Last weekend, I finally unveiled my new Liverpool RED piano. Yay! BLISS had very kindly invited me to perform in the VIP Lounge at the Liverpool Wedding Show. The piano looked amazing (see above) and guests really loved this new addition to the portable baby grand collection. I’ve had my other white baby grand piano for 15 years now. But this Liverpool red piano is very RED and very SHINY!
We can set the piano up practically anywhere. We transport it on its side with the legs off so it can fit through a single door. It is actually a mahogany piano body which houses a Nord Stage 2 keyboard. Once on site, set-up takes about 20 minutes. It is connected up to a Mackie PA system which we can also use for playing iPod music during performance breaks.
Repertoire can be anything from background (John Legend, Rat Pack, Bublé, current charts) to full-on party and singalong! There are thousand of songs in my playlists. For evening events, I also set up appropriate stage lighting. In addition, I always carry a spare mic or 2 and an iPad with a ton of lyrics ready for guest singers. Or how about some Live Karaoke?
So imagine:
a) you’re having a red colour scheme (maybe a ruby wedding),
b) you support the Reds,
c) you’re planning a Christmas party with red and white
d) you just want something original and different…
How about a guy in a hat singing and playing your favourite songs on a red piano? x
A white wedding piano for a white wedding? I set up my portable white baby grand piano in Leasowe Castle‘s new “Keep” the other week for a quick photo shoot. What a fantastic space! It’s so light and fresh. Absolutely beautiful! It’s already looking like a real hit with couples who are planning to book their wedding venue. The pews offer plenty of comfortable seating space for your guests. As a result, there is no need for extensive chair dressing. The room looks even more stunning when simply dressed with bows and classic flowers.
This 21st century addition to the 16th century Castle has the feel of a very modern chapel. Work was just completed at the beginning of June 2015. The original pews and vaulted ceiling in particular help create a beautiful setting for your civil ceremony. They look even more stunning when dressed with the sashes and bows (see below). The white wedding piano is an elegant addition to the “stage” area and fits perfectly with the room’s neutral tones. I can perform both instrumentals and piano & vocals songs during the wedding ceremony.
In addition, I have performed in all of the function rooms at the Castle: wedding ceremonies inside and outside in the garden pergola; wedding breakfasts in the Castle Suite; private dinner parties in the Star Chamber and Portcullis Restaurant; Christmas parties upstairs in the Turret Suite… Therefore, as you can see, it is a very adaptable venue for your wedding with a great team that can take care of everything on site.
As a matter of fact, I’m back there tomorrow! Hope to see you at the next Leasowe Castle wedding fair on September 20th 2015 x
At last Saturday’s Sheldrakes wedding in Heswall, I provided the entertainment for Fiona and Ian’s party.
They had actually got married 2 weeks earlier in Las Vegas. This was to be their UK wedding reception.
I had performed at several Sheldrakes weddings before but they had been downstairs. Using the disabled lift, I loaded the piano up to the new function suite on the first floor. What a view! It was a stunning, bright, sunny day and the room was absolutely perfect.
I’d just started my 2nd set when everybody rushed out to the balcony! Everyone had been really enjoying the music up to that point. Was it the Take That medley?
But then I saw the paragliders fly past (see right) and I stopped playing to take a photo too. These guys were pretty close and flew past 3 or 4 times! How cool is that!
Once everyone had enjoyed the stunning sunset, it was time for the first dance and then some serious charts for the younger guests. Once the lights go down, it has a great small bar / club feel. It’s a great live music venue. So with several more Sheldrakes weddings booked in for 2015, good times lie ahead. Good times!
Vivan los novios! All the best to Fiona & Ian. Thank you for a great party xx
Rob and Iris were looking for a Wirral pianist to perform at their Thornton Manor wedding. We set up a meeting at my studio where I laid out an entertainment programme for the whole day.
They wanted mostly instrumental pieces so I would not be singing as much as usual. I would be playing during guests’ arrival, the wedding ceremony and then during the drinks reception and wedding breakfast.
They were also planning a wedding in China where Iris’ family still lived so there was twice as much organising to do…
I set up a piano keyboard at the back of the ceremony room. The wedding ceremony music was as follows: Pachelbel’s Canon in D for the walk-in or processional. Bella’s Lullaby, The Meadow and The River Flows In You (all Twilight soundtrack) for the signing of the register. Mariage d’Amour (Chopin) for the walk-out or recessional. This is apparently a very popular piece in China.
Once we moved into the hall for the drinks reception, the many Chinese guests were clearly enjoying themselves. When we moved into the Music Room for the wedding breakfast (see image), they were just in awe.
