News

Wizard Festival Announces DJ Competition Winners

• 23rd Aug 2010

A Scotland-wide hunt for new DJ talent by Wizard Festival organisers has revealed some of the country’s best up and coming talent.

More than 50 DJs from all over Scotland submitted demo recordings to organisers in a bid to secure a slot at this year’s event.

DJ’s from Perth, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen made it through to a “play off” held at Aberdeen based nightclub Snafu last week where they battled it out for a chance to play at the North east’s only two day music festival.

However two young DJ’s from Cove Bay were unable to take part in the Snafu evening as they were too young to gain entry to the club. Sixteen year old Dj duo Jamie Ferguson and Ryan Collie aka Fiction, so impressed Wizard festival organisers with their demo submission that when judges found out they were too young to take part in the finals gave them a slot on the spot.

The budding Djs impressed judges with their enthusiasm and mature attitude to making music and their competition entry mix was deemed as one of the best that judges had heard.

Earlier this year Jamie and Ryan attended the Kincorth Music Project, where they had the chance to meet local and international Dj legend A LA FU (VaVa Records). He encouraged the youngsters to carry on Djing and gave them some useful tips on how to get ahead in the notoriously competitive world of Djing.

Jamie commented “I can't stress how much of an amazing resource the project is for young musicians like us. It gives any young person in Aberdeen the chance to get into music, get tips from experienced professionals like A LA FU, access great equipment and is a very unique and rare opportunity to make vital contacts which can be very useful for acts trying to take those first steps into the music scene, as was the case with us. The last time I attended the music project, I noticed a drop in numbers and that funding had been reducing. It would be a great shame if the project was to stop due to lack of funding or numbers and young people lose out as a result.”
Fiction will play at Wizard on Friday August 27th in their first ever festival appearance.

Other up and coming Djs that have won the chance to play at Wizard this year include Jordan Wyness aka Van Damn from Dundee, Kev Reid and Andy Buchan, from Aberdeen, Paul McQueen aka PMcQ from Glasgow, Stephen Johnstone aka Bageera from Perth, Lee Fyvie aka Fyvie from Aberdeen and Chris Williams and Hamish Louttit aka Dirty Basement from Glasgow.
Paul McQueen aka PMcQ is excited at the prospect of playing Wizard. He said:

“I’m really looking forward to playing at Wizard Festival. It sounds really interesting, with a unique festival line up of bands and Djs. The sound system and lighting rigs from last year look incredible. What I think is really great about Wizard and the Snafu stage is the way in which the event is bringing Djs and promoters from across Scotland together for the first time. There's no other festival that's done this, it's a great way for likeminded people to get together, doing what we love.”

Considered to be the hidden gems of Scotland’s Dj talent all of the acts will now share the stage with established Dj’s such as Glasgow duo Slam and renowned international act Caged Baby.

Roy Thain, Wizard festival organiser said:
“We are really excited to have unearthed such a talented bunch of Scottish DJ’s in our search for up and coming acts. It was difficult to select the best acts as all the entries were of such a high standard. We are delighted that we can offer slots to Djs from across Scotland in the hope that it helps the acts to gain more exposure and get their careers off the ground”.

Wizard Festival takes place this week on August 27 and 28.

For a full line up of all the acts please go to the website: link