Piano bike musician cancels tour dates after Tamworth van theft

A woman who set out to busk in every town in the UK with her custom-built “piano bike” has cancelled a string of tour dates after her van was stolen.

Chloe Marie Aston, from Ilfracombe, Devon, was performing in Tamworth on Saturday when the vehicle, which she left locked, was taken from Spinning School Lane car park.

“It was a horrible shock, just disbelief”, the 21-year-old said, adding that her personal possessions were in the van, including her costumes and spare parts for the piano.

Ms Aston said she reported the theft to Staffordshire Police who believed the van was taken at about midday. She thinks someone was able to clone a key to access the vehicle.

Ms Aston, who describes herself as a travelling musician, normally drives to each town and then cycles to where she performs.

She previously told the BBC how she used to busk with a guitar as a teenager and then her father came up with the idea of putting a piano on a bike.

After the theft, she had to cycle with her piano to the police station and the fire station.

She said her Facebook followers had been “really supportive” after she posted on Sunday that tour dates in October had been cancelled, with pictures of the stolen Ford Transit Custom High Top van.

She wrote: “I also feel terrible for my dad, all he does is try to help me and now he has no transport.

“I’m not sure what my plans are for the future, I honestly feel like giving up with singing. I try and bring something nice to towns and this happens.

“I’ve got to pick up my piano from Tamworth and get my caravan back to the south west from Derby somehow. I feel gutted.”

A fundraising page with a £2,500 target to replace the lost gear from the van has raised nearly £8,000.

Ms Aston, currently staying in Derby, said someone from north Devon was picking her up with her piano on Wednesday.

The pianist played Kidderminster, Bromsgrove and Solihull last week. She has cancelled dates from 12 to 28 October, but hopes to be back for Bampton Charter Fair in Devon on 30 October.