Latest news with #HannahLaing
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘She's one of us!' The dizzying rise of Hannah Laing, Scottish dental nurse turned superstar doof-doof DJ
In the centre of a dancefloor in a Dundee park, a group of athleisure-clad teens are dancing to a Crazy Frog remix with a middle-aged couple wearing head-to-toe smiley face print. They're in a re-creation of the Highlander, a Scottish bar in Ibiza, complete with Saltire flags and Buckfast cocktails. Across the park, a crowd of thousands are hanging on for the drop in Ultrabeat's Pretty Green Eyes as played by trance icon Judge Jules. It may be late afternoon in Dundee, but the vibe is pure late-night riviera hedonism. This is last weekend's Doof in the Park festival, curated by Hannah Laing in her home town. From Manchester to Ibiza, Amsterdam to Tokyo, the Scottish DJ and producer has brought her sets of hard house, trance and techno to every big club scene in the world, but the festival 'had to be at home', she says two days before it begins, fresh off a plane from Ibiza. 'In Scotland, we're lucky to have crazy crowds. The atmosphere here always hits different.' While hard dance is often derided or ignored in the media and polite society, Laing's music – insistent, almost aggressively euphoric – has a large and committed following: 2.7 million people listen to her each month on Spotify and Doof in the Park sold out its 15,000 tickets within a week. Across the festival site there are hundreds of fans in merch from her Doof record label, as well as bootleg efforts including handmade Doof earrings and customised Uniqlo crossbody bags; one man has 'Doof' shaved into the side of his head. Laing wryly describes her rise as '10 years of overnight success'. Even after landing her first Ibiza residency in 2014, she was juggling DJing with her day job as a dental nurse. 'I was playing at the weekend then going straight to work on a Monday,' she remembers. 'There came a point when I was doing interviews with the BBC in my surgery. I was getting a lot of gigs but still doing lots for free, and I never thought I could make a living from it.' She eventually quit her job in 2022, after a breakthrough set at Creamfields. 'I was on first on Sunday at 2pm and didn't know if anyone would show up, but there were over 10,000 people there and tons of Scottish flags,' she says. 'I'd been building up this reputation in Scotland, and when I got that big opportunity, everyone came out to support me.' 'She's one of us,' says Lisa, who has travelled to the Doof in the Park from Aberdeen with her friend Shona. Like Laing, Lisa is in her early 30s and grew up going to raves. 'She's been brought up like us. She's a normal girl who's done well for herself.' In 2024, Laing launched her label, named after the 'doof doof' rhythm of her music. This summer, she's playing a residency at one of Ibiza's most sought-after clubs, Hï, and releasing her techno-influenced Into the Bounce EP. She credits her taste – 'hard house, trance, music that really makes me feel something' – to her parents, 90s ravers whose generation make up a significant part of her audience. 'It's a great feeling when people who properly know their stuff come and say: 'You got me out of retirement!'' she says. 'Also when my mum comes to see me, she doesn't feel old.' This is very much the case at Doof in the Park. 'I'm 53 and I thought I'd be the oldest here, but I'm not,' says Claire from Johnstone, accompanied by her 20-year-old daughter. 'I'm 51 and I've been doing this for years,' adds Natalie from Aberdeen. 'There's such a mix of ages and everyone's so friendly.' Natalie's niece Carla has been following Laing for years, and emphasises the inclusive community she is building, which extends to the access support at the festival. 'Sometimes, if you're sick like me, you can't go to stuff, but the accessibility team have been fantastic,' she says. 'They gave me a direct phone number if I needed anything on the day. It's all been thought out.' As well as hard dance legends such as Armin van Buuren and Lisa Lashes, Laing booked local DJs for the Highlander tent, styled after 'the bar in Ibiza where I had my first residency, which I wanted to pay homage to. For most of the DJs, it's their first ever festival.' Laing's support of the local scene will continue with the in-construction Doof Studios, a DJ workshop in Dundee that she recently crowdfunded with non-profit Turn the Tables. It's set to be a resource for up-and-coming DJs in the area, as well as people affected by homelessness, addiction and ill health. 'It's going to have loads of benefits,' she says, 'not just for people who want to DJ full-time, but for people who just need that focus.' Whether it's building a community studio or creating music for intergenerational revelling, all of Laing's work has genuine care for people at its heart: 'Being able to give back, there's no better feeling.' Into the Bounce is out now on WUGD/Polydor. Hannah Laing plays every Monday at Hï in Ibiza until 29 September, and tours Europe this summer, playing the Emerge festival, Belfast, on 23-24 August, and the Cause, London, on 19 September.
