The Pianodrome is a venue that pushes the boat out on creativity. What started as a small project in 2017 for Tim Vincent-Smith and Matthew Wright has led to a 100-seat piano amphitheatre that attracted 18,000 visitors at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The space made entirely from upcycled pianos is more than just an attempt at being more environmentally friendly. It is in fact a project born out of trying to get people to connect. Whether you’ve enjoyed a group sing-song around a piano or stopped to watch a live piano performance on the street, the instrument is something that encourages social situations, and its ability to bring people together is the entire essence of the Pianodrome.
Although the Pianodrome tours around the UK’s most impressive venues, it’s more permanent home is located at The Wee Hub in Edinburgh. The former Debenhams store has been transformed into a cool creative space inhabited by local community groups and social enterprises, and you can get to it on the 10, 34, 35 and 36 bus or by tram.
Facts, Curiosities and Interesting Things about Pianodrome
1. Two band members once set out on a mission to save pianos
In 2017, the idea to create the structure was originally started by band mates Tim Vincent-Smith and Matthew Wright. The pair salvaged old pianos destined for the scrap heap in an effort to repair them and return them to their former glory. The pianos that couldn’t be saved were then stripped apart, cleaned up and used to help build the structure that’s now known as the Pianodrome.
2. No piano part is left unused
Once the structure was completed, there were still thousands of parts from old pianos that were ready and waiting to be used. Pianos and their parts that cannot be restored are pulled apart are turned into sculptures, furniture or art. One of the artworks made by the creative masterminds is a six-metre elephant tusk structure placed just outside the Pianodrome.
3. The structure provided a unique setting for the Edinburgh Fringe
The Pianodrome actually helped open the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018. Budding actors and rising stars took to the distinctive stage to sing, dance, act, and of course, play spellbinding renditions on the piano. What better place to show off your creative flare than inside this incredibly unique setting?
What can you do at the Pianodrome?
This unique space has been created to host inspiring festivals, one-off events and educational experiences for visitors to enjoy. From spellbinding live music performances and theatre productions to unconventional exhibitions and educative workshops, this place has seen and run it all. Many local bands have performed inside the Pianodrome, and it’s often used to provide a platform for up-and-coming musical talents from the area.
The spectacular Pianodrome has hosted a wide array of unforgettable events inside its walls, including a series of gorgeous Candlelight concerts. As gifted musicians perform breathtaking renditions of the music by contemporary and classical artists, a sea of twinkling candles illuminates the space around you, and a magical atmosphere is created. While we wait for more Candlelight concerts to be announced inside this magnificent pop-up structure, other remarkable venues in Edinburgh continue to host these unforgettable music experiences.