Joe Stilgoe

Joe is known for writing songs that feel like they’ve been around for years, and adapting classics that sound as though they were just written. Over the course of his varied career he has become a true modern-day entertainer, known globally as a performer of wit, style and a level of musicianship which has seen him recognised as one of the best singer-pianists in the world. His new album, Theatre will be released in May this year.

Joe has toured around the world with his band and as a solo act, appearing in festivals, jazz clubs and concert halls from Ronnie Scotts to The Barbican to Birdland in New York. As well as frequent guest performances he regularly puts together his own Big Band for sold-out shows across the country.

As a recording artist he has released 7 critically lauded albums, four of which have topped the UK Jazz chart. In 2019 he released two albums -   the first being a new departure of style and genre - The Heat Is On! - Joe’s unique interpretation of the soundtrack from the 1980’s, reimagined with a full 1950s Big Band. In December 2019 he released another no.1 record - Joe Stilgoe’s Christmas Album, which featured guest stars including Rob Brydon, Amy Dickson and The Canterbury Cathedral Girls Choir.

He is a hugely sought-after performer for society parties, corporate events and charity fundraisers - he was asked to perform for The Queen and Duke Of Edinburgh’s 70th wedding anniversary at Windsor, and has given private performances for Prince Charles at St James Palace, the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor and the Duchess of Cornwall at The Ritz in London, among many others. He has recently begun an association with The Science Museum, where last year he was the first jazz musician to be invited to give a talk on the science of music with Dr Philip Ball as part of their LATES season. He is also an ambassador for The Old Vic, Children & The Arts, The Orpheus Centre and Chestnut Tree House.

He works extensively on radio, having hosted and starred many times in BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night, while also being a regular presence on the station. He has also appeared on the Now Show, Loose Ends and The Horne Section for Radio 4, and is a regular on In Tune for Radio 3.

As a theatre performer he starred in High Society at The Old Vic in 2015, which led to him being invited to perform at the 2016 Olivier Awards, and in 2018 he starred in Guys And Dolls at the Albert Hall. As composer and lyricist, he wrote music and lyrics for a new production of The Jungle Book, which toured the UK to great success in 2017 and 2018, and The Midnight Gang, an adaption of the David Walliams novel, which opened at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2018 to rave reviews. He is currently working on many new theatrical projects, including a new Walliams adaptation and a new Julia Donaldson adaption - ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS which is currently on tour.