In 1975, the UW-La Crosse planetarium began a series of presentations known as Album Hour. Each show featured a lighting design set to a brand new album. It was a way for people to hear an entire album, rather than just one popular song on the radio.
“We were just down here listening to music when I started playing with the lights,” said Bob Allen, planetarium director. “Then one of my friends suggested we should make this a regular thing.”
Since then, it has evolved into a much more extensive show called Album Encounters.
Every Friday night at 8 p.m. in room 18 Cowley Hall, the planetarium hosts an Album Encounter with a pre-programed lighting design. The music selected for the shows alternates each week between current and classic artists including The Beatles, John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Weezer, Alt-J and many more. All of the music for the shows is provided by Deaf Ear Records in downtown La Crosse. Tickets are available upon entry and are $5 general admission.
A lot of work and preparation goes into each show to make everything run smoothly. Allen designs the shows along with his two student workers. Once the album for the week is chosen, a song sequence must be decided on. Songs should be in a specific order based on pace and length in order to match the lighting sequence and elicit certain emotions.
Along with the light show, a PowerPoint is displayed with images and videos from certain tracks on the album. Allen carefully selects which music videos to use and what types of images will be best.
The show starts with Allen saying a few words about the album for that week’s show. He then turns the lights down and the show begins. Constellation overlays are displayed along with low level lighting, which Allen referred to as meteor lighting, for the first few songs. Around ten minutes into the album, the lighting design transitions to heavier effects, chase sequences and laser light shows. Normally the PowerPoint and videos are saved until about halfway through the album. The entire show normally lasts about 45 minutes.
The planetarium also puts on monthly educational programs for the community at 1 p.m. every Saturday. These are $5 for public and $3 for students and seniors. These programs feature a talk on the current evening sky and an audiovisual presentation. The public program in Nov. is entitled Stargazer and will be held each Saturday of the month. In addition, the planetarium can reserve time for special school programs or private groups.
The Oct. 24 Album Encounter is set to Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” A special Halloween “Album Encounter” will be held on Oct. 31 and will feature Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
For more information about the planetarium and its programs, visit their website at uwlax.edu/planetarium or contact Bob Allen at [email protected]. You can also feel free to make a suggestion for Album Encounter’s next featured album!