Ferry Corsten plays Thursday night at Space and makes an in-store appearance Friday at FYE on South Beach.

Ferry Corsten

By Jay Rooney

Ferry Corsten, a Dutch trance DJ and producer, is widely regarded as one of the genre’s best pioneers and performers, constantly topping voter polls and selling out venues. During the Conference, he'll be performing Thursday night at Space (34 NE 11 St., set can start anywhere from midnight to 2 a.m.); at a free in-store appearance Friday at FYE (501 Collins Ave., 2-6 p.m.); and the second day of Ultra Music Festival on Saturday (1075 Biscayne Blvd., Miami).

Tell me about your show at Space on Thursday.
It’s gonna be the official kick-off gig for the tour that I’m doing in North America for Corsten’s Countdown, my XM Radio show, where I present ten tracks ranging from electro house to trance to techno and everything in between. So I’ll be doing a four-hour set with Sander van Doorn in the main room and with Prydz on the Terrace. The Space people go with a party attitude that you don’t really find [at Cameo, where it was last year], and of course there’s Ultra.

What do you love about Miami?
I’ve been [to Miami] numerous times, and Lincoln Road is great. I like to have dinner at the Delano, and Tantra. I always hang out by the pools. This year I’m staying at The Victor – I’ve been there a few times - it’s right in the middle of all the madness, but still kind of quiet. I really like Miami during the winter, this week is just a bit crazy. This is a real party town, not like Vegas, but similar in that people go into the weekend with a party mindset and have a good time.