Dundee DJ Hannah Laing is set to launch a one-day dance music festival in her hometown next year. Titled Doof in the Park, the event will take place at Camperdown Park on July 5, featuring three stages and approximately 25 acts.
In an interview with BBC Scotland News, Hannah expressed her excitement about headlining a festival of this scale in Dundee, a city she feels is often overshadowed by Glasgow and Edinburgh when it comes to music events. The 30-year-old artist began her journey DJing at friends’ parties and local bars before gaining fame with her track Good Love, which reached the top 10 charts last year.
Initially, Hannah hoped to attract around 10,000 attendees to the festival; however, she has already received about 20,000 expressions of interest online, even before any additional acts have been announced. “I wanted to do something bigger in Dundee because I sold out two shows at the Caird Hall this year, but there aren’t really any larger venues in Dundee,” she explained. “There’s always something happening in Glasgow or Edinburgh, but we don’t have that range here, so bringing this festival to Dundee is really special.”
Hannah, who has been DJing in the city for years, stated, “It’s going to be an emotional day for sure. I feel like I’ve climbed up the ladder to get to this point. It’s crazy.” The festival’s name reflects her own record label, Doof, which describes her unique sound that combines elements of techno, trance, and hard house, often characterized by its distinctive “doof doof” beat.
She aims to announce more details about the lineup soon and intends to collaborate with local artists and bars to maintain the festival’s connection to the city. This event marks a return to Camperdown Park, where she previously performed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in 2023. “That was just when things were starting to blow up for me,” she recalled. “I was on the middle-sized stage, and the turnout opened my eyes to how big things were getting at that time. To go back and play there again with my own event is just insane.”
In recent years, Hannah, who previously balanced her music career with a job as a dental nurse, has transitioned to being a full-time DJ. She has toured the world, performing in Ibiza and at Scotland’s TRNSMT music festival. Earlier this year, a BBC documentary documented her preparations for her Caird Hall shows, which were the biggest performances of her career up to that point.
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