‘Soul of the party’ DJ, 38, who performed in iconic Ibiza clubs is pictured after she died at popular UK festival

A DJ who died at a popular UK’s techno music festival has been named as tributes flood in for the popular Ibiza performer. Santanna Maria Ally died at Houghton Festival, a festival in the grounds of a stately home in Norfolk on August 9. Santanna Maria Ally, 38, died at the Houghton Festival Credit: gofundme / East Anglia News Service Santanna was known for playing in some of Ibiza’s most popular nightclubs Credit: gofundme / East Anglia News Service On the last day of the festival the 38-year-old, who performed under the name Santanna Oush, was found unconscious in a tent and pronounced dead despite the efforts of the on-site medical team. An inquest which was opened today at Norfolk Coroner’s Court in Norwich heard that the provisional medical cause of her death was hanging. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The four day Houghton Festival is known for its rave-style dance and electronic music, played around the clock. It is often referred to as the UK’s poshest music festival and was attended three-years-ago by the Princess of Wales. Santanna was formally identified at the festival by her friend Amber Matheson Credit: Instagram / East Anglia News Service Santanna had lived in the north of Ibiza and performed at some of the island’s best-known venues Credit: gofundme / East Anglia News Service She was believed attend the 24-hour festival while visiting friends the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, David and Rose, who own the Norfolk estate. The yearly festival – which kicked off last Thursday – typically draws in around 10,000 people. Santanna was formally identified at the festival by her friend Amber Matheson. Her sister, Katy Ally, confirmed that Santanna was born in London on May 15, 1988, worked as a DJ and usually lived in Ibiza, Spain. Most read in The Sun Her death was initially treated by Norfolk Police as unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious. She was a well-known figure within Ibiza’s dance music community and had been DJing for more than two decades. Santanna had lived in the north of Ibiza and performed at some of the island’s best-known venues, including Pikes Ibiza and Hï Ibiza. She was also the founder of OuShe, a female-led party and movement which championed women in music and give emerging performers opportunities to play live. The DJ was also a vocalist, songwriter and radio presenter and had spoken about plans to release her own music. Tributes have poured in from friends, fellow artists, promoters and venues following her death. One fellow DJ recalled playing alongside Santanna regularly during the Covid era in Ibiza and said there was “something special” about sharing a bill with her. She said the pair loved the same music and would jokingly compete over who could play or mix a particular track first. The friend added: “Thank you for the music. Thank you for the laughs. Thank you for the memories.” Another added: “Trying to think of what to say for an update and I think even tanna would be stumped for words (most likely not) I think it hasn’t even stopped yet but the level of support I don’t think can be worded how many hearts and souls she reached across the world, from the depths that I’m not sure I can say as a family nobody can thank the support enough, in Santanna fashion and words OUSH you love me love to everyone.” A spokesperson for Houghton Festival previously said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a person has passed away at Houghton 2026. “Our thoughts are entirely with their family and loved ones at this difficult time. “We are grateful to our onsite medical team, event response team and Norfolk Constabulary, who all responded immediately. “We continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to support in any way we can with their investigations.”