Tickle the Ivories Piano Festival
11 July - 14 September
Monday - Saturday 10am - 7pm | Sunday 10am - 5pm
It’s the 15th year of Tickle the Ivories! Our piano festival is back giving visitors a chance to showcase their musical talents!
The 9 week-long event runs until mid-September and encourages local talent to get involved and fill the streets of Liverpool city centre with symphonies of every genre from classical through to dance music.
Piano Locations
📍 Custom House Place under the John Lewis Canopy facing the Green Steps.
📍 South John Street under the bridge by Office Shoes
📍 College Lane opposite Waterstones
📍 Peter’s Square near Kiehl’s and Ted Baker
📍 in The Galleria by ODEON IMAX
Whether it’s dropping in for a spontaneous melody, or watching the incredible performances as the world goes by at Liverpool ONE, Tickle the Ivories is an event held for everyone.
Performance Schedule
Take a look at our upcoming performance schedule.
Friday 25 July
Lucas Fraser | 11am – 12pm
📍Sugar House Steps
William Welsh | 5pm – 6pm
📍Sugar House Steps
Lucas Fraser | 2pm – 3pm
📍South John Street
Lucas Fraser | 12pm – 1pm
📍College Lane
Lucas Fraser | 10am – 11am
📍 Peter’s Square
Lucas Fraser | 1pm – 2pm
📍The Galleria
Saturday 26 July
Lucas Nixon | 12pm – 1pm
📍 Sugar House Steps
SingMe Merseyside | 1pm – 2pm
📍Sugar House Steps
Matthew Nealis | 2pm – 3pm
📍Sugar House Steps
Sunday 27 July
Harvey Moore | 1pm – 2pm
📍Sugar House Steps
William Welsh | 2pm – 3pm
📍 Sugar House Steps
Monday 28 July
Andrew Fisher | 1pm – 2pm
📍Sugar House Steps
Tuesday 29 July
Andrew Fisher | 1pm – 2pm
📍Sugar House Steps
We kindly ask on all players on all pianos to stop playing at 3pm to help us mark a 3 minute’s silence
Wednesday 30 July
Empire Youth Theatre presents ‘Footloose’ | 1pm – 2pm
📍 Sugar House Steps
Andrew Fisher | 2pm – 3pm
📍Sugar House Steps
Thursday 31 July
Andrew Fisher | 1pm – 2pm
📍Sugar House Steps
Want to book a slot to play at Tickle?
Pianos are available free to use for all. However, if you would like to book to play at a specific time, please complete your details on the form below. You will then receive a link to Liverpool ONE’s booking system where you can see all the pianos and slots available and book your chosen location.
Meet the artists behind the designs!
This year, our gorgeous Tickle pianos are all inspired by the power of music. Here’s a little bit about the artists who created the wonderful designs for our 2024 piano festival.
Dot Rogers
Dot has lived in Liverpool for over 20 years, originally moving here to train as a primary school teacher. Now a freelance illustrator and animator, she’s known for creating colourful murals and animations across the city.
Inspired by her musical family and a childhood home full of fostered children, Dot’s piano celebrates Brad Keller—a tribute to the power of music in the lives of young people, especially those in care.
Stu Harrison
Stu is an illustrator and cartoonist, producing artwork for children’s books and creating ideas for children’s media, as well as working extensively in editorial illustration for publications including the Guardian Guide, Mixmag and Select.
He has had global representation by agents in the UK, Europe, The US and Japan.
Jess Hanko
Jess Hanko is a Liverpool-based illustrator working from her studio in the Bluecoat Gallery. Known for her detailed, isometric cityscapes, Jess captures the quiet charm of everyday life.
Her piano design explores how music connects us—showing private moments of dancing, singing and listening that, together, create a shared rhythm running through the city.
Sophie Green
Sophie Green is a Liverpool-based artist celebrated for her bold, joyful designs that champion love, community, and queer joy.
Her piano, Songs Across the Sky, features a chorus of UK summer songbirds—symbolising how music uplifts, connects, and carries through the air like birdsong. Sophie’s work can be found across the city, from murals and workshops to prints and paper goods.
Ryan Rigby
Ryan is a Liverpool-based artist and illustrator known for his emotive portraits and vibrant, pop culture-inspired landscapes. His work blends bold textures with expressive colour to tell visual stories.
For his piano design, Ryan uses bright tones and flowers shaped like music notes to symbolise how music brings people together, helps us grow, and adds joy and inclusivity to everyday life.