Liberty Science Center is giving Sphere a run for its money with a new concert series in the museum’s planetarium.

The beloved Jersey City science hub recently invited Grateful Dead tribute band Strangers Stopping Strangers to play the first-ever live concert inside its state-of-the-art Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, which is the largest in the Western Hemisphere, as part of the LSC After Dark series. Much like Dead & Company‘s ongoing Las Vegas residency, the show combined the band’s psychedelic jams with stunning visuals projected across the dome, creating an immersive show that sold out all 400 seats in less than a day.

“I was catching myself while we were playing just looking around, getting lost in the scenery,” guitarist Jeff Greenspan told Fox 5 news. “It was just something cool to do for our fans as well.”

The interactive science museum is best known as a daytime destination for curious kids, but on Thursday nights, its atrium turns into a vibrant venue for adults. The After Dark series draws up to 2,000 visitors each week, many crossing the river from New York for themed events and now, live music under the stars.

“We’re trying to throw the greatest party in Jersey City,” said Paul Hoffman, the museum’s president and CEO. “And we draw people from across the river in New York who specifically come over on Thursdays because of the quality of the programming and the experiences.”

Though the recent show was a first for the planetarium, it won’t be the last. More concerts are already in the works.

Upcoming events include showings of Titanic, and There’s No Planet B Planetarium Show, as well as a Billie Eilish laser show. Find more information and ticketing information here.

Check out fan-shot video of the Strangers Stopping Strangers concert and a news segment about the show and After Dark series below.

Strangers Stopping Strangers – Liberty Science Center – Jersey City, NJ – 3/27/25

[Video: Cosmic Howie]