Pianodrome in Edinburgh is taking a stand against our throw-away culture one deserted piano at a time. What started as a small recycling project in 2017 for Tim Vincent-Smith and Matthew Wright has led to the construction of a 100-seat piano amphitheatre that attracted 18,000 visitors at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Nowadays, while the Pianodrome tours around the UK, its more permanent home is located at The Wee Hub right here in the city.
A bit of background on Pianodrome
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.
What can you do at Pianodrome in Edinburgh?
This eccentric space has been created to host 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 done 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.
What’s more, when it’s in town, the spectacular Pianodrome hosts the gorgeous Candlelight concert series. Gifted musicians perform breathtaking renditions of music by contemporary and classical artists, all while a sea of candles twinkle around them. The atmosphere at these concerts is simply unmatched, especially when gorgeous structures made out of repurposed pianos are illuminated under the enchanting glow of candlelight.
Where is Pianodrome?
The Pianodrome’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.
What is the Pianodrome made of?
The Pianodrome is made out of used pianos. After the structure was completed in 2017, 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 were pulled apart and turned into sculptures, furniture or art. One of the artworks made by the creators is a six-metre elephant tusk structure placed just outside the venue.
Where has the venue toured?
The Pianodrome has toured all around Edinburgh as well as overseas. In 2023, the owners took the pop-up venue to North Carolina to host events for the Charlotte SHOUT festival.
Edinburgh is home to hundreds of beautiful and culturally-significant venues, but few are quite as unique as the Pianodrome. The wonderful piano amiptheatre also joins the list of specially selected venues that have hosted the enchanting Candlelight series.