Skip to content
Midhurst town viewed from green field with South Downs and trees surrounding. Illustrations of the rolling hills of the South Downs
Go back

The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music

Live music in and around Midhurst

From jazz and blues in historic buildings to live bands in local pubs, chamber music in country houses and major festivals within half an hour’s drive, Midhurst makes an excellent base for music lovers.

Some venues have regular programmes, while others host occasional performances or come alive during annual festivals. Always check the organiser’s current listings before making a special journey.

Use the Midhurst Web-App when out and about: https://midhurst-events.pages.dev/. Save it to your home screen for the duration of your visit, or check See the daily listings of all events around the town

Music in Midhurst

MADhurst Festival (Music, Arts and Drama)

Every August, MADhurst fills Midhurst with music, arts and community entertainment. Its varied programme normally includes live bands, classical concerts, tribute acts, family performances and outdoor events.

Performances take place throughout the town, including at Midhurst Parish Church, the Old Library and other community venues.

Best for: A broad mixture of music and community entertainment


When: Throughout August
Visit the MADhurst Festival website

Midhurst Jazz, Food & Blues

Midhurst Jazz, Food & Blues presents live jazz and blues throughout the year, including performances, jam sessions, workshops and masterclasses.

Its main festival brings musicians and audiences to venues across Midhurst. The 2026 festival takes place from 19–22 November.

Best for: Jazz, blues, food and intimate performances
Location: Various venues around Midhurst
Visit the Midhurst Jazz, Food & Blues website

Oakfest

The Royal Oak Pub hosts live bands, and other entertainment to create the perfect family atmosphere .

The event is hosted annually so check the club’s latest announcements or the Midhurst Events Page before visiting.

Best for: Local bands, dancing and informal evenings
Location: Oaklands Lane, Midhurst
Royal Oak Pub Midhurst

Live music in Midhurst’s pubs and outdoor spaces

Several Midhurst pubs, gardens and community spaces host occasional acoustic performers, local bands and festival events. These can include:

These are occasional rather than permanent music venues, so consult the Visit Midhurst events calendar for confirmed performances during your stay.

Best for: Relaxed acoustic music and spontaneous local evenings
Location: Around Midhurst town centre

The Midhurst Club

The Midhurst Club hosts local bands, discos and other informal entertainment. It is a friendly community venue and a good place to encounter Midhurst’s local music scene.

Events are held on selected dates rather than every week, so check the club’s latest announcements or the Midhurst Events Page before visiting.

Best for: Local bands, dancing and informal evenings
Location: North Street, Midhurst
Find The Midhurst Club on Facebook

Midhurst Parish Church

The historic parish church of St Mary Magdalene and St Denys provides an atmospheric setting for choral, classical and contemporary concerts.

It is particularly active during MADhurst and other town festivals, but also hosts occasional performances during the year.

Best for: Choral music, classical concerts and special festival performances
Location: Market Square, Midhurst

Worth the short journey

Petworth Festival

Approximately 15 minutes from Midhurst

Petworth Festival is one of the area’s leading cultural events. Its summer programme combines classical music with jazz, folk, world music, comedy and spoken-word performances.

Concerts are presented in distinctive locations including St Mary’s Church, Petworth House, Leconfield Hall and the remarkable Music Room at Champs Hill.

The 2026 Summer Festival runs from 16 July–1 August.

Best for: Classical music, jazz, folk and internationally recognised performers
Visit the Petworth Festival website

Champs Hill Music Room

Approximately 20 minutes from Midhurst

Hidden in the countryside near Pulborough, Champs Hill is a purpose-built private concert hall with exceptional acoustics and views across the South Downs.

Its seasonal programme concentrates on chamber music, recitals and talented emerging musicians. With only around 160 seats, concerts here offer a notably intimate experience.

Best for: Chamber music, recitals and an unusual country-house setting
View the Champs Hill concert programme

West Dean College

Approximately 20 minutes from Midhurst

West Dean hosts concerts connected with its internationally respected arts and music courses. Its annual Classical Guitar Festival brings leading performers, students and music lovers together for concerts and recitals.

Performances may take place at West Dean College or in neighbouring St Andrew’s Church.

