Tampa’s MOSI is turning select Friday nights into a mashup of astronomy and arena-rock spectacle, with live star tours followed by full-dome laser shows. The upcoming run pairs artists including Rush, Phil Collins, Genesis, Elton John, Queen, Metallica and Taylor Swift with an immersive theatre built to make the ceiling feel optional.
The next scheduled night is Friday, Aug. 28, when Rush takes the 6:30 p.m. slot and Phil Collins & Genesis follows at 8:15 p.m., according to MOSI’s event calendar. The calendar then lists Elton John and Queen on Sept. 25, Fright Light and Metallica on Oct. 30, Phil Collins & Genesis and the Grateful Dead on Nov. 27, and Taylor Swift and a Holiday show on Dec. 26.
The lineup changes monthly, and each evening includes multiple performances, giving Tampa Bay audiences a rotating menu of pop, classic rock, country and seasonal music. The concert series began in May with a Taylor Swift show that sold out, as reported by the Osprey Observer.
A Planetarium Built For More Than Stargazing
The shows take place inside MOSI’s Holloway Digital Dome Theatre, home to the Saunders Planetarium. Details from MOSI’s dome announcement describe an 8K projection system, a 10,000-square-foot wraparound screen and seating for more than 330 people.
Each performance begins with a 10-minute guided tour of the night sky led by a MOSI astronomer before the laser visuals take over. MOSI’s event information lists tickets at $13 for nonmembers and $10 for members, with separate tickets required for each showtime. Tickets are limited, nonrefundable except if MOSI cancels, and nontransferable, while the museum warns that the shows contain flashing lights that may affect guests with photosensitive epilepsy or other sensitivities.
