Come As You Are weekender: 26-27 August 2023
Our annual all singing, all dancing Come As You Are weekender returns this August bank holiday weekend – and we can finally announce who we have lined up to play! The celebration of music, love and inclusivity takes place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August with headline sets from DJ Paulette and Coleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy.
Winner of the DJ Mag Top 100 Lifetime achievement award, DJ Paulette has played the greatest clubs and club nights in the world. Her first DJ slot was back at the No1 Club Manchester, her first residency was Flesh at the Hacienda. Ad do you know who was one of the first resident DJs here at The Refuge seven years ago? Yes, DJ Paulette! With her career reaching dizzy heights, we’re thrilled to have her headline Come As You Are 2023.
We’re also delighted to announce that Coleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy will be headlining the terrace on Sunday. Anyone who has followed Murphy’s endlessly fascinating life in music will know that as far as headliner slots go, this is going to be gold. Coleen is a lifer: someone that has dedicated every inch of her soul and being to the pursuit of music. As a producer, Colleen has remixed the likes of Roisin Murphy, The Rapture and Chaka Khan. From a woman at the forefront of the vinyl resurgence—encouraging new appreciation for venues and quality listening spaces—Colleen’s passion and enjoyment of the music has shaped dancefloors new and old.
We’ll also welcome The Hush Club and its resident DJs who’ll take over the terrace with their sequined DJ booth and dig deep into the very finest disco and house tracks for an all-day soiree. We have the return of Jamie Bull to The Refuge—fresh from releasing his first ever record—plus regulars Jaegerossa, Eve’s Drop Collective, Swindells, Jim Bane are set to bring you everything in between to keep the groove going all weekend. And of course, there’ll be plenty more surprises!
This year we also welcome the return of our basement club space, The Vault. Edit Presents will kick off Come As You Are with a pre-party on the Friday night, headlined by Dave Lee. Heads-up, this event will be ticketed and you can get yours here.
Sticky Heat and friends will take over the basement space for a late-night down and dirty disco from 10pm until the early hours on the Saturday, followed by Manchester institution Supernature on the Sunday.
And if that’s not enough, we’ll be hosting a Disco Flow Yoga session on The Refuge terrace with Thorlby Yoga and The Hush Club Disco on Saturday at 10am. Bring a mat and ease yourself into the bank holiday debauchery with a little yoga (but make it DISCO!).
Just a reminder that Come As You Are is not ticketed and runs on a first-come-first-serve basis – so come down early and spend the whole day and night with us! Fancy eating in the Dining Room? We recommend you get your table booked now.
And if you fancy staying over, take a look at the Stay With Pride offer currently running here at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. This weekend package includes a Come as You Are survival kit tote bag with a hangover kit, two cocktails, water bottles and £30 to spend in the Refuge each night.
We can’t wait to welcome you back to Come As You Are, with its unique togetherness that only Manchester can magic from its people!
THE LINE-UP
Saturday
PUBLIC BAR
2pm – Swindells (Contrast Music)
5pm – Jamie Bull
8pm – Laura Jackson
10pm – Kilmo (The Hush Club)
TERRACE
2pm – Kilmo (The Hush Club)
4pm – Jaegerossa
6pm – Jade Li
8pm – DJ Paulette
THE VAULT
10pm – Sticky Heat (+ AKA Jackie)
Sunday
PUBLIC BAR
4pm – Jim Bane (Eastern Bloc Records)7pm – Laura Weaver (Eves’Drop Collective)10pm – Jaegerossa
TERRACE
4pm – Kilmo (The Hush Club)6pm – Simba (Hot Peas ‘n Butter)8pm – Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy
THE VAULT
10pm – Supernature Disco (+ Queer Latifah + Julie Wills)