Boughton pianist Chris Miggells to perform album debut on £100,000 Steinway piano in derelict Clipstone coal mine

A pianist’s debut album concert is set to fill a derelict coal mine with classical music — played on a £100,000 piano.

Boughton-based pianist and composer Chris Miggells will be performing a unique concert of his original music next month, from inside the disused Clipstone Headstocks building.

It will be the first time Chris’ album, Synesthese, will be performed live, with two dates for the concert sold out and demand for the third and final night high.

Tickets for the final night, August 5, are available on Eventbrite.

The Clipstone Headstocks, the largest headstocks remaining in Europe, are an iconic symbol of the area’s mining heritage and promise an incredible live concert sound in the vast powerhouse.

Chris said: “The building has always interested me, it is so huge and iconic. My grandfather was a miner so there is a family connection there.

“The owner was trying to redevelop the site and hosted a music festival which I band I was helping out with played at. I happened to meet him outside and said I was looking for a place to film a music video and he invited me to look inside.

“It is just so atmospheric and huge, I could hear my footsteps echoing and the voices. I just knew straight away this would sound amazing.”

Chris’ work with the building initially began as a setting for his music video, which was awarded at the Mansfield Film Festival, but when offered the chance to perform live he could not pass it up.

The unusual setting for a concert means the £100,000 Steinway Grand piano, provided by Sherwood Phoenix, has to be craned inside, and has also generated a great deal of interest for the show.

“I announced the first night and it sold out, then the second night sold out soon after,” Chris added.

“I announced a third and final night to give people who didn’t get tickets a chance, and the demand is high.”

It will not only be a night of music, but will also celebrate the historic setting as attendees are lead on a guided tour of the building as an opening act for the concert.

Chris said: “It is my first time playing my album in full and in public.

“It’s tremendously exciting to have an opportunity like this, and to have sold out concerts.”