The venue Thornton Manor never fails to impress. I must also mention the fact that the bride looked absolutely stunning and the groom didn’t scrub up too badly either…
It was my privilege to perform at your wedding. Thank you for having a local Wirral pianist to play for you and your guests. It was a fab wedding! All the best to the new Mr & Mrs Anson x
This afternoon, I returned to the stunning Knowsley Hall to perform Elaine & Michael’s wedding. They had been searching for a Liverpool wedding pianist and a friend had given them my website details. I really appreciate it when past brides and grooms recommend me to others.
Due to the high winds, the team had to set up for the drinks reception inside the Hall rather than outside on the terrace. I set up the baby grand in the reception hall. As requested, I played instrumental When You Wish Upon A Star followed by Bella’s Lullaby as the newlyweds arrived at the venue.
For the next 2 hours or so I took requests and chatted during breaks. There were some familiar faces of couples who had also booked me to play at their weddings. It is lovely when you bump into couples a few years down the line and they now have young families.
As at previous Knowsley Hall wedding, the drinks reception lasted more like 2 hours so I played slightly longer sets. I had already set my piano keyboard up in the dining room ready for the wedding breakfast. So there was no problem moving from one area to the other. I had prepared everything ready for that seamless transition…
Once guests had taken their seats, I played in the new Mr & Mrs Walsh with their song: Marry You. Elaine & Michael had given me a list of requests including:
One Day Like This Wonderwall
I Just Haven’t Met You Yet That’s Amore
and plenty of others.
Guests were now enjoying their main course, so I put the iPod on and took my break. I had a quick main course myself near the bar. Delicious! Thank you very much!
For the final half hour or so over desserts and coffee, I went for the old Hey Jude rousing finale. I would like to thank my dancers (you know who you are!) and past groom Mr Steve McKenna for leading the singing and the arm waving. We ended the wedding breakfast on a real high note…
Congratulations to a lovely bride and groom wishing you every future happiness! xx
Steve and Katy got in touch last year regarding wedding entertainment for their Formby Hall wedding. They had seen me perform at their friends’ wedding at Thornton Manor in 2011.
For their own wedding, they wanted my white baby grand piano and vocals downstairs for the drinks reception. Then we were going to head upstairs to the Ambassador Suite for the wedding breakfast. I had set up a piano keyboard there beforehand.
As per usual, guests moved around the hotel during the drinks reception. Some went out to the terrace to enjoy the weather while others stayed inside.
But as soon as we moved upstairs, guest kicked off waving napkins for That’s Amore. The oldest singers ever gave us Hey Jude, Delilah, Imagine andmore… Finally, we belted out Shine for the Take That hardcore who had been leading the choruses.
We had a plan for a karaoke set downstairs after speeches following its success at the Thornton Manor wedding. However, we hadn’t counted on a Formby Hall wedding record two and a quarter hours of speeches!So, no karaoke…As a result, the team wanted everyone back upstairs to begin the evening function in less than 15 minutes…
Every wedding is different and Steve and Katy absolutely did it their way. I had a great time with them and their party of fun guests. The characters in the room guaranteed the party atmosphere. I’m sure they all had a great night. All the best to the new Mr & Mrs Pellow! x
On Friday, I was pianist vocalist at the much awaited wedding of Brian and Vicky on the day they also celebrated 20 years together!
The ceremony was held upstairs at the Racquet Club and pieces included The Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere” and “And I Love Her.”
After sliding the piano through for the drinks reception, it was time for a touch of Latin. The theme from “Sex and The City” created a great atmosphere while the champagne was flowing.
The Racquet Club team excelled as always. I’m sure the newlyweds will enjoy many more happy years together! xx
Simon & Anna’s Sheldrakes wedding in Heswall was such a fantastic day. The beautiful setting was made even more so by the glorious weather.
Sheldrakes always offers a special feel that you associate with the seaside, holidays, relaxing, having a drink with friends, etc.
Once the guests had started to arrive, I performed my solo piano & vocals sets during the drinks reception. After a string of requests, including “Ordinary People“, “It Must Be Love” and “Shine” the party was soon buzzing and the daytime singsongs just went on and on…
When the evening guests had all arrived, the stunning bride and her groom cut the cake. Wirral wedding band The 40 Thieves then kicked off with the newlyweds’ first dance request “Sweetest Feeling” and kept the dancefloor bouncing until time was called with “500 Miles“…
Another great Sheldrakes wedding, a glorious day and a great night was had by one and all!
Steve and Katy got in touch last year regarding wedding entertainment for their 
On Friday, I was pianist vocalist at the much awaited wedding of Brian and Vicky on the day they also celebrated 20 years together!
Simon & Anna’s