Ten-Piece Brass and Piano Blues: Midnight Joanna Hits The Sundown

By Alyssa | WhatsOn music and nightlife writer Alyssa tracks the gigs, festivals, club nights and late-late plans worth leaving the house for.

When local songwriter Ant Noel scales an original project up to a ten-piece live band, Wharf Street takes notice. Staged at The Sundown with backing from ArtHouse Jersey and the Creative Island Partnership, Midnight Joanna (Matinee & Evening) Jersey brings full-throttle musical storytelling to St Helier, fusing punchy rock 'n' roll, sultry blues, smoky jazz, and wall-of-sound brass arrangements into a theatrical piano-bar spectacle that doubles as a fundraiser for ocean therapy charity Healing Waves.

Roaring Horns and Intimate Piano Chords

Stepping inside The Sundown for Midnight Joanna feels less like catching a standard pub gig and more like gaining entry to a hidden basement cabaret in a major metropolis. The room fills with the rich aroma of craft cocktails and sizzling tapas from the kitchen, but the real draw is the sonic firepower crammed onto the stage. Ant Noel directs the narrative from the keys, anchoring intricate rhythm shifts that let a powerhouse horn section rip through punchy crescendos before falling away into delicate, spine-tingling acoustic interludes. Choosing between the matinee and the evening performance completely dictates your experience. The afternoon sitting offers a relaxed, daylight-lit lounge atmosphere where you can dig into the lyricism and nuanced musicianship over small plates. Come the evening performance, the tempo turns electric: the house lights dim, the brass punches harder through the sound system, and the venue transforms into a boisterous, shoulder-to-shoulder enclave of blues-soaked revelry.

Charity Riffs and Grassroots Energy

Beyond the tight horn charts and infectious grooves, this production is deeply rooted in the local creative scene. Ant Noel has assembled some of the finest session players across the Channel Islands to construct a lush, dynamic soundscape you rarely get to experience in a room this personal. The crowd reflects that tight-knit community pulse: seasoned music aficionados who follow the island's songwriting circuit rub shoulders with ocean enthusiasts and supporters out to back Healing Waves. By bridging high-calibre original theatre with grassroots philanthropy, the gig generates a rare communal energy where every blazing sax solo and foot-stomping encore feels like an island-wide triumph.

Know Before You Go

• Secure your spot early via Island Ticket Hut or check listings on The Sundown, as the intimate room fills rapidly and tickets sell quickly across both time slots.
• Arrive at least 30 to 40 minutes ahead of curtain up to grab a well-placed table, especially if you plan to order food and cocktails before the opening numbers.
• Opt for the 12:30 matinee if you prefer an unhurried, listening-room vibe with food; target the evening performance if you want full volume, high energy, and a late drink.
• Wharf Street is fully pedestrianised in central St Helier, so head to nearby public parking at Sand Street or Pier Road if driving into town.
• The venue is accessible on ground level, but table arrangements are snug during sold-out runs, so contact staff in advance if you need dedicated space.

Make a Weekend of It

Make the most of your trip into St Helier by turning this live show into a full-scale culinary and coastal crawl. Before taking your seat for the matinee, dive into the maritime heritage of the neighbouring harbour with a stop at the Maritime Museum, or stretch your legs on a local history excursion arranged through Stroll In Jersey. If you are catching the evening show, settle in beforehand for an exceptional dinner: book a table at La Bastille Bar & Brasserie for classic French-inspired dishes and an extensive wine list, or head around the corner to Weighbridge Place for wood-fired flavours and prime cuts at The Square. When the final notes fade and you are not ready to head home, keep the momentum alive with drinks and late-night party anthems over at Chambers Sports Bar & Nightclub.

Catch you at the bar before the first horn cue, Alyssa.