Almost ten years after delivering one of the most electrifying performances at one of the most influential electronic music events in history. Dance music pioneer and former 2 x World No. 1 DJ Hardwell returned to the stage at the Ultra Music Festival to make history with arguably the most anticipated comeback show of 2022.
In the fall of 2018, after more than a decade playing the biggest festivals on the planet, Hardwell announced he would be taking a sabbatical from touring. So his adamant Sunday night comeback, his first official show since performing with the Metropole Orkest Symphony at the Ziggo Dome in October 2018, was unsurprisingly a moment for the history books. Performing a surprise set on the main stage, closing the festival weekend, the crowd of 150,000 enthusiastically welcomed Hardwell’s return. Online, his performance also beat Ultra’s numbers via live stream, with fans around the world all eager to watch Hardwell’s first official live in 3.5 years.
Revealing a new show and sound, as well as announcing a 24-date world tour in support of his new artist album, Rebels Never Die, Hardwell used his headliner at Ultra this weekend to mark a new era in his career. This momentous occasion during Ultra not only served as Hardwell’s debut show, but also a chance for him to capture the attention of fans around the world. Always a leader, with a quest for evolution, not repetition. Hardwell’s new 14-track solo album, released on his Revealed Recordings label, represents a critical point in the musical shift for one of electronic music‘s biggest known stars.
The all-new Rebels Never Die World Tour is a large-scale production concept that will provide fans with a unique, multi-dimensional experience to see Hardwell perform live on stage. Throughout 2022, the Rebels Never Die album tour will see Hardwell on the road with 24 dates already booked on the biggest stages in Europe, Asia, North and South America.
For millions of fans around the world, Hardwell’s shock announcement after a 2018 tour came as a huge surprise. After more than a decade chasing his dream and at the height of his career, Robbert van de Corput, better known as Hardwell, has chosen to step back, step back from the spotlight. Stepping away on a journey that has carried over 120 x singles, 80 x remixes, 1 x artist album, 11 x compilation albums, 2 x documentaries, 2 x world arena tours, countless international performances , and more. Leaving fans unsure if they would ever see Hardwell on stage again.
At the closing night of the Ultra Music Festival in beautiful Miami on Sunday, Hardwell once again gave fans what they wanted – ending rumors of his retirement. Shattering any belief that his passion for electronic music no longer burned and firmly answering the question of how one of dance music‘s greatest titans is reinventing an unparalleled career of such impressive scope.
