Original Hacienda resident DJ Paulette has been awarded DJ Mag Top 100 DJs 2022 Lifetime Achievement gong.
The Manchester-based DJ has been given the award in recognition of her pivotal role at the center of a number of significant moments in European electronic music history over the past thirty years.
A DJ, radio and TV host, A&R and PR for over 30 years, whilst still in her twenties Paulette made history as the Hacienda’s first female DJ resident – first coming on board to play the club’s gay night, Flesh Nites, with organizers bringing her in after seeing just one DJ set, which happened to be her debut.
She stayed for four and a half years, progressing to resident along the way, then moved down to London to play at the Garage club nights at Heaven, followed by residencies at Brighton’s The Zap Club and the Ministry of Sound.
Later, in 2004, she lived in Paris for some time and has also done some stints in Ibiza, but today she can be found in her hometown of Manchester – the place where she was born and raised.
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Speaking to DJ Magabout her heady career, she described how her first ever DJ gig came about, saying: “Fast-forward six years of buying records and whatever and a friend of mine knew somebody who was putting on a party at the No.1, and she’d spent all the money on the promo.
“She didn’t have any money to pay a name DJ, and was told about somebody who had lots of records who could do it. She must’ve been so fucking desperate!”
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DJ Paulette first started off in music working for Manchester Piccadilly 261 radio station, aged 18, as a cub reporter but has since gone on to do great things – including helping the Roni Size & Reprazent ‘New Forms’ album win the Mercury Prize.
Moving down to London in the mid-90s, she got a PR job at Mercury Records to supplement her DJing income.
Speaking about that time in her life, she told the magazine: “Everything that happened for Roni Size Reprazent, and also 4hero who were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, came off the back of the press campaign and their live gigs.”
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“It’s very rare to translate a good press campaign for some dance music singles to the Mercury Prize, it has to cross them over into the nationals and broadsheets everywhere.
Image: DJ Paulette
“Obviously they had to perform live, I would never take credit for their creativity, but without that press campaign… there were so many other bands who were really great live, but they didn’t have the press.”
She would then go on to win a gold record for the Reprazent PR campaign after they sold 100,000 copies of ‘New Forms’ and were nominated for two Brit awards.
It’s a well-deserved accolade for the Manchester music legend, who is also on the cusp of releasing a new tell-all book – detailing her amazing 30-year career and shining a light on discrimination within the dance music world.
Titled Welcome To The Club: The Life And Lessons Of A Black Woman DJ, Paulette says it will tell the ‘candid story’ of her hugely successful DJ career, which has seen her hold high profile residencies at some of the best parties in the world, including the Hacienda, Ministry of Sound and Queen Club in Paris.
Described as both a memoir and a “call to arms”, Welcome To The Club will feature contributions from some of her fellow UK DJs including Dave Haslam, Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova, Sonique, Smokin Jo, Norman Jay and Jaguar.
It’s sure to be filled with some amazing stories. She is, after all, a true dance music icon and has been at the heart of the global house scene for many years.
Yungblud announces huge Manchester arena gig on upcoming UK tour
Daisy Jackson
Yungblud is heading back to Manchester for a huge gig next year as part of a nationwide arena tour.
The Doncaster-born rock artist is behind songs like Fleabag, Cotton Candy, and Parents, with three studio albums to his name and a fourth set for release this month.
Yungblud, 27, has also collaborated with some of the biggest rock artists in the world, including Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker, and Bring Me The Horizon.
Along the way, he’s built up an incredibly loyal fanbase, who refer to themselves as the Black Hearts Club, and championed individuality and acceptance.
And now Yungblud is finally heading back out on tour, with a massive gig at the AO Arena next spring.
This boundary-pushing artist has announced the tour in support of his upcoming fourth album, Idols, which he describes as being a modern rock opera.
He’s famed for his explosive and energetic live shows, and has even launched his own festival, Bludfest, to challenge the high cost of other live music festivals.
Announcing the UK tour this morning, he said: “UK. It’s been two years! I’m so excited to announce our biggest shows yet.
“Pre-order the album from my official store before Tuesday 10am for early access to tickets/ presale on Wednesday 10am. General tickets onsale 10am FRIDAY 13th. Link in bio. Let’s go.”
As well as his AO Arena gig in Manchester, Yungblud will also play at cities including Leeds, London and Birmingham.
Yungblud will perform at the AO Arena Manchester on Saturday 25 April 2026. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 13 June.
Drake adds extra Manchester date to UK tour after ‘unprecedented demand’
Emily Sergeant
An extra date has been added for Drake’s run of Manchester shows next month following ‘unprecedented demand’.
In case you missed the announcement earlier this week, Drake announced that he’ll be coming to Manchester for two huge gigs next month (yes, literally next month), but now following so-called ‘unprecedented demand’, an extra date has been added.
The GRAMMY award-winning and multi-platinum global artist teamed up with fellow Canadian rapper PARTYNEXTDOOR to release their collaborative album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, and now to celebrate the release, the duo are making their highly anticipated return to the UK and Europe.
The arena tour, aptly named ‘$ome$pecial $hows 4 UK’, will kick off on 20 and 21 July at Birmingham Utilita Arena, before Drake comes to visit us Mancs shortly after.
JUST ANNOUNCED @drake Drake returns for the first time in six years. Bringing the $ome$pecial$hows 4 UK tour to Manchester on 25 & 26 July 2025. Support from @partynextdoor.@coopuk Member Presale: 4 JUNE 12:00 General Sale: 6 JUNE 12:00
The Toronto rapper was already set to take to the stage at Manchester‘s newest live entertainment arena, Co-op Live, on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July, following three nights of headlining Wireless Festival at London’s Finsbury Park.
But now, Monday 28 July has also been added into the mix in Manchester.
Following his three nights in Manchester, the tour will then continue across Europe, with stops in Munich, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and more, all before wrapping up on 23 September in Hamburg at Barclays Arena.
The tour marks Drake’s first return to Europe and the UK in six years, following his 2019 Assassination Vacation Tour.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Drake completed his monumental sold-out 80-date It’s All A Blur Tour across North America, featuring special guests 21 Savage and J. Cole.
$ome $pecial $hows 4 UK 2025 dates:
Sunday 20 & Monday 21 July – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July – Co-op Live, Manchester
Monday 28 July – Co-op Live, Manchester
Breaking more records along the way, Wireless announced Drake as the 2025 headliner for all three nights, each featuring unique setlists and special guests, and the festival sold out within minutes – which is the fastest sell-out in its 20-year history.
Drake will be at Co-op Live on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July, and again on Monday 28 July, and in true last-minute fashion, tickets go on general on sale today (6 June).
The Manc -
31st October 2022 
