This summer we will run three Lids Open Days back to back in the build up to the Commonwealth Games and Merchant City Festival at The Burrell Collection ( Central Auditorium ), The Glasgow Room in The MItchell Library and at City Halls, Grand Hall & Recital Room.

Our 1st summer event finds us back at The Burrell Collection for another Lids Open Day on Sunday June 28th from 11.30am to 4.30pm. 

The piano will be free to play in the central auditorium with performances from 1pm to 2pm by Glasgow Voices Choir & Kate Barrie. Please register by email here . . . with a rough time of when you intend to come along as this always helps us to coordinate things. Though . . . the invitation is always there to Just Turn up and Play!
This will be followed by Lids Open Day returning to The Glasgow Room in The Mitchell Library on Saturday July 4th from 10am - 4pm where the beautiful 9ft Daneman Concert Grand Piano will be free to play. You can also just come along to hear other players too.  Please register by email here . . . with a rough time of when you intend to come along as this always helps us to coordinate things. Though . . . as ever, it is also totally ok to Just Turn up and Play!

If you did not know about them - you really should. There are five wee piano practice rooms on the 4th floor of the Mitchell Library.    You just need a library card and a few pounds and then you can play for an hour or more if it is quiet. This is a fantastic resource.

Just before the Commonwealth Games action and the Merchant City Festival begins on July 23rd and 24th - we will be running a third extra special Lids Open Day at City Halls in both The Grand Hall and Recital Room on Saturday July 18th from 10am to 4.30pm. 

Our LOD events are always universal & intergenerational, though this one is intended to be more for children and young people to experience the unique atmosphere of our Lids Open Days and enjoy a rare opportunity to play two Steinway Concert Grand Pianos.  We may well organise performances around lunchtime ( from 1 - 2pm ) at both the Mitchell and City Halls - let's see what happens!  Please register by email here . . . with a rough time of when you intend to come along as this always helps us to coordinate things. Though . . . the invitation remains to Just Turn up and Play!

This year we remember with great affection George Howat - pictured above over Dave's shoulder ( 16th May 1928 - 3rd April 2026 ) We also want to remember Stan Breingan - pictured below in the Grand Hall - beloved father of 12 ( 26th Oct 1935 - 15th May 2024 )

Lids Open Days began in the Grand Hall, City Halls, at the 2013 Festival of the Piano and has grown into an event loved by all players,  offering a rare chance for musician and instrument to connect, without the usual pressure or expectations to perform or entertain. Players from all ages, all walks of life & musical styles are welcome. Below are just a few faces from our last LOD in the Recital Room.

Ugnius

Stan

Grainne

Harry

Our first 'Lids Open Night' was held under GAIA at Mackintosh Queens Cross in June 2023, below are 2 films of players from that event.

Our events are intended to welcome imperfection and expand widen our experience of listening to ourselves and others playing music in public. Wherever possible, we also aim to offer participants a choice about whether they want to invite along family & friends, maybe have some informal tuition or just enjoy 12 - 15 mins playing time on a beautiful piano, without a paying audience or any ears that might be carrying the usual expectation of a performance or waiting to be . . . entertained.

If you have never attended one of our LOD's before you can get a sense of the event by listening to Anna Magnusson's radio interview with participants at our 2019 event in the Glasgow Room or watching the short film above, from Mackintosh Queens Cross in 2015.

 

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