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘She's one of us!' The dizzying rise of Hannah Laing, Scottish dental nurse turned superstar doof-doof DJ
In the centre of a dancefloor in a Dundee park, a group of athleisure-clad teens are dancing to a Crazy Frog remix with a middle-aged couple wearing head-to-toe smiley face print. They're in a re-creation of the Highlander, a Scottish bar in Ibiza, complete with Saltire flags and Buckfast cocktails. Across the park, a crowd of thousands are hanging on for the drop in Ultrabeat's Pretty Green Eyes as played by trance icon Judge Jules. It may be late afternoon in Dundee, but the vibe is pure late-night riviera hedonism. This is last weekend's Doof in the Park festival, curated by Hannah Laing in her home town. From Manchester to Ibiza, Amsterdam to Tokyo, the Scottish DJ and producer has brought her sets of hard house, trance and techno to every big club scene in the world, but the festival 'had to be at home', she says two days before it begins, fresh off a plane from Ibiza. 'In Scotland, we're lucky to have crazy crowds. The atmosphere here always hits different.' While hard dance is often derided or ignored in the media and polite society, Laing's music – insistent, almost aggressively euphoric – has a large and committed following: 2.7 million people listen to her each month on Spotify and Doof in the Park sold out its 15,000 tickets within a week. Across the festival site there are hundreds of fans in merch from her Doof record label, as well as bootleg efforts including handmade Doof earrings and customised Uniqlo crossbody bags; one man has 'Doof' shaved into the side of his head. Laing wryly describes her rise as '10 years of overnight success'. Even after landing her first Ibiza residency in 2014, she was juggling DJing with her day job as a dental nurse. 'I was playing at the weekend then going straight to work on a Monday,' she remembers. 'There came a point when I was doing interviews with the BBC in my surgery. I was getting a lot of gigs but still doing lots for free, and I never thought I could make a living from it.' She eventually quit her job in 2022, after a breakthrough set at Creamfields. 'I was on first on Sunday at 2pm and didn't know if anyone would show up, but there were over 10,000 people there and tons of Scottish flags,' she says. 'I'd been building up this reputation in Scotland, and when I got that big opportunity, everyone came out to support me.' 'She's one of us,' says Lisa, who has travelled to the Doof in the Park from Aberdeen with her friend Shona. Like Laing, Lisa is in her early 30s and grew up going to raves. 'She's been brought up like us. She's a normal girl who's done well for herself.' In 2024, Laing launched her label, named after the 'doof doof' rhythm of her music. This summer, she's playing a residency at one of Ibiza's most sought-after clubs, Hï, and releasing her techno-influenced Into the Bounce EP. She credits her taste – 'hard house, trance, music that really makes me feel something' – to her parents, 90s ravers whose generation make up a significant part of her audience. 'It's a great feeling when people who properly know their stuff come and say: 'You got me out of retirement!'' she says. 'Also when my mum comes to see me, she doesn't feel old.' This is very much the case at Doof in the Park. 'I'm 53 and I thought I'd be the oldest here, but I'm not,' says Claire from Johnstone, accompanied by her 20-year-old daughter. 'I'm 51 and I've been doing this for years,' adds Natalie from Aberdeen. 'There's such a mix of ages and everyone's so friendly.' Natalie's niece Carla has been following Laing for years, and emphasises the inclusive community she is building, which extends to the access support at the festival. 'Sometimes, if you're sick like me, you can't go to stuff, but the accessibility team have been fantastic,' she says. 'They gave me a direct phone number if I needed anything on the day. It's all been thought out.' As well as hard dance legends such as Armin van Buuren and Lisa Lashes, Laing booked local DJs for the Highlander tent, styled after 'the bar in Ibiza where I had my first residency, which I wanted to pay homage to. For most of the DJs, it's their first ever festival.' Laing's support of the local scene will continue with the in-construction Doof Studios, a DJ workshop in Dundee that she recently crowdfunded with non-profit Turn the Tables. It's set to be a resource for up-and-coming DJs in the area, as well as people affected by homelessness, addiction and ill health. 'It's going to have loads of benefits,' she says, 'not just for people who want to DJ full-time, but for people who just need that focus.' Whether it's building a community studio or creating music for intergenerational revelling, all of Laing's work has genuine care for people at its heart: 'Being able to give back, there's no better feeling.' Into the Bounce is out now on WUGD/Polydor. Hannah Laing plays every Monday at Hï in Ibiza until 29 September, and tours Europe this summer, playing the Emerge festival, Belfast, on 23-24 August, and the Cause, London, on 19 September.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hannah Laing: Organiser, headliner and sold-out star of debut Doof festival
