Category: 5. Entertainment

At just 12 years old, DJ Fionn says he is more than ready to perform at one of Northern Ireland’s biggest independent music and arts festivals.

Fionn O’Kane’s passion for DJing began at just two years old after his dad gave him his first set of decks.

The young musician has already turned heads with his talent on the turntables in his hometown of Limavady, and is now preparing for his biggest gig to date.

He is on the line-up at this year’s Stendhal Festival in County Londonderry, joining The Lightning Seeds, Brit Award–winning singer-songwriter Kate Nash, Joshua Burnside, and one of Fionn’s DJ idols, Mark McCabe.

“My dad has always done a bit of DJing, so I grew up with it, and I used to watch YouTube videos of DJs when I was younger, and that’s where it just started for me,” Fionn told BBC News NI.

“Like my dad, I like all sorts of music, a bit of everything, but mostly I like to listen to things like house and techno and that’s the genre of music I play.”

Fionn said one of his first “official gigs” was at Termoncanice Primary School when he performed at his school assembly hall as part of a Christmas event in front of all his classmates and teachers.

He said performing at Stendhal will be his biggest performance yet and he cannot wait to take to the stage in front of a large crowd.

“I have most of the set finished already, I am just tweaking the last few things for it,” he said with a big smile.

Fionn said that he and his family always loved going to Stendhal, and being on the billing was a real “pinch yourself” moment.

After coming across an advert on social media, the 12-year-old put his name forward to be a part of the festival line-up

“I applied more in hope than anything else,” he admitted.

And he only told his parents, Andy and Kerry O’Kane, after he had submitted the application.

Fionn said they are incredibly supportive of his DJing, provided it doesn’t interfere with his schoolwork.

As well as being very excited to perform his own set, he is also really looking forward to seeing Irish DJ and producer Mark McCabe take to the Stendahl stage.

“I really like his music, especially Maniac 2000, it’s a massive tune.”

Now in its 15th year, Stendhal Festival, is an annual event featuring music, comedy, dance, poetry, workshops and family-friendly fun.

Its name is a reference to Stendhal syndrome – a psychological condition resulting in dizziness experienced by people exposed to things of great beauty.

The festival, which runs from 4 to 6 July, is taking place at Ballymully Cottage Farm in Roe Valley, outside Limavady.

The festival bill this year also includes comedian Ed Byrne, country singer Lisa McHugh, and electronic group The Orb .

DJ Fionn will be performing on Friday 4 July on the Woolly Woodland stage, and you can see a full line-up of all the acts performing at this year’s Stendhal Festival here.

A number of BBC Radio Ulster programmes will be broadcasting from the festival, including a special programme with Vinny and Cate, Your Place and Mine with Eve Blair, and Sunday with Anna Curran.

While Black Sabbath are claiming the headlines ahead of their final show, another Birmingham music icon, Jeff Lynne, is also preparing to make his farewell appearance in the city.

Lynne’s reformed ELO group will perform at the Utilita Arena on Saturday – in direct clash with the Sabbath extravaganza – and Sunday, as part of a final tour that will conclude in London’s Hyde Park.

The tour has been described as a “final goodbye” from the band, which was founded in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne and keyboardist Roy Wood.

Ann Gumery, from Solihull, who is going to watch the band with her husband, said the attention on ELO and Black Sabbath was good for the city’s profile.

She is a big fan of ELO’s music and said: “When I saw it was their last tour, you’ve got to go haven’t you.”

Ms Gumery also said there may be a few tears and with Black Sabbath playing too, “it’s going to be crazy”.

Edward Hynes, 46, who lives near Shard End, where Lynne grew up, described ELO as “iconic”.

He said the band’s famous “Mr Blue Sky” was just “one of them songs” and always gave him “good vibes”.

“It reminds me a bit of when I was a kid driving around with my dad in his car,” Mr Hynes added.

Responding to suggestions there could be a statue of Lynne in the Shard End area, he said: “It would be good to have that shown in the area.”

Steve, who also lives in the area said “it’s all Black Sabbath at the moment,” but he also approved of the idea of a statue for Lynne.

After their appearances in Birmingham, Jeff Lynne’s ELO travel to Manchester, before their final tour gig at Hyde Park on 13 July.

Lynne said it would be significant because Hyde Park was the first place he played with the band when they reformed in 2014.

A beautician’s work referring clients to get checked for skin cancer has been praised by islanders.

