Australian composer Drexler is set to launch his latest album, Olympia-5, at the Pianodrome in Edinburgh on Saturday, 21 February 2026. This live event combines improvised piano performance with ambient electronics and the screening of short films created in collaboration with Scotland-based filmmakers.

A record born from grief and connection

The performance takes place at the Pianodrome Bruntsfield, located within the St. Oswald’s Centre on Montpellier Park, from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Olympia-5 was composed as a response to the composer’s father’s six-month hospitalisation for lymphoma. Drexler, based in the UK, used these musical improvisations to send warmth and love to his father in Australia.

“At its core, this album is about care and that quiet, unsettling transition where you begin to look after your parents rather than the other way around,” Drexler says. “It’s about family, distance, and the guilt that comes with building a life far from home as your parents grow older.”

The resulting album explores themes of care, distance, and the unsettled transition of looking after one’s parents. The evening features collaborations with renowned filmmakers, including Mark Cousins (The Story of Film: An Odyssey), Hannah Papacek Harper, Riad Arfin, and BAFTA Scotland nominee Ciara Flint.

Things to do in Bruntsfield

Those heading to Bruntsfield for the evening can enjoy one of Edinburgh’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. For a pre-show meal, you might consider Piggs, which we recently found to be a Spanish tapas triumph right in the heart of the area.

For those travelling from other parts of the city or further afield, Trainline UK can help with connections to Haymarket station, while Booking.com lists several boutique stay options within walking distance of the venue.

For your Radar

Drexler’s Olympia-5 launch promises to be a poignant, multidisciplinary evening that blends live ambient music with cinematic exploration. It is a rare opportunity to experience the Pianodrome’s unique acoustics while engaging with a deeply personal narrative of family and care.

Tickets are available via Citizen Ticket.