Best for: Classical guitar, specialist music and recitals
Explore forthcoming West Dean events

Petersfield Festival Hall

Approximately 20–25 minutes from Midhurst

Petersfield Festival Hall presents touring music shows, tribute acts, musicals, community productions and special concerts throughout the year.

It is also one of the principal venues for the annual Petersfield Musical Festival.

Best for: Touring shows, tribute bands and larger concerts
See what’s on at Petersfield Festival Hall

Petersfield Musical Festival

Approximately 20–25 minutes from Midhurst

This long-established annual festival celebrates local and visiting musical talent through orchestral, choral, classical and youth concerts.

Performances are held at Petersfield Festival Hall and St Peter’s Church. The 2026 festival ran from 13–21 March.

Best for: Choral, orchestral and community music
Visit the Petersfield Musical Festival website

Haslemere Hall

Approximately 20–25 minutes from Midhurst

Haslemere Hall is a traditional local entertainment venue presenting visiting bands, tribute acts, musicals and performances by local musical societies.

Its varied programme means it is always worth checking what is scheduled during your visit.

Best for: Touring entertainment, musicals and popular music
See what’s on at Haslemere Hall

Grayshott Folk Club

Approximately 25–30 minutes from Midhurst

Grayshott Folk Club presents established and emerging performers from the British and international folk, roots and acoustic music scenes.

Concerts take place at Grayshott Village Hall on selected dates and regularly attract highly regarded touring musicians.

Best for: Folk, roots and acoustic music
Find out more about Grayshott Folk Club

Major musical experiences within half an hour

The Havana, Chichester

Approximately 30 minutes from Midhurst

Hidden beneath the streets of central Chichester, The Havana is an independent grassroots venue offering live bands, jazz jams, folk music, DJs, comedy and performances by emerging artists.

Its intimate underground setting offers a very different experience from the area’s churches, country houses and festival halls.

Best for: Grassroots music, jazz, bands, DJs and late-night performances
See what’s on at The Havana

Chichester Cathedral

Approximately 30 minutes from Midhurst

Chichester Cathedral presents organ recitals, choral performances and classical concerts in one of southern England’s most impressive historic settings.

Its programme includes performances by the cathedral choir, visiting ensembles and internationally recognised musicians.

Best for: Choral, organ and classical music
Explore Chichester Cathedral events

Festival of Chichester

Approximately 30 minutes from Midhurst

The Festival of Chichester is a major multi-venue celebration of music, theatre, literature and the arts.

Its extensive musical programme encompasses classical concerts, choirs, jazz, folk, cabaret and contemporary performers. The 2026 festival runs from 13 June–19 July.

Best for: Variety and a large choice of performances
Visit the Festival of Chichester website

Chichester Festival Theatre

Approximately 30 minutes from Midhurst

Although best known for theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre also presents musicals, cabaret, dance and selected live-music performances.

Its programme ranges from major productions in the Festival Theatre to more intimate and experimental performances in The Nest.

Best for: Musicals, cabaret and staged musical productions
See what’s on at Chichester Festival Theatre

Goodwood Three Friday Nights

Approximately 25–30 minutes from Midhurst

Three Friday Nights combines evening horseracing with performances by major DJs in the Goodwood Racecourse Parade Ring.

The 2026 events took place on 5, 12 and 19 June, with Sub Focus, Riordan and DJ Luck & MC Neat appearing after racing.

Best for: DJs, dancing and a large summer night out
Discover Three Friday Nights at Goodwood

Choosing how far to travel

For an intimate pub performance, open-mic night or community concert, we recommend staying in or close to Midhurst.

A journey of 15–20 minutes can take you to distinctive experiences such as the Petworth Festival, Champs Hill or West Dean. Chichester and Goodwood are around half an hour away and are best reserved for major concerts, festivals or performers you particularly want to see.

Driving times are approximate and can be affected by traffic, particularly during major Goodwood events.

Find live music during your visit

Music programmes change throughout the year and many of the most memorable local performances take place in temporary or unexpected settings.

Check our current listings to discover concerts, festivals, pub performances and other musical events taking place during your stay.

Explore what’s on in and around Midhurst

Go back