The Undergrand project Photo: Supplied
A few years back, when Joe Dobson sold his Whanganui chocolate business, he found himself with a fair bit of cash and some extra time on his hands.
Perhaps he spent too much of that free time watching Jane Campion movies, or maybe he just has an over-active imagination, but Dobson came up with the idea of a ioutdoor ready' piano, complete with a travelling hoist and trailer that allows you to park it just about anywhere.
It all started one winter's night with a baby grand on a Hawkes Bay beach, then Dobson persuaded an engineering friend to design a roving hoist with fat tyres that could move said baby grand (these days a brilliant white model) over rough terrain.
This piano's had more moves than most of us have had hot dinners. Photo: Supplied
Dobson called the whole project 'Undergrand' (although it hasn't been in a cave yet), and it's about to hit Auckland for the city's arts festival.
Looks good in the city too. Photo: Supplied
Over the next few weeks you'll spot some of Auckland's finest pianists playing Dobson's baby white on Piha Beach, in Cornwall Park, Mahurangi, on Māngere Maunga, in Takutai Square, Queen Street, Mission Bay, Manukau, Devonport, Sylvia Park, Henderson, Wenderholm Regional Park and Takapuna. It will close the festival with live family karaoke in Aotea Square.
Oh, and for those of you who worry about water getting in the works, Dobson has a heavy-duty cover ready to fling over the instrument if it looks like rain's about to fall.
No plans to put Undergrand out to pasture. Photo: Steven Small
One place Undergrand hasn't been is the South Island. Dobson says the cost of getting it across on a ferry is too high.
Reckon that baby white would go well with this colour scheme. Photo: 123RF
Seems like an obvious opportunity for a sponsor to step in. The scenic possibilities - from Aoraki to Mitre Peak - are endless.
As long as the movers are up to the job, what could possibly go wrong?
