Tickle the Ivories is back! From Friday 1 July – Sunday 4 September 2016 six pianos will once more take centre stage for the world’s only official street piano busking festival, organised in partnership with Liverpool ONE. Whether you’re a professional or an amateur, Open Culture would like to invite you to book a free time slot to perform on – or even around – the pianos.
Tickle the Ivories, Friday 1 July – Sunday 4 September 2016
Liverpool ONE, Daily during store opening hours
FREE
Tickle the Ivories is a unique opportunity to promote your act, have a go at busking or simply indulge your love for performing! Hundreds of performers took part last year, with everything from solo classical pianists to dance groups, bands, school choirs, theatre groups and even comedians showing off their skills to thousands of passers-by.
Who can book a timeslot?
Everyone! Tickle the Ivories is open to professional and amateur musicians, bands, community groups, choirs, musical theatre groups and school music groups/choirs. All performance styles are welcome – you could even stage a dance performance with the piano as an accompaniment. Band with a gig to promote? Why not do it here – anything the audience will enjoy that has a piano performance incorporated!
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.
How to book
Complete the online form and tell us all about your act and preferred performance dates and times (please provide ten days notice when suggesting dates).
Once you have submitted your form we’ll be in touch as soon as we can to discuss your act and confirm your performance times and dates with you. 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 Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. All other days are free play.
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.
Charitable Tuesdays
If you are a registered charity and wish to raise money while performing at Tickle the Ivories, we are now able to offer you the opportunity to book a piano on one of eight Charitable Tuesdays, where you will be the exclusive charity partner performing on that day. You must apply to perform on Charitable Tuesday by email to info@liverpool-one.com.
Available Charitable Tuesdays dates are: 12, 19 and 26 July and 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 August 2016.