DJ, 50, to play Glastonbury after quitting her job to chase her dream

In the 1990’s, Sammy Dean used to go to Legends in Warrington and started buying vinyls after listening to the music there.

Sammy taught herself how to mix vinyls and continued it as a hobby but didn’t think more of it and pursued a career in selling houses.

In lockdown, however, she decided to pick her hobby back up again and learned how to play digitally, using her old contacts to pick up gigs on the side.

But, last year, Sammy decided to quit her 9-5 job to turn her side gigs into her career after a conversation at work where she was told that she was only halfway through her working life.

“When you put it in that kind of perspective, why would you not think there’s plenty of time to change direction,” she said.

“I sat at my desk and thought ‘right, I’m 49 – I’m 50 next year – if I don’t do this now and throw myself at it, I’m going to have regrets’.

“I do regret not pushing myself when I was younger because things could have been completely different.”

Sammy hopes to show others that it's never too late to chase your dream (Image: Supplied)

So, Sammy quit her job and decided to start a property business as an independent agent to give herself the flexibility needed to chase her dream.

“I don’t need a 9-5 job, I don’t want to 9-5 job, I want to do what I love,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your dream or ambition is, you should really just go for it, and you know if it doesn’t work out, you’ll have at least had fun.

“Even when you think you’ve got barriers against you, a lot of the time they’re your mental barriers and the only thing stopping you is yourself.”

Sammy has played festivals such as Beat-Herder (Image: Supplied)

Last year, Sammy attended her sixth Glastonbury Festival, and was able to play there for the first time.

“It makes you so proud to be there and in all the festivals I’ve ever been to Glastonbury is like Disneyland for grownups,” she said.

“I’ve never been to a festival that’s had that level of happiness to it.”

Sammy, who plays house music, new disco and 80s edits, has now been confirmed to play the festival again at the end of the month in the Spike Bar.

The 50-year-old says that a lot of the gigs she has booked have been as a result of putting herself out there and asking, and urges anyone in a similar position to do the same.

“I wouldn’t have got 90 per cent of the gigs I’ve got so far if I hadn’t asked for them and out myself out there,” she said.

“Take the opportunities when you get them or when you meet someone to not be afraid to speak to them or ask, it’s just trying to find the right way of asking somebody.”