DJ and producer Hannah Laing is fulfilling a dream of bringing her own festival to her home city this weekend. Doof in the Park is her debut one-day event at Camperdown Park in Dundee on Saturday. All 15,000 tickets for the gig sold out within a week, before any other artists were announced, showing just how popular the 30-year-old has become. Hannah, who began DJing as a teenager in local bars and clubs, said the event was the biggest project she had taken on to date. "I've put a lot of pressure on myself and given myself a lot more work," she told BBC Scotland News. "But it just matters to me so much. I've been heavily involved in every aspect of the organisation and I just want it to be a great experience for people." Hannah gained widespread attention after the Covid pandemic with her edit of the early 2000s pop track Murder on the Dancefloor, which went viral on social media. Her profile quickly grew, and in 2023, her track Good Love, a collaboration with vocalist RoRo, reached the UK top 10 and was certified platinum. Since then, she has performed at major festivals including Glastonbury, Creamfields, TRNSMT and Parklife, and began a residency at Ibiza's legendary HI club earlier this year. Despite her success, it was only a few years ago she was still working full-time as a dental nurse, never imagining she'd one day be running a festival in her home city. "I don't even think it has hit me yet," she said ahead of the gig. "When I was working as a dental nurse, it was always just a hobby at weekends and, of course, I would have loved it to be my career. "Never did I think it would go this far, but I'm so happy it has, and no more teeth!" Doof in the Park will feature three stages, each reflecting Hannah's style and the spirit of her brand, Doof, named after the heavy beats of her musical sound. The main stage will be headlined by Dutch trance legend Armin van Buuren, alongside former Radio 1 DJ, Judge Jules. "I'm totally inspired by that 90s sound, and that really reflects my DJ sets and my production," she said. "That's why I wanted to put those artists on the main stage, because that's the sound I truly love." The second stage will feature newer artists such as Charlie Sparks and Jezza & Jod. Theirs is a style Hannah regularly plays, and she recently collaborated with Sparks on a track from her upcoming Into The Bounce EP. Scottish talent is also front and centre, with the third stage spotlighting local names including Billy Morris and Paul Findlay. "Stage three is The Highlander stage," Hannah said. "I did my residency in The Highlander in Ibiza and I just wanted to pay my respects to that because that's where my journey began. "I wanted to put the local Dundee DJs on that stage and give them that good experience I used to have at The Highlander." Hannah believes the range of music across the three stages will attract a broad crowd. "I knew when I announced a festival for Dundee there would be so many older people who would come, as well as the younger ones," she said. "So I really wanted to have something for everybody." Camperdown Park has hosted major music events before, including Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2023 and Carnival 56 in 2017. Both attracted large crowds and Hannah played at both. Now, she returns as the organiser and headliner of her own sold out festival and she said it felt like a full circle moment. "It's surreal," she said. "I know it's such a good spot for a festival, and it's ten minutes from my house." For Hannah, holding the event in Dundee was never in question. "There's a major gap here," she said. "We don't have anything like it. "People who are into dance music here usually need to travel, so I wanted to bring something new and fresh to people's doorstep." Hannah says supporting the local economy has been central to her plans and has tried to keep everything as local as possible - from the traders to security staff. She also hopes the event will help impact local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and beauty salons. "With everything that it brings, it's great for our wee city." Although Doof in the Park is a debut event, Hannah is already thinking long term. "This is definitely something I'd like to do yearly," she says, "I'd love that." "It's so good for Dundee."
