DJ and producer Hannah Laing has cancelled her Doof in the Park festival scheduled for 3 July 2027 in Dundee, citing lost planning time due to unresolved behind-the-scenes issues.
Laing announced the cancellation in a social media video, describing the decision as "heartbreaking". The festival has been held at Camperdown Park for the last two years, with the most recent edition attracting 17,000 people.
Laing said that while she and her team had spent recent weeks "working day and night, trying absolutely everything we possibly could to make it work", they had lost "a huge amount of valuable planning time" because issues needed to be resolved before they could move forward. She said the team had "reached a point where we just do not have enough time left to deliver the festival to the standard that you all know from Doof".
In the video, Laing said she was "so gutted" by the cancellation, adding: "And it makes it even harder knowing how many of you had already bought tickets and how well the festival was selling again." She said all ticket holders would receive a full refund.
Laing first gained attention with a viral edit of the early 2000s song Murder on the Dancefloor. Her 2023 track Good Love, a collaboration with vocalist RoRo, reached the UK top 10 and was certified platinum. She has performed at festivals including Glastonbury, Creamfields, TRNSMT and Parklife, and held a residency at Ibiza's HI club.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The cancellation affects thousands of festival-goers in Dundee who had already bought tickets for the 2027 event.
- Doof in the Park had grown into a significant local music event, drawing 17,000 people to Camperdown Park, and its absence will be felt in the city's cultural calendar.
- The decision highlights the logistical pressures on independent festival organisers, who often face tight planning windows and behind-the-scenes hurdles.
Background
Hannah Laing is a Scottish DJ and producer who launched Doof in the Park in Dundee in 2024. The festival quickly became a major local event, selling out its debut edition with Laing as both organiser and headliner. The 2026 event drew 17,000 attendees. Laing first gained widespread attention with a viral edit of the song Murder on the Dancefloor, and her 2023 single Good Love reached the UK top 10.
Key Perspectives
Hannah Laing: Said the cancellation was "heartbreaking" and that lost planning time meant her team could not "rush something just for the sake of making it happen" or deliver a festival to the standard attendees expect. She expressed gratitude to the Doof community and confirmed full refunds would be issued for tickets already sold.
What to Watch
- Whether Laing announces a return of Doof in the Park for 2028 or a new event in Dundee.
- How ticket refunds are handled and whether any backlash or legal issues arise from the cancellation.
- The impact on Dundee's summer events calendar, which had included the festival as a major attraction.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHannah Laing cancelled the 2027 Doof in the Park festival in Dundee.BBC Scotland: “DJ Hannah Laing makes 'heartbreaking' decision to cancel 2027 Doof in the Park.”
- SupportedThe festival was scheduled for 3 July 2027.BBC Scotland: “The festival had been set to take place on 3 July next year.”
- SupportedLaing attributed the cancellation to unresolved behind-the-scenes issues that cost planning time.BBC Scotland: “Laing said "valuable planning time" had been lost due to "behind the scenes" issues that needed to be resolved.”
- SupportedLaing described the decision as “heartbreaking”.STV News: “Taking to social media, the 32-year-old said it was a “heartbreaking decision” to cancel the festival”
- SupportedLaing said she and her team had spent recent weeks “working day and night, trying absolutely everything we possibly could to make it work”.BBC Scotland: “Laing said she and her team had spent the last few weeks "working day and night, trying absolutely everything we possibly could to make it work."”
- SupportedLaing said they had lost “a huge amount of valuable planning time”.BBC Scotland: “we've lost a huge amount of valuable planning time.”
- SupportedLaing said they did not have enough time to deliver the festival to the expected standard.BBC Scotland: “we've now reached a point where we just do not have enough time left to deliver the festival to the standard that you all know from Doof”
- SupportedLaing said she was “so gutted” by the cancellation.BBC Scotland: “In a video posted to her social media, Laing said she was "so gutted" at the decision to cancel the festival.”
- SupportedLaing said it was harder because many people had bought tickets and the festival was selling well again.BBC Scotland: “And it makes it even harder knowing how many of you had already bought tickets and how well the festival was selling again.”
- SupportedThe festival has run at Camperdown Park for the last two years.BBC Scotland: “The event has run in the city's Camperdown Park for the last two years”
- SupportedThe latest edition attracted 17,000 people.BBC Scotland: “with the latest event attracting 17,000 people.”
- SupportedLaing said all ticket holders would receive a full refund.BBC Scotland: “Laing added that everyone who had bought a ticket for the event would receive a full refund.”