![\"Joshua](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_AMR_MEN_061125_JMS_03.jpg\")
Joshua Chisambo performing at Jimmy’s in Ancoats on November 5(Image: Adam Wintle)<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m still trying to process it all. The turnout was amazing, everything went to plan, I\u2019m so grateful. My heart is so full.\u201d<\/p>\n
06:34, 10 Nov 2025Updated 06:37, 10 Nov 2025<\/p>\n
Joshua Chisambo performing at Jimmy’s in Ancoats on November 5(Image: Adam Wintle)<\/p>\n
On Wednesday evening, the odds were stacked against poet Josh Chisambo. It was Bonfire Night, the weather was bad, and he hadn\u2019t had much time to promote his show at Ancoats<\/a> venue Jimmy\u2019s.<\/p>\n But, despite his fears that nobody would turn up, the venue was all packed out. \u201cIt was incredible,\u201d Josh, who has appeared on BBC Radio and also works as a life coach, tells the Manchester Evening News.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still trying to process it all. The turnout was amazing, everything went to plan, I\u2019m so grateful. My heart is so full.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bonfire Night performance from Josh marked the first of three special gigs taking place at Jimmy\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Stay connected with our City Life newsletter <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Spearheaded by the Manchester-based agency HEADS<\/a>, 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\u2019t often get the opportunities to earn a living from their talent.<\/p>\n \u201cOften these kinds of opportunities only come our way when we perform for free,\u201d singer Tabi Gazele, who will headline a gig at Jimmy\u2019s on Wednesday (November 12), said. \u201cI\u2019ve done shows in the past where I\u2019ve even been asked to pay to play at a venue, or I\u2019ve been told to give assurances on how many people I know will be buying tickets.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, to be involved with a venue and a project that actively cares and wants to support what we\u2019re 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\u2019re being treated properly at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n Tabi, who has released her latest album Metamorphosis this week, said she believes the three HEADS Creative shows have the potential to \u2018turn ripples into waves\u2019 and have a big impact on the wider music scene.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s just about removing some of the many barriers that come with putting on a show,\u201d she explains. \u201cOften once you\u2019ve taken into account the venue costs, the operational costs, there\u2019s nothing left that trickles down to the artist.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it’s mutually beneficial too. It brings people into the venue, it creates a nice atmosphere in their space. It\u2019s 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\u2019ll reap the benefits, I know of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone like me who\u2019s 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\u2019s so many artists who have given up because it’s just too tough. There\u2019s often a mindset that it\u2019s the way things have always been, but why is that? And what can we do to change that now?\u201d<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n \u201cI know so many people who have quit music because they are just so tired,\u201d Ari explains. \u201cIt was because all motivation and passion was drawn out of them, they didn’t feel like they were getting the recognition and weren\u2019t really going anywhere with it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve all done shows for free, and we know it\u2019s 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\u2019s about respect and being valued.<\/p>\n “As an independent, female artist, you go up against so much, especially when you don\u2019t have a manager to back you up. This kind of show speaks volumes to me. It\u2019s showing that there’s these tools that we as artists can now utilise. We\u2019re stepping away from record labels, show promoters, that kind of thing. It\u2019s about knowing our worth.\u201d<\/p>\n But, whilst the idea of giving artists 100% of the profits may sound like a no-brainer to some fans, it\u2019s something that is very rare in the business.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve 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,\u201d Ari says.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019t always immediate.<\/p>\n “The future of any field is absolutely vital, and needs nurturing. That\u2019s what this show is truly about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about putting the artists in control and then being compensated for the work that they do,\u201d Josh adds. \u201cIt\u2019s really trailblazing in that way. I think it\u2019s going to make a lot of people think, and could really change how things are done.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the people in the community who are often the ones willing to get their hands dirty,\u201d Teja says. \u201cBut there\u2019s something genuinely beautiful in that because it’s coming from the people where it really matters.\u201d<\/p>\n Josh adds: \u201cIt challenges the narratives from people who say something like this isn\u2019t possible. Like, we\u2019ve shown you it\u2019s possible. It can be done at one venue with these three artists, why can\u2019t it be done anywhere else?\u201d<\/p>\n Tickets for Tabi Gazele’s show on November 12 can be bought here<\/a>, whilst tickets for Ari Mor’s show on November 14 can be bought here.<\/a> You can follow Joshua<\/a>, Tabi <\/a>and Ari <\/a>on Instagram.<\/p>\n Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Poet](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_AMR_MEN_061125_JMS_04.jpg\")
Poet Joshua Chisambo said he hopes the three shows will ‘challenges the narrative that something like this isn\u2019t possible'(Image: Adam Wintle)<\/p>\n![\"Tabi](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_AMR_MEN_061125_JMS_05.jpg\")
Tabi Gazele will play Jimmy’s on Wednesday (October 12)(Image: Adam Wintle)<\/p>\n![\"Ari](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_AMR_MEN_061125_AMjpeg.jpg\")
Ari Mor said the shows are about ‘respect and being valued'(Image: Ari Mor)<\/p>\n![\"Jimmy's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_AMR_MEN_061125_JMS.jpg\")
Jimmy’s in Ancoats has become a champion of grassroots and independent talent(Image: Adam Wintle)<\/p>\n