Jennifer Merrett was having an appointment when Racheal Day, owner of The Day Salon, suggested she get her skin checked.

Ms Merrett said she “didn’t for one for a moment think it would be skin cancer”.

Ms Day, who has undergone training in spotting skin abnormalities, said it was “really important for people to get early diagnosis if they have got something wrong”.

Ms Day said everyone in her salon had done further advanced training with Skcin, a UK charity which helps people who work with skin recognise any abnormalities on their clients.

“We see people regularly so we do notice any changes in their skin and we’ve had a few clients… that we’ve referred and there has been something wrong with them,” she said.

“It’s an honour to be able to help them.”

After visiting a GP, Ms Merrett had a biopsy and the cancer was cut out.

“I respect Racheal, she saw something and next time I went to the GP… I remembered the conversation.

“I just thought it was was an injection site and it was a reaction from my skin to an injection over a period of time.”

Terry Naftel was having a waxing treatment when Ms Day recognised an irregular mole on his back.

He got the all-clear but he said her work could be life-saving for others.

“It’s an additional service that could be saving lives and it’s free really because all you’re doing is paying for the treatment,” he said.

This story is part of BBC Guernsey’s Sun Safety Campaign.

Glastonbury may be over but festival season in many parts of the Midlands is just swinging into action – and many events are free.

While Birmingham faces a stampede of thousands this weekend to watch Black Sabbath’s final gig, test cricket at Edgbaston or Jeff Lynne’s ELO, there are plenty of other celebrations taking place where people can simply turn up and enjoy the fun.

From Pride to poetry, here are some free events happening in the region on Saturday and Sunday.

CocoMAD is a free, family-friendly festival held in Cotteridge Park, Birmingham.

Established in 1997, it is run mostly by volunteers and funded through local business sponsorships, traders, grants and donations.

It starts at 12:00 BST on Saturday, with an array of activities from live music by jazz, funk and ska soul band, Bostin Brass, to micro-circus immersive musicals.

SwingFit classes, involving, dancing, singing and playing instruments, will also be held from 13:00 to 17:00.

There is no parking on site, but you can cycle, walk or use public transport to get there.

Kings Heath becomes Queens Heath for the day as the Birmingham suburb’s Pride event returns to York Road on Sunday.

It is the fifth annual event, which began in 2021 as anti-LGBTQIA+ protests were held outside Birmingham schools.

Each year, the festivities begin with a Pride march, before performers – many in glittering, elaborate costumes – take to a stage outside the Hare and Hounds.

Thousands of people turn out, decked in bright colours and glitter – and comedian and local resident Joe Lycett, one of the organisers, is usually among the crowds.

Birmingham artisan markets will be there with stallholders selling merch, ceramics and other wares.

There will also be family activities and a youth cafe in the nearby community centre.

Oswestry Food Festival is held on Saturday and Sunday.

Dozens of exhibitors will be on hand, selling everything from cheese to doughnuts, spirits to Italian food.

The town’s award-winning market will also be open, as well as regular street traders.

There will also be live music and entertainment.

Also in the area are a family fun day in Cae Glas Park on Saturday, and reggae in the park on Sunday.

Saturday will see the official launch of the Biddulph Festival 2025, held in Biddulph, Staffordshire.

An annual community festival that began in 1997, with this year’s theme being space.

There will be a launch parade, followed by “Biddulph by the Sea”, which brings seaside fun to the streets.

It will include a fun fair, stalls, and opening speeches.

The Great Malvern Food Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

It is the popular event’s 15th year and is held in Priory Park, Malvern, from 10:00 to 17:00 BST on Saturday and 10:00 to 16:00 BST on Sunday.

On offer will be local produce, market stalls and street food vendors.

There will also be a bar, live music and street performances in the bandstand.

Sunday is the final day of Ledbury Poetry Festival – and will see the Ledbury Celebration held from 11:00 to 16:00 BST.

It will also include an outdoor market and street food to St Katherine’s, just off the High Street.

Stallholders will show off a range of food, from pizza and organic vegetables, to Ukrainian-style food and Afghan food.

Entertainment will begin at 12:00 BST, and will include “al fresco” poetry and local musicians.

Wolverhampton Arts Festival takes place on both Saturday and Sunday, held on the ground floor of the Mander Centre.

The event, in its third year, starts at 10:00 on Saturday and 11:00 BST on Sunday.

Free to attend, it will feature work by local artists, crafts and stalls, as well as a display of work by young artists.

There will also be live music and performances.

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.”