New immersive live music experience to bring 1950s New York to Midhurst
An acclaimed pianist, singer and entertainer is set to headline at the launch of a new immersive live music experience at a Midhurst venue.
The Midhurst Jazz, Food & Blues Festival (MJFBF) has announced the launch at Fratelli’s, with Joe Stilgoe set to headline the debut evening on June 18.
Named “The Half Note Club”, the new quarterly series has been created as far more than a traditional jazz gig, combining live performance, theatrical storytelling, immersive atmosphere, dining and audience participation into a full-scale evening experience inspired by the golden age of New York jazz clubs and speakeasies.
Taking place at Fratelli’s Italian restaurant in Midhurst, the launch night will transport guests into a stylised late-1950s New York-inspired setting, complete with live music, surprise performances, immersive characters, vintage aesthetics and a six-course Italian dining experience. Audiences are encouraged to dress for the occasion - 1950s cocktail chic! - with organisers promising an evening designed to blur the lines between concert, cabaret, theatre and social experience.
The debut event will feature Joe Stilgoe alongside special guests, with organisers teasing additional surprise performances and theatrical moments throughout the night.
Widely regarded as one of the UK’s most charismatic jazz performers, Stilgoe has released nine albums and built a reputation for his high-energy, genre-blending performances that combine jazz, humour, storytelling and showmanship. His career has seen him perform everywhere from Ronnie Scott’s and the BBC Proms to major festivals and international venues, while also becoming a familiar figure across the South East cultural scene.
Festival director Adam Page said: “What we’re creating with The Half Note Club isn’t simply a concert. The idea is that from the moment you walk through the door, the experience begins.
“We wanted to create something immersive, theatrical and genuinely transportive - the feeling of stepping into another era for the evening. Joe immediately understood that vision and has been incredibly enthusiastic about helping shape the night creatively.
“There’ll be live music of course, but also surprises, atmosphere, storytelling, dining and audience interaction. It’s designed to feel like an event people become part of, rather than simply sit and watch.
“The ambition is for The Half Note Club to become one of the signature experiences within the wider festival programme - something people return to every quarter because each chapter evolves and feels different.”
The launch of The Half Note Club forms part of the festival’s newly announced year-round programme, following the success of the inaugural festival which attracted more than 5,500 visitors to Midhurst earlier this year.
Organisers say the new format reflects the festival’s wider ambition to create distinctive cultural experiences that combine music, hospitality and atmosphere in unexpected ways.
Tickets for the opening Half Note Club evening are now available, with standard and VIP packages offered. VIP tickets include premium seating and additional hospitality elements.
Further information and tickets are available at: https://www.midhurstjazzandblues.com/half-note-club?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Festival website: https://www.midhurstjazzandblues.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com