Joy Orbison, real name Peter O’Grady, is an English DJ and producer whose early work are known as some of the best club tracks of all time. Born in Croyden, England, O’Grady started DJing at the young age of 13 after being introduced to electronic music by his uncle Ray Keith, a veteran jungle DJ. By his early 20s, the experienced DJ began producing and released his debut track “Hyph Mngo” in 2009 via Hotflush Recordings.

His debut track propelled his underground career and solidified his place as post-dubstep’s golden boy. “Hyph Mngo” is known as the most forward-thinking track of its time, achieving worldwide airplay and recognition. The track reached #23 on 

 Top 100 Tracks of the 2000s and was awarded the #1 Top Track of 2009 with 

 In 2010, O’Grady was featured on NME’s New Music Tips who described his music as a “forward-thinking amalgamation of dubstep, Balearic bliss and UK garage that seems like a logical next step in dance music’s evolution.”

This was followed by “Brkln Clln,” O’Grady’s first release on his own label Doldrums, ran alongside his partner Impey. In 2012, the English artist launched a label with artist Will Bankhead called Hinge Finger. Also this year, O’Grady began two residencies, his own London-based club night ‘Just For You’ as well as Manchester’s ‘meandyou’ party. Solidifying his big year, he was ranked #19 in 

O’Grady didn’t release anything solo between 2013 and 2017, instead focusing on his prolific partnership with Boddika, a techno artist and keeper of Zoo studio. Bodikka helped sharpen his production skills and not long later, he could be found performing on mainstages at huge festivals, such as We Out Here Festival, Dimensions Festival, NOS Primavera Sound, and III Points.

In 2021, he released his first full-length album called 

, which features samples from his family members recorded throughout the pandemic.

Though he’s achieved worldwide acclaim, Joy Orbison keeps a low profile. He’s nonchalant and humble yet incredibly influential. He’s historically travel and press shy, but nowadays has performances booked around the world at festivals like Dour, Glastonbury, and Lost Village.

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’s roots trace back to a student festival known as 

, essentially an end-of-year party thrown by students at Platt Fields Park in south Manchester​. Over a decade ago, the first Parklife Weekender took place there, born directly from the Mad Ferret experiment. Realizing the event’s potential, the original student founders sought help to take it further - they teamed up with local music impresario Sacha Lord, famed for Manchester’s 

 club nights, to build a proper infrastructure and bigger lineup. With a new company and Lord as co-founder and curator, Parklife Festival as we know it was born. It quickly outgrew its humble beginnings, soon moving from Platt Fields to the expansive Heaton Park in north Manchester to accommodate the exploding crowds​. (Heaton Park, one of Europe’s largest municipal parks, had itself hosted legendary concerts by Oasis and The Stone Roses – a fitting new home steeped in musical heritage​.) To this day, Parklife is guided by the vision of the Warehouse Project team, ensuring the festival maintains its independent spirit even as it partners with major promoters to thrive​.

One of Parklife’s greatest strengths is its musical diversity. The festival predominantly features electronic and dance music, but its stages champion everything from hip-hop and grime to pop, indie rock and house. It’s not unusual to wander from a thumping DJ set straight into a live band or a grime MC’s explosive performance. This broad palette means Parklife attracts a wide audience, united by a love of live music and a good party. Despite its massive scale, Parklife is a non-camping city festival, meaning the party winds down each night as attendees head home or into town (only to return the next day for more)​. This setup gives the event a unique day-party atmosphere and keeps it closely tied to the city. In fact, Parklife has been described as encapsulating the very energy of Manchester’s rave and music culture, with its high-BPM dance stages pulsing alongside blockbuster live acts. The vibe is electric, youthful, and inclusive - a celebratory mash-up of muddy sneakers, bucket hats, and hands-in-the-air euphoria.

