UW Planetarium Hosts Cowboy Sandbox, Dome After Dark Events to Close Out March

The University of Wyoming campus community can enjoy an audiovisual/musical performance doubleheader of sorts -- Cowboy Sandbox and Dome After Dark -- to close out this month’s schedule at the UW Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium Saturday, March 29.

Cowboy Sandbox, a free, live and interactive audiovisual showcase featuring live performances, cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling, runs from 7-8:30 p.m., followed by Dome After Dark from 9 p.m.-1 a.m., an event described as a late-night experience showcasing some of the most forward-thinking artists in electronic music and live visuals. This immersive and interactive event, for ages 18 and up, includes dancing in the dome, an open bar, snacks and light refreshments, plus special makerspace activities during the show. Tickets are $15 for Dome After Dark.

To get tickets or receive more information about programs, email planetarium@uwyo.edu or leave a voicemail and a call-back phone number at (307) 766-6506.

Tickets can be purchased online with a credit card, reserved by email or voicemail, or purchased at the start of the show. Cash or check is accepted at the door. To pay for tickets with a credit card, go to https://www.uwyo.edu/uwplanetarium/ticket.aspx.

The Cowboy Sandbox invites attendees to experience real-time visuals, experimental electronic music and interactive installations in a collaborative creative space. The event will feature live audiovisual performances by Movax and L’Astra Cosmo.

Movax, based in Denver, Colo., blends custom visuals -- created in TouchDesigner -- with an electrifying live performance.

L’Astra Cosmo, from Longmont, Colo., features the visionary duo of Jahnavi Stenflo and Nathan Jantz. The two will conjure an entrancing audiovisual journey, fusing atmospheric soundscapes with hypnotic real-time visuals. Using Ableton with Videosync, hardware sequencers and analog video/vector synthesis, the two will craft a dynamic, immersive experience. Their performances, featuring 4K-captured vintage XY displays and experimental imagery, have captivated audiences at events including the Lafayette Electronic Arts Festival.

After Cowboy Sandbox, the planetarium’s immersive dome will transform into a 360-degree experimental performance venue for Dome After Dark.

Crix Madine, known for deep Detroit techno and an electro DJ set, is the event headliner. A veteran of live electronic music, Crix Madine, whose real name is Nathan Jantz, has been crafting deep, atmospheric soundscapes for over 25 years. A co-founder of Obliq Recordings, his releases and mixes explore the soul of Detroit techno and pulsing electro rhythms. His Offworld Discoveries mix series, available on SoundCloud and Apple podcasts, is a testament to his deep-digging selections and cosmic sonic journeys.

Performing under the moniker Jahlo Defden, visual artist Jahnavi Stenflo will craft a hypnotic, shape-shifting visual experience synchronized to Crix Madine’s deep and atmospheric soundscapes.

Other Dome After Dark performers are:

-- Jane daPain, a DJ, producer and Dome After Dark curator, is a local powerhouse behind the UW makerspaces and immersive dome upgrades. With an expansive taste in music, her DJ sets fuse driving techno, underground house and bass-heavy club sounds.

-- Iluvnandi, a Wyoming-based DJ, producer and interdisciplinary artist, will perform the opening DJ set, with a sound inspired by techno and hard-style raves. Their sets feature high beats-per-minute energy, deep-cut tracks and genre-bending selections.

-- Movax will serve as VJ for both the Cowboy Sandbox and Dome After Dark. A live audiovisual innovator, Movax will first showcase his cutting-edge, TouchDesigner-based audiovisual performance at Cowboy Sandbox. He will return as a VJ for Dome After Dark, bringing an evolving, real-time visual layer to the night’s sonic journey.

-- VJ Cypher X will energize the dance floor with his Realtime sound reactive designs, using TouchDesigner blended with the digital planetarium’s astronomy packages to enhance the night’s multisensory immersion.