19/08/2026
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‼️‼️A well-known Ibiza DJ has died after being found unconscious in a tent at a music festival in Norfolk.
Santanna Maria Ally, who performed as Santanna Oush, was discovered at Houghton Festival on Sunday 9 August. Emergency services were called to the site at Houghton Hall, near King’s Lynn, at approximately 6.10pm after concerns were raised for a woman inside a tent. Festival medics attended, but the 38-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
An inquest opened at Norfolk Coroner’s Court on Tuesday. The provisional cause of death was given as hanging. Ally was formally identified at the festival by her friend Amber Matheson. Her sister, Katy Ally, confirmed she was born on 15 May 1988, worked as a DJ and lived in Ibiza, Spain. Norfolk Police initially treated the death as unexplained and do not believe it to be suspicious.
Ally was a familiar figure in Ibiza’s electronic music scene and had been DJing for more than 20 years. Born in London, she was based in the north of the island and had played at major venues including Pikes Ibiza and Hï Ibiza. She founded OuShe, a female-led party and platform designed to promote women in music and give emerging artists opportunities to perform. The project began at Pikes around five years ago and later expanded to other venues in Ibiza, London and France. In a previous interview she described OuShe as a space to “elevate and celebrate women in music,” open to both established performers and those new to live sets. She was also a vocalist, songwriter and radio presenter and had spoken about plans to release her own material.
Tributes have come from friends, fellow DJs, promoters and venues. One colleague who regularly shared bills with her during the Covid period in Ibiza spoke of a special connection, noting their shared musical tastes and light-hearted competition over tracks. Others remembered her as a vibrant presence who could lift a dancefloor and who consistently supported women and up-and-coming artists. Several messages encouraged people to check in on friends and not to assume someone is fine simply because they appear active, social or successful.
Houghton Festival is a four-day electronic music and arts event held in the grounds of the 18th-century Houghton Hall estate. Founded by DJ Craig Richards, it has taken place there since 2017 and typically draws around 10,000 people across the 1,000-acre site, featuring DJ sets, woodland stages, art and round-the-clock music.
A festival spokesperson said organisers were deeply saddened and that their thoughts were with Ally’s family and loved ones. They thanked the on-site medical and response teams and Norfolk Constabulary for their immediate action, and confirmed they would continue to assist the authorities.
Norfolk coroner Yvonne Blake has requested Ally’s GP records as part of the investigation. Her family has been invited to provide a pen portrait and any relevant background information. The full inquest is scheduled for 10.30am on 15 December 2026.
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