Nearly 50 artists set to take to the stage at Aberdeen's Cultivate Festival

One of the biggest names in electronic dance music is set to take to the stage at Aberdeen's Cultivate festival this weekend.

Chart topping duo Chase & Status will be playing the main stage on the first day of the two-day festival.

The event is now in its sixth edition but this year promises to be a brand new experience unique to Aberdeen "built from the ground up" at a new site.

Since the festival's inception in 2018, events have occupied the current Innoflate building at Aberdeen beach.

However, having outgrown this venue co-organisers Scott Forrest and Rory Masson said they hope to reach new heights with three new stages taking over Beach Links.

The site has a capacity of 3,000 and it's hoped big names like Chase & Status, Ben Hemsley, Kettama and Effy will draw in the crowds.

Local talent focus

As well as bringing international talents to Aberdeen's shoreline, a wealth of local talent will be waving the flag for the North East.

Including 19-year-old Kiki from Aberdeen who learned how to DJ just two years ago and immediately made an impact on the city's music scene.

Speaking about how she's feeling ahead of her performance, she said "It's quite scary but it's quite exciting at the same time.

"This is something I've looked forward to for months since I got the message through.

"This is my first festival that I've played at so it makes it even more special for me. Being very young on the scene and the things that I've done, it's all led up to this."

Ronnie Pacitti first burst onto the Aberdeen music scene in 2010 and since then his career has taken him to Ibiza Rocks, Berlin's Watergate club, and Gothernburg.

His recent remix of Casso and Raye's hit song 'Prada' has climbed to a massive four million streams.

The DJ explained playing in his home city is always special and having an event of this scale on his doorstep is a great way to put Aberdeen on the map: "It's such a big deal. Aberdeen's kind of out of the way in terms of the central Glasgow and Edinburgh so to have an event like this in Aberdeen - it brings a lot to the city."

When asked how he was feeling about playing on the same line up as Chase & Status, he said: "It's the dream, isn't it?

"I've been DJing and producing music for a long time so, when you are on a big event like this with big names like that, it's what you work towards.

"I feel like I am achieving my dreams."

Ronnie's love for music is heavily influenced by his dad, who used to own a record shop on Diamond Street.

He even remembers when the award-winning DJ legend Carl Cox popped into the shop in the early 90s.

Cultivate will host nearly 50 acts over the weekend spanning across the Big Top Main Stage, the Container Stage and the Disco Defender.

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