Jalsa has brought more than 2,000 attendees to four open-mic events in Abu Dhabi, with more than 100 people taking the stage at Manarat Al Saadiyat since the series began this summer. More than 25 volunteers have supported the events. Organisers say they want local artists to perform without paying to take part.
A stage in Abu Dhabi
Hamad Al Shamsi, Abdullah Al Shamsi and Preston Dcosta founded the series after coming up with the idea during a car ride between friends. They later set up Harmony Abu Dhabi, the company behind Jalsa.
Hamad, an NYUAD alumnus, cares deeply about storytelling and works as a master of ceremonies. Preston is a pianist, drummer and sound engineer. Abdullah sings as NotSoHuman. He started out posting song covers on social media, then released his debut single, “Love it Up,” in 2023.
“We want people to be able to shine, to find a platform in Abu Dhabi,” Hamad told The National. “There is so much Abu Dhabi has to offer, and we're just a drop in the ocean.”
Jalsa means “gathering or a sitting” in Arabic. At each event, organisers place a white plastic chair onstage to represent a space where anyone can sit, take the microphone and be seen.
Abu Dhabi’s arts and culture scene is growing fast, but the article says local creatives have fewer grassroots communities. “If we wanted to perform in an open mic, we had to go from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. There was nothing home-grown in Abu Dhabi. So we decided to start something on our own,” Preston said.
Four chapters
Organisers shaped the four events as “chapters”, drawing inspiration from parts of the UAE’s story: The Majlis, The Desert, The Sea and The Stars. The first celebrated the welcoming spirit of the traditional Emirati majlis. The second looked at the resilience needed to survive in the harshest times, while the third explored the sea and the UAE’s connections with the wider world.
The final chapter took place last week. It used stars that once guided journeys across desert and sea to represent dreams and aspirations.
“I love seeing the community coming together. I love the initiative of the young coming in,” said Aysha, an attendee.
Open to performers
Performances vary widely, and Abdullah said organisers allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis. “We have people performing for the very first time. We have a performer who is three years old,” Hamad added. “People from Ghana to the UAE to South Africa to Korea to Russia, it goes all around.”
For singer and bassist Lavalina, Jalsa can help artists begin pursuing work in music. “It gives a stepping stone to continuing your journey. And being able to pursue your dreams as a career, not just as a vocation or as a hobby.”
Jalsa still runs as an out-of-pocket initiative, and entry costs nothing. Its main revenue comes from a small baqala that sells branded merchandise and local snacks. The team hopes to secure funding so it can grow the community and support more talent in Abu Dhabi, including in creative fields beyond music.
“We are against the idea of artists having to pay. We will never make the open mic a paid event because the artists have spent so much time, so much effort refining their art form,” Preston said.