Irvine Welsh Defends Ultra: "I'm Disappointed in Miami, the Fest Breathed Life Into a Dead Downtown"

Contrary to Marc Sarnoff's alarmist claims, EDM fans aren't all "kids on some sort of mind-altering drug" with a fetish for "urinating, defecating, or throwing up" on the streets of Downtown Miami. Just take Irvine Welsh, the 54-year-old Scottish author of Trainspotting and 11 other books. He's been a strident...

By S. Pajot

January 9, 2013

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Contrary to Marc Sarnoff's alarmist claims, EDM fans aren't all "kids on some sort of mind-altering drug" with a fetish for "urinating, defecating, or throwing up" on the streets of Downtown Miami.

Just take Irvine Welsh, the 54-year-old Scottish author of Trainspotting and 11 other books. He's been a strident supporter of the electronic music scene for over 20 years, ever since acid house and rave culture started sweeping the U.S., UK, and the rest of Europe in the mid-to-late '80s.

Oh, and Welsh also happens to be a pal of Tommie Sunshine. And a part-time Miami resident. And yes, an Ultra Music Festival attendee.

So yesterday, in response to Mr. Sunshine's outrage against the city commission and Sarnoff's proposed resolution "disapproving" of Ultra's second weekend, Welsh also came to the fest's defense, tweeting: "I'm very disappointed in Miami, I was at Ultra last year and it breathed life into a dead downtown."

UPDATE Marc Sarnoff's spokesperson says commissioner doesn't want to "shut down" Ultra.

UPDATE #2 Miami mayor Tomas Regalado says: "One [Ultra Music Festival] weekend is enough ... people complain about the kids."

UPDATE #3 The resolution has been voted down. And City of Miami commissioners have approved Ultra Music Festival 2013's second weekend.

See also:

-Ultra 2013: City of Miami to Vote on Resolution "Disapproving" of Second Festival Weekend

-Ultra 2013: Commissioner Wants To Kill Second Weekend Because Attendees Are On "Mind-Altering Drugs"

-Tommie Sunshine on City of Miami vs. Ultra: "Way to Demonize the Visitors Who Make Money to Cover Your Asses"

-Ultra 2013: Organizers Willing to Work With City on Downtown Traffic, Security Concerns

Curiously, enough, Welsh seems to have predicted American political attacks against EDM culture in an upcoming piece that he's written for Playboy.

@tommiesunshine What city is doing this and could they not hold off as I predicted this in a Playboy piece written before Xmas...
-- Irvine Welsh (@WelshIrvine) January 8, 2013

@tommiesunshine @ultramusic Predicted a red state backlash against it.
-- Irvine Welsh (@WelshIrvine) January 8, 2013

Apparently, though, even Welsh didn't expect the party poopers à la Sarnoff to swing into action so soon.

But they did. And just like his buddy Tommie Sunshine, the novelist and electronic music fan is calling in the international protest corps.

Old skool & new skool clubbers & ravers across the pond, a wee message of solidarity to @tommiesunshine and @ultramusic would be sweet.
-- Irvine Welsh (@WelshIrvine) January 8, 2013

So beat freaks unite ...

After all, as Irvine also points out: "This is supposed to be Miami [for fuck's sake] ... There's fuck all here but the party. Take that away and you are left with Jack Shit."

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