Tickle the Ivories returns as Liverpool ONE champions local talent

Liverpool ONE is set to welcome back its much-loved piano festival, Tickle the Ivories, giving both budding and professional musicians a platform to showcase their skills.

The 10 week-long event, which kicks off on 1^st July and runs until 11^th September, 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, kick-starting the Liverpool ONE summer campaign.

With more than 5,700 performances under its belt since 2011, Tickle the Ivories is set to bring more than 100 performers this year, ranging from solo pianists, duo pianists, choirs, dance groups and so much more! An ideal complement to the occasional play from visitors to Liverpool ONE.

And helping to launch the festival on its first day is community choir SingMe Merseyside, followed by local talent Matthew Nealis, a songwriter from Liverpool; and Andrew Fisher, a Tickle the Ivories regular, on Saturday 2^nd July.

Online sensation Harrison Crane, whose performances have previously gone viral, will also be returning to perform his legendary dance mixes on Sunday 3^rd July. Harrison, from Ormskirk, stunned visitors at Liverpool ONE in 2019 with his outstanding skills performing classic 90s dance anthems in a video that generated more than 26 million views, and was later asked to perform on national TV.

Harrison Crane, 15 years old, said: “Since my debut at Tickle the Ivories a few years ago, I’ve had an incredible amount of interest and have even managed to go viral! Being asked to appear on national TV has been a highlight that I never even expected.

“For me, Tickle the Ivories was a great platform if you’re looking to promote your talent and hopefully get recognised! I can’t wait to return again this year and for many years to come.”

Joining Harrison on the keys on Sunday will be Liverpool Community Choir, a choir of all ages and abilities in Liverpool, and up-and-coming acoustic duo ALBA.

Other young talent performing over the season include Daniel Green, a self-taught 11-year-old pianist who learned to play through watching online videos; and brothers Otis and Gilbert – aged just seven and nine years old – who play the piano and trumpet.

Tickle the Ivories staple Billy the Hat, aged 87, will be returning once again for a piano solo, while Aimee Britannia – singer, producer and pianist – will be making her debut on the keys at Liverpool ONE.

And, this year, performers will have the opportunity to play on the newly revamped pianos, with all of them having been redesigned with iconic imagery by local artists including Sean Webster, Jess Hanko, Jessica Slack, Sophie Green, Laura Kate, Leo Soph Welton and Toucan Tango.

The free-to-use pianos will be located at the bottom of Sugar House Steps by John Lewis & Partners; South John Street, Peter’s Square, College Lane and the Galleria by the entrance of ODEON.

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Manager at Liverpool ONE, said: “It’s that time of year again and we’re thrilled to have our Tickle the Ivories pianos back! It’s been incredible to see the talent that comes along to the festival each year and even better when we see returning performers.

“Tickle the Ivories has always been about providing a platform for those with a gift they want to share, from amateurs to professionals and everyone in between, while offering visitors to Liverpool ONE and the wider city centre the chance to see some incredible live performances. The event is a springboard for emerging local talent, and we look forward to continue encouraging and supporting musical careers in the region.”

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. Keep an eye on the website for further updates on performance scheduling, or to book a slot: www.liverpool-one.com/tickle