Liverpool ONE to be filled with music for Eurovision!

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 2023, 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 to 13 May 2023, 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 2023.

For the 1st 3 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 2023, 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 2023, 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 2023, 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 4 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 2023, visitors will enjoy performances, from exciting young talent, from LIPA 6th 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 2023.

Liverpool Empire will take over the stage on:- Saturday, 13 May 2023, bringing their Creative Learning programme over to entertain visitors, and on:- Sunday, 14 May 2023, 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:- Liverpool-ONE.Com.

Geek Bazaar Liverpool

ON 30 April 2023, Fact Liverpool played host to the Geek Bazaar, hosted by Empire Sector. This event was open to everyone and anyone who wants to experience a geeky event that was created by people who wear the geek badge with pride.

This event not only did this event have lots of people dressed up in Cosplay outfits, but it also a fantastic Geek Bazaar, with independent sellers, who were selling comic book and film related material. Not only that, but the event also had the chance for fans to meet and chat with local artists and writers. Those attending also had the opportunity to watch an animated film from director Mamoru Hosoda.

If you missed it, do not worry as it will be back again soon... More information about the next Geek Bazaar will follow on our site very soon! better still you can follow the Empire Sector on:- Twitterr and on:- Instagram  Well done to all who took part in what was a very friendly and fun event, that celebrated all things geeky.