The move to Heaton Park marked a turning point in Parklife’s evolution. What began as a 20,000-person gathering of students has swelled into a capacity of roughly 80,000 attendees each day at this vast park venue​. The festival’s expansion in size came with an expansion in scope: more stages (nine major stages running across the park​), more elaborate production, and a broader audience from all over the UK. Heaton Park’s rolling green fields and open space allowed Parklife to blossom into a full-fledged metropolitan mega-festival while still remaining within the city limits. Notably, local authorities and the Parklife organizers have worked hand-in-hand to manage this growth, from security operations to transportation plans. Over the years, the site itself has seen tweaks and improvements - new stage arenas, art installations, even the addition of carnival-style attractions like a ferris wheel - all enhancing the experience as the festival continues to refine its layout. Through these changes, Parklife has managed to keep its Mancunian charm intact: it’s a massive party in the park, but one that feels like part of the city rather than a remote island. The festival’s evolution in venue and scale mirrors the rise of Manchester as a music capital, proving that a homegrown event can explode into a world-class festival without losing its local soul​.

Over the years, Parklife’s stages have been graced by a who’s who of music superstars, reflecting its multi-genre ethos. The lineup is renowned for mixing huge international artists with breakthrough talent and local heroes​. For example, rap icons like Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent have delivered crowd-roaring headline sets, while legendary hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan brought classic East Coast swagger to Manchester​. On the flip side, indie and pop royalty such as The 1975 (hometown heroes turned global stars) and R&B innovator Frank Ocean have captivated Parklife audiences in past editions​.

Electronic music is always front-and-center too - from the chart-topping house of 

 to the rave anthems of The Prodigy and drum’n’bass duo 

, dance acts consistently energize the massive crowds​. The festival also champions UK urban talent: grime king Skepta and Manchester’s own Aitch and Little Simz have all ignited the Parklife stages, underscoring the event’s commitment to homegrown music​.

Parklife is not just about big names, however, it’s about big moments. Fans still talk about the time dance legend 

 led tens of thousands in a moving sing-along of “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” turning a moment of local tragedy into a communal triumph of spirit​. They remember surprise guest appearances, like when Stormzy jumped on stage for an impromptu duet, or when supermodel-turned-singer Grace Jones defiantly performed while ill, hula-hooping onstage in true diva fashion​. Each year brings its own highlights, but the common thread is an atmosphere of shared joy and musical discovery. Whether it’s a blockbuster headliner closing out the night or an up-and-coming DJ throwing down beats at a smaller tent, Parklife delivers memorable experiences that have secured its place in Manchester’s music history.

In just a little over a decade, Parklife has solidified its status as a cornerstone of the UK festival circuit and a point of pride for Manchester’s music scene. It’s curated by a passionate team who keep the festival’s identity authentic and forward-thinking​. Crucially, Parklife never forgot its origins - the community vibe and fearless booking policy remain, even as international acclaim grows. The result is an event that feels both globally relevant and distinctly Mancunian. For one weekend every summer, Heaton Park becomes a mad microcosm of music culture, where graffiti-tagged bucket hats mingle with designer festival outfits, and underground club beats collide with mainstream hits. Parklife is more than just a festival; it’s an annual celebration of everything Manchester stands for: musical innovation, diversity, and an unyielding love of a good time. It’s no wonder Parklife is often hailed as a spirited cultural force for the city - a festival that started small, dreamed big, and continues to embody the loud, loving heart of Manchester’s youth and nightlife.

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 is a premier electronic music festival held annually on the stunning Zrce Beach in Croatia. Since its inception in 2011, the festival has grown into one of Europe's leading destination festivals, attracting thousands of music enthusiasts from around the globe. Known for its exceptional lineup, breathtaking location, and impeccable atmosphere, Hideout Festival offers an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Zrce Beach hosts some of the world’s best beachfront clubs, including Papaya, Aquarius, Noa, and Kalypso, which serve as the main venues for the festival's events.

Hideout Festival offers more than just music. Attendees can enjoy sun-soaked pool parties, boat parties, and raves across five beachfront stages. Each venue features mesmerizing lighting, world-class sound systems, and an unparalleled party atmosphere.

In addition to music, the festival provides a variety of adrenaline-pumping activities such as water sports, banana boats, jet skis, pedalos, and the famous bungee jump. For those seeking relaxation, there are beachside massages, as well as opportunities to rent quads, boats, and pedalos in the nearby town of Novalja.


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