With Eurovision now just weeks away, Liverpool ONE has announced an additional jam-packed schedule full of events, music, art and community-led activities, including the full line-up reveal for the Stage at Chavasse Park, a piano busking festival and other exciting plans.
Until Sunday 14 May, the much-loved Tickle the Ivories is back to celebrate the city’s musical talents and drum up excitement ahead of the iconic event. Special performances are planned 26 April – 13 May in the run up to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.
With more than 5,800 performances under its belt since 2011, Tickle the Ivories gives local talent and visitors a chance to showcase their talent while filling the streets of Liverpool city centre with symphonies of every genre, from classical through to dance music, getting visitors into the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest, and there’s no doubt they’ll be more musicians in the city than ever before!
As part of its special Eurovision pop-up, and to complement the piano performances, music will be played in Paradise Street thanks to specially installed speakers, where visitors can enjoy the sounds of Eurovision and hits from previous contests!
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said: “Tickle the Ivories has been a favourite of visitors to Liverpool ONE for more than a decade, showcasing musical talent from the local area and helping to put a spring in the step of all who visit and work at Liverpool ONE.
“So, what better time to bring it back than during the run up to Eurovision. We’re looking forward to seeing some regular pianists return to the keys, as well as some new faces from across the region and way beyond!”
Over at Chavasse Park, the full line-up is now revealed for a free-to-attend week full of programmed dance, theatre, and music performances taking place on a specially installed stage from Monday 8 May until Sunday 14 May.
For the first three days, in partnership with Culture Liverpool, EuroCamp will take over the Stage at Chavasse Park from 1pm into the evening, featuring stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK as part of a programme of arts, cabaret and music performances commissioned for EuroFestival, the 14-day cultural festival across Liverpool.
On Monday 8 May, Black Gold Arts, who champion emerging talent from the African, Caribbean, Southeast, South, East Asian and Middle Eastern communities, will be bringing a Family Catwalk extravaganza by Ghetto Fabulous, as well as performances from NoirTones and The Bitten Peach among others.
On Tuesday 9 May, the London-based Hackney Showroom will take over the stage with Liverpool’s own Ms Sharon Le Grand hosting The Best and The Wurst of Eurovision, featuring Don One, Midgette Bardot, Bolly-Illusion, Ginny Lemon, Eurotroupe and Nicky Harris, plus other great performances throughout the day.
On Wednesday 10 May, Liverpool’s LGBTQIA+ arts organisations, Homotopia working in partnership with DuoVision, presents HomoVision, with some special guests including Jonny Woo, Just May, Filla Crack and The House of La Porta.
Josiah Worth, Homotopia Producer, said: “This 3-day programme by EuroCamp and Culture Liverpool is a powerhouse production with camp at its core. I feel extremely excited for us to showcase this kaleidoscope of talent in the heart of Liverpool!”
On the remaining four days, Liverpool ONE’s community-led performances will showcase up and coming local talent on the Stage at Chavasse Park from midday into the afternoon.
On Thursday 11 May, visitors will enjoy performances from exciting young talent from LIPA Sixth Form including their Musical Theatre Choir performing a Eurovision Mash Up including crowd favourites from both musical theatre and Eurovision of the past, while Liverpool City College will take the reins of the stage showcasing up and coming talent on Friday 12 May.
Liverpool Empire will take over the stage on Saturday 13 May bringing their Creative Learning programme over to entertain visitors, and on Sunday 14 May, LIPA’s up-and-coming performers will farewell Eurovision fans with dancing, singing and performing acts.
Brian Campbell, Teacher of Music at LIPA Sixth Form College, said: “Our students are beyond excited to showcase their talent at the Stage on Chavasse Park. We will be showcasing all our disciplines including Music Performance and Production, Musical Theatre, Acting, Technical Theatre and Design for Performance, and this collaboration of the arts will celebrate Eurovision being held in Liverpool.
Our students have the amazing opportunity to unite an audience from around the world using their art, and they will remember this precious moment in their future careers. LIPA Sixth Form College is proud of their hard work and is thrilled to showcase the future generation of performing arts at Liverpool ONE.”
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said: “We’re pleased to be working with outstanding national and local community performing arts groups to bring a varied roster of performances to Stage on the Park in the heart of Liverpool ONE.
“We are thrilled to be able to showcase national, regional and local young talent, giving them a platform to perform to a global audience!”
For more information about the full Eurovision plans at Liverpool ONE including the Tickle the Ivories pop-up and Stage in the Park, visit: www.liverpool-one.com/eurovision
