Planetarium Lates: The Dark Side of the Moon
Experience Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon like never before this August at Dynamic Earth's Planetarium Lates
Earlier this year, Pink Floyd’s eighth album The Dark Side of the Moon celebrated its 50th anniversary. A concept album exploring complicated themes of conflict, greed, death and mental illness, The Dark Side of the Moon is arguably the rock troupe’s most iconic, with equally iconic artwork. In response to a request from keyboardist Richard Wright for something "simple and bold", Storm Thorgerson’s legendary album cover – a triangular prism refracting light casting a rainbow on a black background – is still instantly recognisable today and has adorned the T-shirts and walls of many since its 1973 release.
A strong visual aesthetic has always played a big part in everything Pink Floyd have done. Famously, in the 90s many were believed to be soundtracking screenings of The Wizard of Oz with The Dark Side of the Moon, claiming that certain parts of this trippy record synced up so perfectly that it must have been done intentionally. The band, of course, claimed it to be purely coincidental. This August at Dynamic Earth, bespoke visuals have been created to accompany The Dark Side of the Moon in the venue’s iconic Planetarium. As part of their Planetarium Lates series, with the album's cosmic title and songs like The Great Gig In the Sky and Eclipse, if it's your first or hundredth listen, we can’t think of a better way to hear this record.
A fully immersive experience, Planetarium Lates: The Dark Side of the Moon has surely got to be one of the most unique things you can do in Edinburgh this August. Sitting back in the Planetarium’s reclined chairs, visuals whizz by overhead, sometimes trippy, sometimes glacial. Soaring through the planets of the solar system, at points you join the rings of Saturn, stumble through galaxies, or float above the international space station – there’s even a nod to an iconic Pink Floyd video.
As well as looking out of this world in the venue’s purpose-built 360-degree, 6K planetarium where you’re completely enveloped by their modern, custom-made mesmeric visuals, it also sounds flawless with the album’s 42 minutes and 50 second runtime played in spectacular surround sound, uninterrupted and in its entirety. From its opening to closing heartbeats, everything is accompanied by awe-inspiring visuals, from Claire Torry's spine-tingling vocal turn on The Great Gig In the Sky and the classic chug of Money to the eerie but euphoric penultimate track Brain Damage, from which the album takes its title.
And of course Dynamic Earth have thought of everything: arrive early, and furthen heighten your celestial experience by treating yourself to one of six Pink Floyd themed cocktails and mocktails available from the venue’s bar – our top picks include The Dark Side of the Moon strawberry daiquiri, a Money Mojito, which comes with edible money(!) and Any Colour You Like, a Seaglass prosecco with your choice of edible glitter.
Planetarium Lates: Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon runs Tuesday to Saturday until 26 Aug (not 22) at 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm, prices vary; tickets available via edfringe.com