For José Mesa, migration wasn’t just about survival — it was about sharing a passion. His journey from Venezuela to Manchester shows how migrants don’t just adapt; they shape and enrich the cultural landscape through talent, collaboration, and creativity.
For José Mesa, music is not just a pleasure–it’s his passion. A passion so deep that it led him to leave his home country of Venezuela in 2014 and come to the UK. Speaking with TogetherintheUK, José explained that while he still misses his roots–his family, his culture and his country–Venezuela was not a place to support his passion.
When a country is suffering from economic, social, and political discord, music–whether playing, listening, or creating–is a luxury few can afford. Despite being involved in many musical projects such as the band Circo Vulkano, he understood that everyday Venezuelans had more to consider than supporting music: lack of electricity, food shortages and unreliable access to water in homes made daily life a struggle. He knew that if he wanted to live a normal life, start a family and pursue a sustainable musical career in a place that appreciated music, he would have to leave.
The memory of the lack of basic resources has not left José. He quickly highlighted how lucky we are in the UK where basic necessities are available, and where people can afford to enjoy music.
The kindness of fellow migrants as well as that of local people help to ease the transition. His friend, Franklin, who had been in a similar situation encouraged José to make the move, providing accommodation until he was settled. José describes his first few months as:
When I came here, I felt like I was in a storm! Everything I wanted started to happen, almost immediately. Within a short time, I was playing with six different bands and the payment from one gig was equivalent to what I would have received over a six month period in Venezuela. I could not believe it!
José arrived with a clear plan: improve his English, go to university to improve his communication and musical skills, and to immerse himself in every aspect of the music industry. Key to José plan was collaboration–learning different musical styles, scales, rhythms, instrumental techniques and musical traditions to inspire new creative approaches. His openness to learning is a powerful reminder of the value migrants bring to our communities.
Music is a universal language that transcends barriers. Listening to José’s Gucamaya Latin Band – trust me even if you do not understand the words, it is almost impossible not to start tapping your feet and swaying to the music. That according to José is precisely the point.
We want people to “shake” and once we see our audiences dancing then we know we are connected, all on the same airplane traveling to the same place. That reaction feeds our energy and our enthusiasm for playing music.
Guacamaya Latin Band reflects not only musical harmony but cultural harmony, as the band blends amongst many more, Afro-Caribbean, Salsa, Reggae, Jazz, Afro-Cuban, and Venezuelan rhythms. His fellow musicians hail originally and ancestrally from around the world comprising
- José Mesa – Venezuela (Spanish roots),
- Joel Rojas Arriaga – Venezuela (Spanish roots),
- Anthony Montes – South-Africa (English and Philippino roots),
- Daniel Rees – England (British roots),
- Tom Watkins – England (English).
With such diversity, it is not surprising that their music appeals to so many people particularly migrants. Music connects us to our home country, triggering strong feelings of nostalgia and emotional connection, evoking memories of shared experiences with our family and friends. I remember when I first moved to the UK in the 1980s playing an album, A Woman’s Heart, on continual loop to form that connection with home.
They say that music soothes the soul, and I believe that this is true. When researching José and his band before our interview, I watched some of his performances on YouTube. In one video, a woman stood, completely transfixed. I mentioned this to him, and he immediately knew who I was talking about.
She came up after the session to say thank you–she’d had a terrible morning, and our music made her day. For us, that is the power of music, it connects people and it heals.
Now over a decade living in the UK (and travelling around the world sharing his music), José considers Manchester as home. However, despite being settled he sadly remembers several incidents in the early days which were hurtful. He recalled one incident when working in a restaurant asking to move from the kitchen to a front-of-house role. The response was not only dismissive but racist–towards his country and his accent. He also recalls acts of vandalism on his property and a sense of being unwelcome in certain areas of the city. What is notable is that José does not necessarily blame the individuals involved but attributes their actions to the socio-economic environment they were living, recognising that racism is taught–not innate–and that empathy and education can change hearts and minds.
José is quick to acknowledge and thank the support he has been given by Band on the Wall, a legendary Manchester music venue and charity, as part of its Spotlight Artist Development Scheme, to support and showcase musical artists who have migrated to the region. He describes their backing as “a miracle for us”.
They have helped us with everything–AV, photo-sessions, branding, and awareness campaigns. They have helped us get gigs, grow our audience, especially into the corporate market and to become a more sustainable band. We cannot thank them enough.
In October the band opened for Asere, a well-known Cuban band. It’s a milestone moment–one that would not have been possible without the continued encouragement and opportunities offered by Band on the Wall.
With his HONS Popular Music and Recording degree completed at the University of Salford, José is now focused on writing new material. His songs are not overtly political but explore human themes–to look on how people live and love, how cultures differ, and how music can raise awareness about the human condition. He believes that music can have a positive impact and cites the powerful and iconic song “Imagine” by John Lennon, an anti-war song which continues to inspire peaceful protest from its first release until today. It advocates for peace, and its message to imagine a world without borders, religion or possessions where people share the world and live as one, could be a blueprint for today’s governments and society. It is for these reasons that music is a passion for José.
TogetherintheUK (TGIUK) is an impartial non-profit making social enterprise. Our mission is two-fold: to provide an unbiased communications platform for migrants and refugees to safely share their stories while providing them with reliable advice and insights into life in the UK.
To read more about the lives and impacts of migrants on UK society, go to TogetherintheUK.
To contact José Mesa and his band Guacamaya Latin Band go their GuacamayaLatinBand Instagram account or their Guacamaya page on LinkedIn.
Band on the Wall is an iconic 500-capacity music venue, situated in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. It presents an internationally acclaimed programme of live music events. The music venue runs a range of community programmes and activities to champion cultural diversity and promote equality and inclusion. It’s community programme provides weekly activities for all ages – ranging from baby and toddler sessions, yoga, adult choirs, jazz groups, and its Saturday Kids Club. These activities are all available at a low cost and, in some instances, can be accessed through bursary funding. In August 2025, it launched its Spotlight Artist Development Scheme to support and showcase musical artists who have migrated to the region. The scheme forms part of the venue’s World of Song programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and delivered in partnership with arts charity Community Arts North-West (CAN). The wider programme comprises six diverse projects curated solely for migrant communities and asylum seekers based in Greater Manchester.
