About

Our 2016 festival was a huge success with a wide variety of performers taking part; From solo classical pianists wowing us with everything from Beethoven to dance classics like Faithless – Insomnia. We’ve had school choirs, theatre groups and even Darth Vader making the odd appearance!

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to promote your act, have a go at busking or simply indulge your passion for performing.

Tickle the Ivories is open to professional and amateur musicians, bands, community groups, choirs, musical theatre groups and school music groups/choirs. All Tickle the Ivories performers are licensed to busk and keep all the proceeds they make. Please read the Code of Practice for more information.

Share your performance with us online using #tickletheivories

Free play sessions

Tickle the Ivories is open for free play sessions daily when the pianos are not booked, any member of the public is free to play any tune they know. These sessions are also licensed for busking.

Charity Collections

If you wish to collect for a charity you must apply for a specific charity permit from Liverpool ONE by contacting joshua.mcmahon@liverpool-one.com. Information can be found on our community involvement page.

On certain occasions, we may have to remove a piano for repairs. Please use alternative pianos if the one you would like to play is not available. To protect the pianos in wet weather we may keep the outdoor ones in storage and they will be put out as soon as weather improves. This may affect the pianos on Paradise Street, College Lane and Sugar House Steps.

 Upcoming performances

Tuesday 19.9.17

Lower South John Street

2pm – 3pm        Frank McFarlane

A blind performer with many years of tickling the ivories under his belt. So come and enjoy songs from the shows, and maybe a classical piece thrown in for good measure!

Sugar House Steps

1pm – 2pm        Helen Maw

A singer songwriter here to entertain, with some of her own songs and some covers of classics!

2pm – 3pm     Izzy Ryder

(keyboard player with Jimmy Rae & the Moonshine Girls). Performing ragtime, boogie-woogie, Billy Joel, Beethoven and some originals too!

Wednesday 20.9.17

College Lane

5pm – 6pm        Gerry Jones

Musical allsorts from home and abroad. Not pop.  Ask for requests, or even play a duet!

6pm – 7pm     Daniel P Watkins

Romantic cocktail pianist playing timeless pop/ rock /musical theatre classics.

Sugar House Steps

1pm – 2pm        Helen Maw

A singer songwriter here to entertain, with some of her own songs and some covers of classics!

5pm – 6pm        Frank McFarlane

A blind performer with many years of tickling the ivories under his belt. So come and enjoy songs from the shows, and maybe a classical piece thrown in for good measure!

7pm – 8pm        Eduardo Capel

A journey through great songs of all times. A mix of the best rock and roll, pop, tango, musicals, and more.

Peter’s Lane

6pm – 7pm        Jim Finn

An eclectic mix of popular evergreens from the 1950s including country, blues and pop.

Thursday 21.9.17

Lower South John Street

3pm – 4pm        Frank McFarlane

A blind performer with many years of tickling the ivories under his belt. So come and enjoy songs from the shows, and maybe a classical piece thrown in for good measure!

5pm – 6pm     Daniel P Watkins

Romantic cocktail pianist playing timeless pop/ rock /musical theatre classics.

College Lane

3pm – 4pm        Rey Hadi

Short selections from famous pieces of music.

Sugar House Steps

1pm – 2pm        Helen Maw

A singer songwriter here to entertain, with some of her own songs and some covers of classics!

2pm – 3pm        Ben Dodd

Just Ben playing the piano! He has been performing since he was six years old.

3pm – 4pm        Fast Fingers

Classical pianist playing own compositions and classics.