City of London Festival 2011

The City of London's annual festival of music and arts includes exhibitions, tours and family events, in addition to dozens of concerts at venues including St Paul's and Southwark cathedrals, many of which are free to attend. Returning this year are 20 'Play Me, I'm Yours' street pianos, installed in squares, parks and gardens for anyone who fancies tinkling the ivories en plein air. Other events include 'Didges on the Bridges', musical accompaniment for the morning commute by didgeridoo players on Blackfriars, Millennium, London, Southwark and Tower bridges (Jun 28 8.30am). 'The Organ of Corti', an experimental instrument in the form of a transparent sonic crystal that takes sounds from its environment and recycles them, features in a walk led by John Levack Drevner (Jul 3 2pm). 'Dusk Chorus', an installation for nightfall combining the sound of birdsong and wildlife recorded in the Australian Outback, with choreography depicting the dance of the lyrebird, takes place in the Guildhall Yard (Jun 27 10pm) and in a daytime version on St Paul's Cathedral's west steps (Jul 12 1.15pm and 7pm). 'A Fifteen Piano Salute to Grainger' is a promenade performance, making use of the festival's street pianos, by Guildhall students, in tribute to the Australian composer Percy Grainger (Jun 26). See the website for full details.