Inverness indoor event Puls8 can begin ‘new era’ for Highland dance scene, says award-winning label owner

A Highland DJ turned internationally renowned label owner has hailed a new event in Inverness as the beginning of a “new era” for the Highland dance scene.

On Saturday, June 7, Inverness Ice Centre will provide the venue for Puls8 – an event its promoters believe can be the “biggest indoor dance event in Inverness history”, with the bold promise of 10 hours of “pure, pulsating energy” and a “non-stop, heart-racing rave like never before”.

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Puls8 co-promoter Phil Macdonald believes the show - the first dance event to be held at Inverness Ice Centre - has the potential to become the largest event of its kind to be held in the Highlands.

The 38-year-old, who grew up in Cromarty but now lives in Nairn, has been running Gearbox – a music label, booking agency, merchandise and events company – as a full-time operation since 2018.

In that time he has grown a “massive” international audience, bringing his brand of hardstyle dance music to venues in the Netherlands performing to capacity crowds of up to 12,500.

Achieving international recognition, he won the award for Best Hardstyle Label at the 2024 Hardstyle Awards.

Now the Black Isle native is preparing to play his part in a “new era” closer to home - giving people in the Highlands a chance to sample a large-scale dance event without having to travel.

Teaming up with Inverness promoters Drew Stacy and Ross Mackay, Mr Macdonald is throwing his ‘hardstyle’ weight behind an event that he believes can “showcase the city”.

He said: “Puls8 creates a fantastic opportunity for people from other cities to travel to Inverness and experience the beauty of the city while tying it in with a fantastic event.

“Inverness has really needed this kind of size of event after losing the Ironworks, OutDores and the Groove Festival.

“Inverness Ice Centre is the perfect option for us to offer something of a decent scale, allowing us to book bigger names.

“Gordon Barron, the owner, has shown a lot of ambition with it, making it a good, proper venue for Inverness.”

Mr Macdonald has seen his whirlwind journey as a dance promoter take him everywhere but home during his 16 years in the industry – something that Puls8 is about to change.

“I’ve always held a small sense of regret that I have been unable to do anything locally,” he explains.

“So, I was very glad when Drew Stacy from 2nd Face contacted me about the project that he and Ross Mackay from Upstairs were looking to organise.

“They wanted me to get involved in the project to bring some extra expertise to it, and I was delighted to be asked and have relished the opportunity.

“Drew has a very keen ear for what is popular and has a lot of ambition and drive so it’s great to be working with someone so passionate.”

Among the acts already slated to make an appearance are Alex Farell, Frazi.er, La La and Yasmin Gardezi - the latter three all about to make their Highlands debut.

“The line up we have for Puls8 would do extremely well in other parts of Scotland,” Mr Macdonald added. “These artists are regularly playing Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen.

“We have catered the line up to travel from house, hardgroove, techno all the way to hard techno and hardstyle.

“There will be a little bit of everything for everyone. The artists playing are exceptional acts in their field and are guaranteed to provide an unforgettable music experience.”

Tickets for Puls8 go on sale on Friday, February 28 with first-release access available via pre-registration at puls8events.com.

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