12-Year-Old DJ Set to Electrify Stendhal Festival
At just 12 years old, **DJ Fionn**, is set to make waves at one of Northern Ireland’s premier independent music and arts festivals. The young talent is ready to captivate audiences with his passion for music.
Early Start, Big Dreams
**Fionn O’Kane’s** journey into the world of DJing began at the tender age of two, sparked by his father’s gift of his first set of decks. Now, after honing his skills in his hometown of Limavady, he’s gearing up for his biggest gig yet. One of his first performances took place at Termoncanice Primary School for a Christmas event.
Stendhal Festival Debut
He is scheduled to perform at this year’s Stendhal Festival in County Londonderry. He will share the stage with renowned artists such as **The Lightning Seeds**, Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter **Kate Nash**, **Joshua Burnside**, and one of **Fionn’s** own idols, **Mark McCabe**. The festival, now in its 15th year, expects over 30,000 attendees this year (Stendhal Festival Official Website).
“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.
He added, “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.”
A “Pinch Yourself” Moment
**Fionn** said that he and his family have always loved going to Stendhal. Being on the billing was a real “pinch yourself”
moment. He excitedly revealed, “I have most of the set finished already, I am just tweaking the last few things for it.”
Secret Application, Supportive Parents
After spotting an advertisement on social media, the ambitious 12-year-old decided to apply for a spot in the festival’s lineup. “I applied more in hope than anything else,”
he admitted.
He waited until after submitting his application to tell his parents, **Andy** and **Kerry O’Kane**. According to **Fionn**, they are incredibly supportive of his DJing, with the caveat that it doesn’t interfere with his schoolwork.
All About Stendhal
Stendhal Festival takes its name from Stendhal syndrome, a psychological condition where individuals experience dizziness when exposed to great beauty. The festival, taking place at Ballymully Cottage Farm in Roe Valley, outside Limavady, promises a diverse range of entertainment from July 4th to 6th.
Attendees can look forward to performances by comedian **Ed Byrne**, country singer **Lisa McHugh**, and electronic group **The Orb**. **DJ Fionn** will be performing on Friday, July 4th, on the Woolly Woodland stage. 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**.
