Tickle the Ivories
This weekend sees the launch of a three month marathon piano busking festival.
The unique musical extravaganza “Tickle the Ivories” kicks off with a fantastic parade around the city centre from Friday July 1st to September 4th.
The musical gala will be played out on the pavements around Liverpool One in true busker style.
Open culture organizers Charlotte Corrie and Christina Grogan have announced that Liverpool’s first official piano busking celebration has drawn a lot of interest from professional as well as amateur professionals.
So far, over eighty musical acts have booked for the summer festival. The event has struck a chord with numerous talented groups from School choirs, community associations and charities. All “Tickle the Ivories” performers are licensed to perform and keep all the proceeds they take.
Music makers and performers of all kinds are invited to book free time slots with and around the piano’s at the most popular times of the day during the open air musical parades.
The free play turns welcome everyone and anyone, encouraging spontaneous public performances. Budding street entertainers can perform using the provided piano’s that will be situated on five prime sites. They are – Peter Lane, Paradise Street, Leisure Terrace, The Sugar House steps, and Tomas Steeps Way.
All styles are welcome, from classical to contemporary, folk or jazz to jitterbug. You can even perform theatre or dance works with the piano as accompaniment. Public presentations are scheduled on a daily basis over the three months.
This is a fantastic opportunity for our local untapped talent to blossom. With over half a million visitors each week to Liverpool One, performers are guaranteed to attract a captive and appreciative audience. “Tickle the Ivories” has already unearthed an impressive hidden gem in that of fifteen year old Harriet Jane.
She gave a striking live performance on BBC radio Merseyside promoting the music festival.
With outstanding vocals and an accomplished pianist, it was one of those moments when you hear someone sing for the first time and you instantly know they have something special.
The radio station was inundated with callers congratulating Harriet and requesting her performance to be repeated. The biggest compliment i can pay Harriet is I believe she is our answer to Lymingtons singing sensation Jasmine Van Den Bogaerde, also known by her stage name Birdy.
She learned to play the piano at the age of five and began writing her own music at seven.
Her version of “Skinny Love” was her first hit in the U.K music charts.
If Harriet Jane is a small example of what “Tickle the Ivories” has to offer then we are in for a treat.
The buskers will bring a chirpy melodious soundtrack around the streets of our city, music and fun are a great combination. I will certainly be getting into the spirit with my mastered rendition of Chop Sticks.
For more information, get in touch with Charlotte or Christina at Open Culture on 0151 478 4550 or email to info@culture.org.uk