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
DJ Hannah Laing organises, headlines and sells out debut Doof festival
DJ and producer Hannah Laing is fulfilling a dream of bringing her own festival to her home city this in the Park is her debut one-day event at Camperdown Park in Dundee on 15,000 tickets for the gig sold out within a week, before any other artists were announced, showing just how popular the 30-year-old has who began DJing as a teenager in local bars and clubs, said the event was the biggest project she had taken on to date."I've put a lot of pressure on myself and given myself a lot more work," she told BBC Scotland News."But it just matters to me so much. I've been heavily involved in every aspect of the organisation and I just want it to be a great experience for people." Hannah gained widespread attention after the Covid pandemic with her edit of the early 2000s pop track Murder on the Dancefloor, which went viral on social profile quickly grew, and in 2023, her track Good Love, a collaboration with vocalist RoRo, reached the UK top 10 and was certified then, she has performed at major festivals including Glastonbury, Creamfields, TRNSMT and Parklife, and began a residency at Ibiza's legendary HI club earlier this her success, it was only a few years ago she was still working full-time as a dental nurse, never imagining she'd one day be running a festival in her home city."I don't even think it has hit me yet," she said ahead of the gig."When I was working as a dental nurse, it was always just a hobby at weekends and, of course, I would have loved it to be my career. "Never did I think it would go this far, but I'm so happy it has, and no more teeth!" Doof in the Park will feature three stages, each reflecting Hannah's style and the spirit of her brand, Doof, named after the heavy beats of her musical main stage will be headlined by Dutch trance legend Armin van Buuren, alongside former Radio 1 DJ, Judge Jules."I'm totally inspired by that 90s sound, and that really reflects my DJ sets and my production," she said."That's why I wanted to put those artists on the main stage, because that's the sound I truly love."The second stage will feature newer artists such as Charlie Sparks and Ø is a style Hannah regularly plays, and she recently collaborated with Sparks on a track from her upcoming Into The Bounce talent is also front and centre, with the third stage spotlighting local names including Billy Morris and Paul Findlay."Stage three is The Highlander stage," Hannah said."I did my residency in The Highlander in Ibiza and I just wanted to pay my respects to that because that's where my journey began."I wanted to put the local Dundee DJs on that stage and give them that good experience I used to have at The Highlander."Hannah believes the range of music across the three stages will attract a broad crowd."I knew when I announced a festival for Dundee there would be so many older people who would come, as well as the younger ones," she said."So I really wanted to have something for everybody." Camperdown Park has hosted major music events before, including Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2023 and Carnival 56 in attracted large crowds and Hannah played at she returns as the organiser and headliner of her own sold out festival and she said it felt like a full circle moment."It's surreal," she said."I know it's such a good spot for a festival, and it's ten minutes from my house."For Hannah, holding the event in Dundee was never in question."There's a major gap here," she said. "We don't have anything like it."People who are into dance music here usually need to travel, so I wanted to bring something new and fresh to people's doorstep."Hannah says supporting the local economy has been central to her plans and has tried to keep everything as local as possible - from the traders to security also hopes the event will help impact local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and beauty salons."With everything that it brings, it's great for our wee city."Although Doof in the Park is a debut event, Hannah is already thinking long term."This is definitely something I'd like to do yearly," she says, "I'd love that.""It's so good for Dundee."
