Street Pianos in Belfast

Following on from the successful Keynote project at Queens Univeristy, ten pianos hit the streets this weekend around Belfast City centre looking for members of the public to play them. The pianos are all restored and have each been designed/decorated by local artists. Nice sunny Sunday afternoon, camera in hand and off we go.

First off, was city hall. Sadly, the piano was tucked away at the gates near the Titanic memorial. Maybe out on the grass it would have attracted a bit more interest and attention.


Next up was the piano outside the Linenhall Library, decorated by the Belfast yarnbombers who recently gave us the funky sheep at the Waterfront. Good spot in a busy street and no shortage of would-be pianists.

Then it was round the corner to Tesco metro for piano number three. Sitting in a shady corner in Royal Avenue and getting a few bemused looks from shoppers.

Piano four was outside the First Presbyterian Church in Rosemary Street and was locked up, so no-one could play it. I later found that this was because the church had complained about the noise and apparently they have their own piano. This was interesting since the man sitting outside the church apparently doing guided tours had so little business this afternoon that he wandered off into TK Maxx and was not seen again.


Small bite of lunch in Deli Lites (Foccacia with goats cheese, chilli jam and carmelised walnuts if you're interested) then round to the old Northern Bank for the piano sponsored by the Chinese Welfare Association. Looked excellent in red and black, and my camera loves red.


Writers Square was next on the list and the piano was sitting all alone until a couple of helpful African gentlemen came along to pose. Still trying to figure out if they were pan-handling or just liked having their pictures taken.


After this, I headed to St Anne's Square where the piano was decorated by the wife of Belfast's own Duke Special. I've forgotten her name. Mrs Wilson? Whoops.


Commercial Court was just down Hill Street and the next piano was just beside the Duke of York.


Nearby in Cotton Court was piano number nine and there I came across Fabio Tedde, a composer and pianist from Sardinia who had travelled from London to play the pianos. Fabio is an excellent pianist who had been let down by a photographer, so I stepped in and took some shots for him.


With Fabio in tow, I headed round to our last piano in Cornmarket, where I was treated to Fabio and a young lady (fine jazz pianist) play a couple of pieces together.


Ten shots, ten pianos. Pint in the Basement Bar and the first half of Liverpool vs Arsenal. What more could you want?