Two of the biggest names in dance music team up for a special show that has been 23 years in the making.
In 2003, Judge Jules was one of the world’s most successful DJs and had been presenting his hugely popular Radio 1 slot for six years. Will Atkinson was a dance music obsessive and regular listener to the show. Neil Stevenson had been running Grooves Records, the business he started aged 19, for thirteen years and was about to launch a new nightclub, Fusion, in Kirkwall. There was only one DJ Neil wanted to open the club and he got his man – it was announced Judge Jules was coming to Orkney.
Will Atkinson knew this was the chance to meet his idol, the only problem being, Will was 14 and wasn’t even old enough to go to a nightclub. Undeterred, he waited outside Fusion with his mum and the family dog, and eventually Judge Jules appeared. Will got his photo taken with Jules and he signed a white label for him. The meeting confirmed what Will already knew, he wanted a career as a DJ. Over the coming years, Will made this a reality and global success followed. In 2025, it was his turn to open Neil’s new nightclub, Rapture.
23 years after that initial meeting, Neil Stevenson is reuniting these two superstar DJs and bringing them back to Orkney on Friday 27 November 2026 for their first ever co-headlining show. Neil says it is going to be an unforgettable night, ‘The opening of Fusion was one of the best moments of my career and Judge Jules was amazing – the crowd went crazy. I can remember how excited Will was when he got to meet him. His passion for dance music was obvious and is no surprise to me that he went on to become a successful DJ. When I launched Rapture, it was very special to have Will come home to perform on the first night. Now to welcome Judge Jules back to Orkney and have these two dance music legends team up for a joint show is going to be unreal.’
Judge Jules is looking forward to returning to the islands, ‘This is a full circle moment for me. It’s been a long time since I played in Orkney and to play alongside Will, who is someone I greatly respect as a DJ and producer, adds to that narrative.’
For Will, this gig is going to be a unique experience, “I thought opening Rapture was full circle, so to be coming back to co-headline with the man I waited to autograph that vinyl at the back of Fusion all them years ago… it’s something more of a 720 moment. Quite literally the stuff of dreams. I already feel quite emotional thinking about it. I think it could well turn out to be one of the most special nights of my career.”
Doors open 10.30pm. Last entry midnight. Licenced until 2am.
Over 18s only. Photo ID required. Passport or Driving Licence.
Random searches on entry.
Zero tolerance drug policy. Anyone under the influence of drugs, or excessive alcohol intake, may be refused entry.