Scottish Sun
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Top Scots DJ reveals heartbreaking loss but vows to play huge music festival
Emotional Hannah Laing paid tribute to the best pal who's been by her side since she was a kid Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SUPERSTAR Scots DJ revealed she's been hit by heartbreak on the eve of the biggest gig of her life. Hannah Laing told how she unexpectedly lost her best pal and 'sister' Ellie Scanlan days before she's set to headline her own music festival. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 DJ Hannah Laing with her arm around tragic best friend Ellie Scanlan Credit: Facebook/Hannah Laing 3 Hannah Laing has become one of the biggest DJs in the world Credit: Facebook/Hannah Laing 3 Hannah Laing paid tribute to her tragic best friend as she prepares for her huge hometown gig Credit: Facebook/Hannah Laing The former dental nurse has convinced some of the biggest DJs on the planet to perform in her hometown of Dundee at her Doof in the Park event this weekend. Ellie would have been one of her VIPs and has been by her side as her fame has exploded. But Hannah revealed she won't be cancelling and in an emotional tribute she vowed to play on in memory of her tragic friend. Hannah said: 'I write this with a broken heart. It doesn't feel real. "My best mate is gone and now a piece of me too. Words can't comprehend it. 'You weren't just my friend, you were my sister. Everyone would always comment on how our personalities were so similar. 'You were of course supposed to be coming to Doof in the Park on Saturday. I know you would want me to power on. This one is for you. 'Love you always Ellie. Rest in peace my sister. I'll carry you with me forever.' Hannah, 30, was a DJ on the side in local pubs and clubs as she worked full-time in a dentist's surgery before her hobby took over. She's now one of the biggest DJ's in the world and jets around the globe to play sold-out gigs. We just tied the knot at Glastonbury in front of 500 strangers - I wore a £27 Shein dress & we saved £20K on the DJ too This year she got a residency at exclusive Ibiza club HI, and is one of the first females to get the top gig. But she's always wanted to do something in Dundee and set about creating Doof in the Park, at the city's Camperdown Park. Big names including Armin Van Buren and Judge Jules, among many others, will take to the three stages on Saturday. The 15,000 tickets sold out within a week. Proud Hannah has been involved in every aspect of the festival, from the toilets down to the food trucks. Her parents, grandparents and friends will be with her as she plays for her hometown crowd. But she opened up to fans and told how her plans have taken an unexpected knock after Ellie's death. Hannah said the pair had been inseparable over the years. Hannah added: 'We went through every stage of life together. You were at my first ever gig. 'You always had my back - loyal to the core. I'll cherish those mischievous memories for the rest of my life. 'I'll miss your kindness, your craziness and your wild stories. You were the funniest, wittiest person I have ever met. Your charisma was f*****g infectious.' Gill Young runs street food diner The Shack in Dundee and is heading to Doof in the Park after being invited by Hannah. She called on fans to rally behind the DJ and help pay tribute to Ellie. Gill said: 'Two kids who have grown up so close they became sisters. "They've been through it all together, supporting each other all the way. 'This Saturday, Hannah has the biggest night of her life and to not have Ellie there is going to be so heartbreaking, 'But Dundee we are gonna be there. And for these twa wee legends who have fought so hard in this life and to be parted at this point we will chant their names so loud they will hear us in ibiza. 'We always come together with love and positive vibes. We are famous for it.'
