A retired school teacher who has since swapped her day job educating kids for spitting bars as Wigan’s hardest and arguably ‘the world’s oldest battle rapper’ is the subject of a new documentary.
If you’ve never heard of this lady before, we appreciate that it can feel like there’s so much to take in here that it’s hard to know where to start.
Meet Joy France, the 66-year-old granny from Greater Manchester and ex-primary school teacher who, after retiring a few years back, decided to channel her love of poetry and the spoken word into a new hobby: rap battling. And believe us, while she might look like a harmless older lady, this girl goes in.
In fact, we’ve had the great honour of watching her roast people right in front of us before:
Now a few years into her rap career after first making her debut at a club in Coventry back in 2018, Joy has grown a real cult following and has become a familiar face both online and in the world of hip-hop — seriously, she’s got a serious reputation.
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So much so, it turns out, that the lyrical local lass who regularly performs in Afflecks is now the subject of a documentary called Joy Uncensored, which tracks her journey from teacher to retired rap star.
The short film, made by Northern Heart Films, directed by Natasha Hawthornthwaite and the subject of multiple award wins and nominations over the two years, finally premiered on YouTube earlier this month and it’s great.
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Giving an insight into her incredible journey and a very different world in the shape of the rap battle scene (believe us, they don’t go easy on her) over the course of an easy 15-minute run-time, it’s fitting that the central character is called what she is because it’s genuinely a joy to watch.
Having been admittedly a fairly quiet, reserved and very rarely creative person until her 50s, the mini-doc serves as a great reminder to push yourself out of your comfort zone and never be afraid to try something new, no matter what age you are.
On top of her wrapping, Joy is now said to be learning how to DJ as well and on top of recognising what this new challenge has given her, she’s encouraging others to ignore that doubtful little voice in the back of their head and instead, to just “get on with it and enjoy for the rest of your life.”
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Now that’s a message we can get right behind.
You can watch the full Joy Uncensored documentary down below:
We have a new favourite rapper and her name is Joy France.
Kings of Leon announce Manchester arena show on short run of UK dates
Daisy Jackson
Kings of Leon have just announced a short run of UK shows for next year, which includes an arena gig here in Manchester.
The multi-Grammy Award-winning rock band will be performing at the Co-op Live arena, along with two other British dates in Leeds and Glasgow.
Kings of Leon are one of the biggest alternative rock bands in the world, and never fail to sell out arenas in Manchester when they perform here.
The group of brothers (plus one cousin) have headlined some of the world’s most iconic festivals, including Glastonbury, Coachella, and Lollapalooza, as well as reclaiming an all-time attendance record with a fifth night at Hyde Park in London last year.
Kings of Leon have been dominating charts for more than 20 years, ever since the release of their debut album Youth & Young Manhood in 2003.
They now have nine studio albums, including last year’s Can We Please Have Fun, which (as with all their albums so far) comfortably reached the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
The band is made up of Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew Followill, and just last week they dropped an EP with four new songs.
Now, it’s another brief run of live shows for the UK, with Kings of Leon performing at Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 4 July 2026.
Tickets for Kings of Leon in Manchester will go on sale from 9am on Friday 21 November, and you can get yours HERE.
Pulp announce epic Live from Wythenshawe Park gig, with support from Self Esteem
Daisy Jackson
Pulp have been announced as the latest headliners of next year’s Live from Wythenshawe Park gig series – and they’re bringing a very special guest along to support.
The legendary Sheffield band will be joined by fellow Sheffielders Self Esteem for the outdoor summer show.
The news of Pulp’s epic gig in Wythenshawe Park follows a run of live reunion shows this year and the release of More, their first album in 24 years.
Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Nick Banks, Mark Webber, and their collaborators will bring their electric live show to Manchester in summer 2026.
This will be the only chance to see Pulp perform outdoors up north next year.
Their announcement concludes the line-up for Live from Wythenshawe Park, which now consists of The Cure, Lewis Capaldi, Courteeners, The Prodigy and Pulp across five nights in August.
Pulp have announced an epic Live from Wythenshawe Park gig, with support from Self Esteem
Founded in the late 1970s in Sheffield, Pulp have become one of Britain’s best-loved bands and proudest exports, from Common People and Disco 2000 to This Is Hardcore.
Pulp with be joined at Wythenshawe Park by Self Esteem, the critically-acclaimed fearless pop project of Rebecca Lucy Taylor.
Pulp will play Live From Wythenshawe Park on Friday 28 August 2026, with tickets going on general sale on Friday 21 November at 10am HERE.
There’s also a pre-sale live on Wednesday if you sign up HERE.
Live from Wythenshawe Park 2026 line-up
Friday 21 August – The Cure (Sold Out) Saturday 22 August – Lewis Capaldi (Sold Out) Friday 28 August – Pulp (Just Announced) Saturday 29 August – Courteeners (Sold Out) Sunday 30 August – The Prodigy (Last Remaining Tickets)
Danny Jones -
28th August 2023 
