In response to Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 25: Music
I took this picture in Liverpool in 2011. I’ve just found out that Tickle the Ivories has been an annual event in the city for the past five years and it is the world’s only street piano busking festival!
What it involves is half a dozen brightly coloured pianos placed around Liverpool City Centre for people to play, be they professionals, amateurs, classical , jazz, blues, rock …..anything goes. Timetabled slots can be booked and there are also “free play” sessions. There is a tin bucket chained to each piano and performers can keep any money they make .
The ivories can once again be tickled in Liverpool this year from 1st July to 4th September 2016. I’ll be there (to watch and listen, enjoy and appreciate but, sadly, not to play as I don’t know how).
More information about “Tickle the Ivories” can be found on the Liverpool One website.
Tickle the Ivories ©HelenBushe
Free play sessions
Tickle the Ivories is open for free play sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, where the pianos are not booked and any member of the public is free to play any tune they know. These sessions are also licensed for busking. (Liverpool One website)
6 Comments
cwaugh212 · 15 May 2016 at 16:36
I get the feeling that your favorite color might be red.
HMB · 15 May 2016 at 16:57
For colour pop it sure is ! But not for clothes!
Hugh's Views and News · 15 May 2016 at 15:50
What a fantastic idea, Helen. Are the pianos under cover? I was wondering what happens when it rains?
HMB · 15 May 2016 at 17:00
On the website about this year’s tickle ivories festival it says that 2 of them would need to be moved if it rains .
Hugh's Views and News · 15 May 2016 at 21:21
Only two? I’m guessing the other four must be under cover then? I’d hate to be the person having to move them when it rains.
HMB · 15 May 2016 at 21:25
No doubt it will rain when Sheila and I go so I’ll photograph pianos under tarpaulins