Enjoy a summer of live music throughout Liverpool ONE this summer as six pianos take centre stage in our piano busking festival Tickle The Ivories!
Organised in partnership with Open Culture, Tickle the Ivories returns for its seventh outing from 7 July – 4 September 2017. Whether you’re a professional player or an amateur, all are invited to book free time slots to perform on – or around – the six pianos.
Plus, this year we’ve partnered with the British Music Experience and Merseyrail Sound Station. Nathan, from the British Music Experience, will be lighting the piano by the Green House Steps on fire (figuratively, of course), while Merseyrail sound station will be dazzling the public on Keys Court.
Merseyrail Sound Station is also inviting pianists or bands to film a live performance of a track on the Sound Station piano in Key’s Court and upload it to the project’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MerseyrailSoundStation . In doing so, artists will enter the Merseyrail Sound Station Prize http://merseyrailsoundstation.com/prize/ and be in with a chance of winning a year of free train travel, music industry mentoring and studio time! Sound Station will be holding two Upload Days at the piano at which a Sound Station team member will film uploads. Check back for dates. To book on to the piano contact Sound Station via their Facebook page or register with Tickle The Ivories https://openculture.wufoo.eu/forms/tickle-the-ivories-2017/
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
Complete the online form and tell us all about your act, preferred performance dates and times (please provide ten days’ notice when suggesting dates).
Once you have submitted your form, someone will be in touch to discuss your act and confirm your performance. If you have any questions, get in touch with Chris at Open Culture on 0151 478 4066 or by email at chris@culture.org.uk.
Performance slots can be booked on any day of the week.
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.
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.
Friday 21.7.17
Paradise Street
12pm – 1pm Olly Flavell
A pop/country/rock band performing 60 minutes of original songs.
Saturday 22.7.17
Lower South John Street
12pm – 1pm Eduardo Capel
A journey through great songs of all times. A mix of the best rock and roll, pop, tango, musicals…
1pm – 2pm Frank Honnor
Classical, jazz and blues improvisation with a few covers.
Paradise
12pm – 1pm Timepiece
A local swing band playing music for all ages.
2pm – 3pm Jazz All That Trio
A jazz band comprising piano (Phil Jenkins), jazz guitar (Andy Millar) and upright bass (Peter Brown).
College Lane
4pm – 5pm GEWC
Experimental Art Pop
Sugar House Steps
6pm – 7pm Evil Pink Machine
Are you ready to join the pink starship?
Sunday 23.7.17
Lower South John Street
2pm – 3pm Laura Clough
A collection of popular and classical music on piano and cornet/trumpet.
Paradise Street
12pm -1pm Peter Clough
A collection of popular and classical music on piano and cornet/trumpet.
College Lane
12pm -1pm Eduardo Capel
A journey through great songs of all times. A mix of the best rock and roll, pop, tango, musicals…
1pm – 2pm Peter Morgan
Two pianists and seven violinists!
Sugar House Steps
12pm – 1pm Evil Pink Machine
Are you ready to join the pink starship?
2pm – 3pm SingMe Merseyside
One of Liverpool’s best and most exciting community choirs will have you singing along and dancing in the street.
Monday 24.7.17
College Lane
1pm – 2pm Helen Maw
A singer songwriter here to entertain with some of her own songs, plus covers of classics.
Sugar House Steps
1pm – 5pm British Music Experience
Wednesday 26.7.17
Sugar House Steps
12pm – 5pm British Music Experience
Thursday 27.7.17
Lower South John Street
1pm – 2pm Alan Derrick
Listen to the great Broadway songbooks, plus some improvised jazz and blues.
Friday 28.7.17
College Lane
1pm – 2pm Ben Parkinson
Solo piano pop, jazz, blues and boogie woogie. A mixture of covers and improvisation.
Saturday 29.7.17
Lower South John Street
12pm – 1pm Paddy on the Piano
Paddy plays piano!
1pm – 2pm Alex Windrow
Enjoy a moment with Alex Windrow; includes a mix of pop, classical and jazz pieces.
Paradise Street
12pm – 1pm The A Majors
Piano pupils from Wirral
College Lane
12pm – 1pm Eduardo Capel
A journey through great songs of our times. A mix of the best rock and roll, pop, tango, musicals…a bit of everything!
1pm – 2pm Matt McIver
A great mix of contemporary music and original material from The Beatles to Blur, Elton to Elbow. No backing tracks, no gimmicks, just piano… live!
Sugar House Steps
12pm – 1pm Matt McIver
A great mix of contemporary music and original material from The Beatles to Blur, Elton to Elbow. No backing tracks, no gimmicks, just piano… live!
1pm – 2pm Matthew Nealis
Matthew has autism and music helps him focus on his everyday life.
Sunday 30.7.17
Lower South John Street
12pm – 1pm Eduardo Capel
A collection of popular and classical music on piano and cornet/trumpet.
Paradise Street
1pm – 2pm Paul
A wide variety of song choices for easy listening.
Sugar House Steps
1pm – 2pm Musical Mayhem
Fun family band that plays music from all genres for all ages.
With so many great events at Liverpool ONE, make sure you don't miss out by planning your day in advance. We have all the services to make your visit as easy as possible, including car parking and easy-to-follow store maps.
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