Classic Albums Live brings Pink Floyd to the RiverCenter

The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts opens its season this week with Classic Albums Live.

The concert will feature Canadian-based group Classic Albums Live playing Pink Floyd’s most popular album “Dark Side of the Moon.” The entire album will be performed live in concert, note for note.

Classic Albums Live was founded in 2003 by musician and composer Craig Martin. Martin, born in 1961, is a member of the production team and says he “lives the music.” He and his musicians pride themselves on offering a complete experience — performing every single sound from each album from start to finish.

Classic Albums Live currently has over 12 different live album concerts. Martin is enthusiastic about his work, producing multiple classic rock albums in concert.

“Since 2003, I’ve been steadily employing musicians,” he said. “I seek out the best players and in turn — they seek out me. I mix the shows because I want to make sure that every player’s hard work is represented.”

Current shows include Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” The Eagles’ “Greatest Hits” and Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Chronicle, Vol. 1.”

Norm Easterbrook, executive director for the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, is looking forward to such a dynamic season opener.

“When Pink Floyd masterpieces like ‘Time’ and ‘The Great Gig In The Sky’ are played with an authenticity deserving of the album, ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ fans will be thrilled,” he said.

Pink Floyd fans should expect to have a genuine experience of the album. In a recent review, the Toronto Star called Classic Album Live concerts left “no detail overlooked.” According to the Star’s review there were “No wigs. No costumes. No fake accents. Just the album as you heard it before you wore it out on the family turntable.”

Easterbrook said that the RiverCenter will bring a series of these Classic Albums Live concerts to the stage this year as a part of their 2017-18 season. This is through a partnership with Synovus, sponsor of RiverCenter’s Center Stage Series. Other concerts in the series include Classic Albums Live playing Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zepplin.

A pre-show dinner is available for Friday night’s performance.

Easterbrook thinks Columbus will enjoy all of the Classic Albums Live concerts because of the nature of the performances.

“These Classic Albums Live performances at RiverCenter will transport audiences back in time and recreate some of the greatest moments in rock history,” he said. “It’s the RiverCenter experience at its finest.”

This story was originally published September 3, 2017 at 5:20 AM with the headline "Classic Albums Live brings Pink Floyd to the RiverCenter."