Listen Out launches music charity event on World Suicide Prevention Day
● Shocka, AnderSol, Chiara Martina, ASTR0 and DJ Jim Jamal confirmed
● Launch Event Thursday 10th September at Big Penny Social, Walthamstow
A new charity music event with a simple belief that live music can bring people together,
create opportunities and change lives will officially launch on World Suicide Prevention
Day, Thursday 10 September 2026, with a live event at Big Penny Social, Walthamstow.
Founded by Jon Salmon following the loss of his father to suicide and his own experience of
mental illness, Listen Out was inspired by the role live music played in his recovery. Through
years of working with charities, Jon also saw first-hand how challenging it can be to deliver
events and raise vital funds, leading him to create a movement that brings together music,
communities and purpose.
Bringing together artists, charities, and local community groups, Listen Out is more than a live
music event. It is the start of a movement that uses music to spark conversations, encourage
people to seek support earlier, create opportunities for young people and strengthen
communities.
The first Listen Out charity and community partners include Beyond, Black Minds Matter, The
Snug, Music Masters, Let’s Talk About Loss and William Morris Community Threads, all
doing important work to support people, build stronger communities and create positive change.
The launch event will feature performances from established and emerging artists, with Shocka,
AnderSol, Chiara Martina and ASTR0 announced as the first acts. Award-winning rapper and
mental health advocate Shocka uses his lived experience to break down stigma and encourage
young people to seek support through his work with Beyond. AnderSol’s performance will
support Black Minds Matter, Chiara Martina will be raising awareness for Music Masters,
while ASTR0, an 18-year-old rapper from Tottenham, brings together grime, jazz, hip-hop and
soul, with roots in the Big Creative Academy and the Tottenham music scene.
DJ Jim Jamal will keep the energy going with a specially curated set throughout the evening.
Alongside an evening of live music, audiences will have the opportunity to connect with charities
and community organisations offering advice, information and support. Listen Out is also
working with Big Education Academy to create pathways into the creative industries through
volunteering, mentoring, training and work experience opportunities for young people.
As well as celebrating great music, the initiative aims to raise funds for charities and community
groups, champion emerging talent, strengthen community connections and demonstrate how
live events can become places where people feel seen, supported and inspired.
In the future Listen Out hopes to champion the concept of “Gigs on Prescription” recognising
the role live music, social connection and shared cultural experiences can play in improving
wellbeing and helping people feel connected before reaching crisis point.
Jon Salmon, Founder of Listen Out, said:
“Going to gigs made me feel less alone
and more hopeful after I had experienced really poor mental health. Music has an incredible
ability to improve our mood, and bring us together. Listen Out is about creating those moments of connection. If someone leaves one of our events
feeling more hopeful, more connected or more willing to ask for support, then we’ve achieved
something truly meaningful.”
Louisa Rose, CEO of Beyond, said:
“At Beyond, we know that music can be much
more than entertainment. It can be a lifeline. It helps young people make sense of difficult
feelings, find comfort in shared experiences and realise they’re not alone. We’re incredibly
thankful that Listen Out has chosen to support Beyond and put mental health at the heart of this
exciting new movement. To have our Ambassador Shocka leading the line-up makes it even
more special. His music and advocacy embody everything this partnership stands for: using
creativity to spark conversation, challenge stigma and remind young people that support is
always within reach.”
Danielle Bridge, CEO, Black Minds Matter UK, “At Black Minds Matter UK,
we know that conversations about mental health cannot only happen in clinical spaces. Music,
culture and community can create powerful opportunities for people to connect, feel seen and
speak about what they are experiencing. We’re proud to support the launch of Listen Out on
World Suicide Prevention Day and grateful to AnderSol for choosing to use his platform to raise
awareness and support for our work. Initiatives like this remind us that everyone has a role to
play in creating communities where people feel able to reach out, listen and be heard.”
Chris Smith, Music Curriculum Lead, Big Creative Academy said:
“Giving emerging artists a platform to perform is vital in helping build confidence, develop professional
networks and progress towards sustainable careers in music. We’re delighted to partner with
Listen Out on such a worthwhile initiative”
Roisin Reilly, Social Prescriber Project Coordinator Walthamstow Central
PCN said:
“Listen Out’s passion for live music, while supporting local mental health charities
and community groups, feels right: joy, visibility and connection.”
Tickets are now on sale at www.ListenOut.org and every ticket purchased supports the
Listen Out movement, with audiences helping to directly fund organisations making a real
difference in communities across the UK.
About charities and organisations
Every ticket supports the Listen Out movement, and for our first event we are proud to be
supporting the following charities and community groups;
Beyond – Youth mental health charity helping young people access the support they need,
www.wearebeyond.org.uk.
Black Minds Matter UK – Free culturally appropriate mental health support and resources for
Black individuals in the UK, www.blackmindsmatteruk.com.
Music Masters – Non-profit working for a world where everyone has access to the
transformative power of music, www.musicmasters.org.uk.
Let’s Talk About Loss – Providing a safe space to talk about loss and addressing the reality of
losing someone when you are young, www.letstalkaboutloss.org.
The Snug – A community space creating connection, support and opportunities for local people,
www.crestwf.org.uk/the-snug.
William Morris Community Threads – Bringing people together through community, creativity
and connection, www.wmcommunitythreads.org.
Julie Gilbert – Head of Artist Liaison & Event Management
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 790 0917 545
www.ListenOut.org
Images for media use: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LbtBMUYyK9CrqXTh7
