“I’m still trying to process it all. The turnout was amazing, everything went to plan, I’m so grateful. My heart is so full.”
06:34, 10 Nov 2025Updated 06:37, 10 Nov 2025
Joshua Chisambo performing at Jimmy’s in Ancoats on November 5(Image: Adam Wintle)
On Wednesday evening, the odds were stacked against poet Josh Chisambo. It was Bonfire Night, the weather was bad, and he hadn’t had much time to promote his show at Ancoats venue Jimmy’s.
But, despite his fears that nobody would turn up, the venue was all packed out. “It was incredible,” Josh, who has appeared on BBC Radio and also works as a life coach, tells the Manchester Evening News.
“I’m still trying to process it all. The turnout was amazing, everything went to plan, I’m so grateful. My heart is so full.”
The Bonfire Night performance from Josh marked the first of three special gigs taking place at Jimmy’s over the next few days with a very important, and unique, meaning behind it. Each artist will get paid 100% of the ticket proceeds from their shows.
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Poet Joshua Chisambo said he hopes the three shows will ‘challenges the narrative that something like this isn’t possible'(Image: Adam Wintle)
Spearheaded by the Manchester-based agency HEADS, which is run by Liam Heeley and Molly Ball and supports the city-borough’s creatives, the project aims to pay attention to the grassroots stars of today who don’t often get the opportunities to earn a living from their talent.
“Often these kinds of opportunities only come our way when we perform for free,” singer Tabi Gazele, who will headline a gig at Jimmy’s on Wednesday (November 12), said. “I’ve done shows in the past where I’ve even been asked to pay to play at a venue, or I’ve been told to give assurances on how many people I know will be buying tickets.
“So, to be involved with a venue and a project that actively cares and wants to support what we’re doing is a big deal. It gives us hope that we can do more shows, we can invest in ourselves and reach more audiences. And that we’re being treated properly at the same time.”
Tabi, who has released her latest album Metamorphosis this week, said she believes the three HEADS Creative shows have the potential to ‘turn ripples into waves’ and have a big impact on the wider music scene.
“I think it’s just about removing some of the many barriers that come with putting on a show,” she explains. “Often once you’ve taken into account the venue costs, the operational costs, there’s nothing left that trickles down to the artist.
Tabi Gazele will play Jimmy’s on Wednesday (October 12)(Image: Adam Wintle)
“I think it’s mutually beneficial too. It brings people into the venue, it creates a nice atmosphere in their space. It’s something I feel the bigger venues all over the country could do every now and then. Give grassroots artists a platform, and pay them properly for it. They’ll reap the benefits, I know of it.”
“Someone like me who’s been around for a long time, you have to build up a hard shell to just deal with all the things that are sent your way. There’s so many artists who have given up because it’s just too tough. There’s often a mindset that it’s the way things have always been, but why is that? And what can we do to change that now?”
Singer Ari Mor agrees and she has the experience from some of her peers to back it up, too. Inspired by the likes of Lana Del Ray and Rihanna, she will play the iconic Ancoats venue for her own headline show on Friday (November 14).
“I know so many people who have quit music because they are just so tired,” Ari explains. “It was because all motivation and passion was drawn out of them, they didn’t feel like they were getting the recognition and weren’t really going anywhere with it.
“We’ve all done shows for free, and we know it’s the nature of the game for a while, but there does become a time where you need to earn something, you know? Even just on principle alone. It’s about respect and being valued.
Ari Mor said the shows are about ‘respect and being valued'(Image: Ari Mor)
“As an independent, female artist, you go up against so much, especially when you don’t have a manager to back you up. This kind of show speaks volumes to me. It’s showing that there’s these tools that we as artists can now utilise. We’re stepping away from record labels, show promoters, that kind of thing. It’s about knowing our worth.”
But, whilst the idea of giving artists 100% of the profits may sound like a no-brainer to some fans, it’s something that is very rare in the business.
“I’ve been on line-ups with so many great artists in different cities but I genuinely have never heard of anything like this before where 100% of ticket sales go back to the artist – like ever,” Ari says.
“I work full time as a nurse, I do agency work, and I am also trying to get into acting too. Like, independent artists are constantly having to fund every single aspect of the work they do – and the rewards for that aren’t always immediate.
“The future of any field is absolutely vital, and needs nurturing. That’s what this show is truly about.”
Jimmy’s in Ancoats has become a champion of grassroots and independent talent(Image: Adam Wintle)
“It’s about putting the artists in control and then being compensated for the work that they do,” Josh adds. “It’s really trailblazing in that way. I think it’s going to make a lot of people think, and could really change how things are done.”
All three of the artists have credited HEADS with helping give them opportunities that they would not be given otherwise, and they all agree that something similar which champions grassroots creatives in each city could do wonders.
“It’s the people in the community who are often the ones willing to get their hands dirty,” Teja says. “But there’s something genuinely beautiful in that because it’s coming from the people where it really matters.”
Josh adds: “It challenges the narratives from people who say something like this isn’t possible. Like, we’ve shown you it’s possible. It can be done at one venue with these three artists, why can’t it be done anywhere else?”
Tickets for Tabi Gazele’s show on November 12 can be bought here, whilst tickets for Ari Mor’s show on November 14 can be bought here. You can follow Joshua, Tabi and Ari on Instagram.
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