathtaking. He took control of the Main Stage and held it for the rest of the evening, delivering a performance packed with surprises, high energy, and emotional tributes. Early in the set, he dropped a remix of "Where Are Ü Now," eliciting a strong reaction from the crowd. One of the most powerful moments was his tribute to Avicii, where he put a bass-heavy spin on "Levels," bringing both nostalgia and intensity to the stage. The set was full of teases, including a new collaboration with ISOxo, alongside throwbacks to his early career. British MC and producer Flowdan appeared on stage to perform "Rumble" as well as its Chase & Status remix, and bangers like "Badders" and "Baddadan" added another layer of energy to the performance. Skrillex also brought out Damian Marley for "Welcome to Jamrock" before transitioning back to the high-energy pace. Then Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko joined him on stage to premiere "Apaga La Luz." While the stage production elevated the entire experience, nothing could top the finale. Skrillex closed with a mashup of "We Are Your Friends" and "Turn Off the Lights". The night also featured multiple renditions of "Where Are Ü Now," a showcase of how much that track has evolved and endured. Ultimately, Skrillex's set was a festival stage masterclass. From start to finish, it was eclectic, emotional, and electric. It reaffirmed why he's one of the greatest figures in dance music. Ultra day two will undoubtedly be remembered as a night filled with energy and nostalgia. Osvaldo Espino

Carl Cox

Carl Cox had one chance to make everything go right for his fully live debut. Cox has spent the last four years learning to play live — finding the pieces of equipment, building a core team, and putting in the hours to make it happen. He played earlier in the day with his Awesome Soundwave label partner, Christopher Coe, who guided Cox through this arduous task of dropping the CDJs. "We have a studio together," Coe tells New Times. "I play live, and Carl wanted to do it. This live show is entirely his own music, entirely live, and entirely synced with the whole room. What we actually created was something where he played the entire room as an instrument." Coe explains that if Cox turns up the volume or adds a filter, the sound is mapped to the lights, visuals, or lasers. Cox was surrounded by his hardware, his hands were always on the machines, and he even used a mic stand to shout his signature "Oh yes, oh yes" to the crowd, as he could not sacrifice even seconds without making music. The ethos of the usual Cox set was there: the stadium techno sound that only he can do, the boat horn blasting, and his infectious energy. The set felt more fluid when adding layers and subtracting elements to his tracks, like "See the Sun Rising." Even bringing in a clap from a drum machine gave a track a new lifeblood. Toward the end, he dropped Joe Brunning's "Now Let Me See You Work," which he hasn't played at Ultra for years. The chainsawing basslines and Elle Zed's repeated "Now let me see you work" made the crowd smitten with the pure and primal energy of the track. Carl Cox has been about the revolution for years, whether with his party series or brand. But now, at 62 years old, Cox is turning to his evolution. Grant Albert