The first ever Midhurst Jazz, Food & Blues Festival (14th–16th November) is shaping up to be a weekend of world-class music and fabulous food – but also a chance for people to get involved. We’re looking for volunteers, and here’s the deal: give us a little of your time and energy, and in return you’ll get free access to performances, a behind-the-scenes view of the festival, even a festival t-shirt and a meal during your shift and the satisfaction of knowing you helped make it happen.
Whether you want to be part of the team or not, you also might like a taste of what’s ahead. Which is why we’ve set up a “Secret Pop-Up” gig at Lion’s Den on 1st October. It’s an intimate evening where you can hear some of the festival artists up close, in the warm, buzzing atmosphere of one of Midhurst’s best café-bars. Tickets are limited and when they’re gone, they’re gone!
So, what’s the bigger picture? From 14th-16th November, Midhurst will welcome a festival programme unlike anything the town has seen before. We’re bringing in headline names — the Vince Dunn Orchestra, Mercury-nominated saxophonist Binker Golding, blues master Errol Linton, and the brilliant Argentine pianist Pablo Murgier, previewing his new album. Alongside the concerts, there’ll be superb food, fine wines, and Argentine-inspired dishes co-designed with chefs including Ignacio Polo, the chef at the Argentine Embassy in London. In short: three days that put Midhurst on the cultural map.
Of course, festivals aren’t built by committees alone. They’re powered by people. And that’s why we’re calling for 30 volunteers to join the team. The roles are varied — stewards, front-of-house greeters, artist liaisons, ticketing support, backstage runners, and helpers for the Festival Trail of pop-up gigs, galleries, and events around town. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a day, an evening, or just a few hours to spare. Every bit of help makes a difference.
And the rewards go beyond the free concert access. Volunteering means you’re right there in the action, part of the atmosphere, meeting extraordinary musicians and fellow enthusiasts. For students, it’s hands-on experience. For professionals, it’s a chance to connect. For everyone, it’s the pride of knowing you played your part in making something new and exciting happen in your hometown.
The Lion’s Den pop-up on 1st October is your perfect taster. These evenings are deliberately intimate: you can feel every note, talk to the musicians, and share the buzz with friends. They’re also proof of what’s to come – Midhurst already alive with music, long before November arrives.
Together, the volunteer effort and these pop-up gigs capture the Festival’s true spirit. This isn’t an event parachuted in from outside. It’s ours – built from the people, places, and passion of the South Downs itself.
So whether you sign up as a volunteer or grab a ticket for Lion’s Den, you’re not just attending an event. You’re helping write the first chapter of a tradition that, we hope, will last for years.
To Volunteer click HERE.
And for tickets to the Festival Pop-up click HERE.
Be part of the music. Be part of the story.
