K.A.D - The Belfast DJ living her festival dream

K. A. D, a talented DJ from Belfast, is set to perform at the Emerge festival, a highly anticipated music event taking place at Boucher Playing Fields in 2024. With her long black hair and stylish black leather jacket, K. A. D is excited to be part of a lineup that includes some of the biggest names in electronic and dance music. The festival is expected to draw around 70,000 fans, all eager to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and incredible performances. K. A. D will be opening one of the stages on Saturday, sharing the spotlight with over 80 other artists, including renowned performers like Peggy Gou and Patrick Topping. As the festival approaches, the police have issued reminders to attendees and those dropping them off that it is not permitted to exit vehicles while waiting in traffic on the M1 motorway. They emphasized that the hard shoulder is not a safe area for pedestrians and that walking along the motorway is against the law. K. A. D, whose real name is Kerryann Denny, is 28 years old and began her journey as a DJ three years ago. Her boyfriend gifted her a set of DJ decks for Christmas, sparking her passion for music. Reflecting on her early days, K. A. D admitted, 'There wasn’t that much female talent going around so it was embarrassing at the start. ' However, her love for music and festivals has always been a driving force in her life. She fondly recalls her mother joking that she would dance to anything, even the sound of two spoons clashing together. K. A. D's family and friends are her biggest supporters, cheering her on from the sidelines. While her parents prefer to watch her performances through videos, they still show their love and encouragement. Three years ago, K. A. D attended Emerge as a fan, and her friends predicted that she would one day be on stage herself. Now, she is living that dream, having performed at the festival last year to a crowd of about 7,000 people in a large tent called Shine. She described the experience as 'surreal' and expressed her excitement about playing for the Belfast crowd again. Although she is keeping her setlist a secret, K. A. D promises a high-energy performance that will get everyone dancing. She encourages aspiring DJs to ignore the opinions of others and to pursue their dreams, stating, 'Don’t care what people think because look where I am standing now. ' K. A. D believes that her hard work and positive mindset have played a significant role in her success. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue growing in her career and aims to perform on an even bigger stage next year. Joe Dougan, the organizer of Emerge, has been working tirelessly to plan this year's festival for about a year and a half. He explained that organizing such a large event involves a lot of coordination, including sound, lighting, and special effects like fireworks. Joe noted that Belfast has a unique dance music scene, with a strong preference for both tougher techno and more mainstream sounds. This year, the festival will feature new and international acts that have never performed in Belfast before, adding to the excitement. Joe is thrilled about the improvements made to the festival experience compared to last year, stating, 'The experience for the audience is way better than last year in my view. ' He encourages festival-goers to explore all the performances and to plan their schedules, as there will be many overlapping shows. With over 70,000 attendees expected, the festival promises to be a memorable experience for everyone involved. Attendees can reach Boucher Playing Fields through various means, including public transport, walking, driving, or taking a taxi. The police have reiterated that it is illegal to walk on the hard shoulder of the motorway and that traffic restrictions will be in place around the festival area. Additionally, the festival is strictly for individuals aged 16 and older, and IDs will be checked at the entrance to ensure compliance.