Diamondback Music Hall

The Diamondback Music Hall is a large purpose-built entertainment venue in Detroit, Michigan. Formally known as the Diamondback Saloon and specializing in country music, the venue underwent an extensive refurbishment and rebranding, which included the installation of a completely new technical system. The venue now hosts a wide variety of live music, including rock, hip-hop, retro, and country artists, as well as club nights with DJs providing the music.

Well established in the Detroit area, Audio Rescue Team has over 30 years of entertainment industry experience. Until recently, the company specialized in audio – both rental and installation projects – but now offers a full AVL service, following the acquisition of Ryan Richards Visuals. A well-known and much-respected lighting professional in Detroit, the company’s eponymous owner has joined Audio Rescue Team as Lighting & Visuals Manager. The installation at Diamondback Music Hall represented the newly amalgamated company’s first major project combining lighting, video and audio elements.

During an initial conversation, the clients explained the venue would have a dual focus on live music and dance parties, and therefore required a lighting system that could be used interchangeably to highlight the stage or dance floor. Other than that, Ryan was allowed full creative freedom. He came up with an initial design using the Capture visualization software and created renderings to help the clients understand how the proposed system would look. They were extremely pleased, and very few changes were made between the original design proposal and the finished installation.

Ryan’s lighting design incorporated a carefully selected range of ADJ fixtures, including:

• 12 x Focus Spot 6Z moving heads – Positioned across three trusses to provide aerial effects, artist illumination, and audience engagement.
• 14 x 12PX HEX LED par fixtures – Delivering powerful and rich color washes for both stage and dance floor atmospheres.
• 36 x UB 12H linear LED fixtures – Mounted to highlight the venue’s vaulted wooden ceiling, creating a visually immersive environment.
• 2 x Jolt Panel FX fixtures – Used as blinders for live performances and to add energetic color strobes to the dancefloor.

Like any large-scale lighting installation, the Diamondback Music Hall project came with its own set of challenges:
• Balancing a Dual-Purpose Lighting Design: Since the venue hosts both concerts and club nights, the lighting system needed to serve both settings effectively. This was achieved by positioning fixtures strategically across multiple trusses, allowing them to shift focus depending on the event type.
• Budget Constraints Without Compromising Quality: Working within a fixed budget, the team had to ensure the best performance-to-cost ratio. By leveraging ADJ’s high-quality yet affordable fixtures, the team delivered a feature-rich lighting system without exceeding financial limitations.
• Architectural Lighting Integration: The venue’s vaulted wooden ceiling presented an opportunity to create a dynamic overhead visual element. Using 36 ADJ UB 12H fixtures, the ceiling was transformed into an ever-changing backdrop, adding depth and atmosphere to the venue.
• Ensuring Ease of Maintenance: Since Audio Rescue Team provides ongoing support, fixture selection prioritized long-term reliability and ease of maintenance. The ADJ Focus Spot 6Z and Jolt Panel FX were specifically chosen for their robust build quality and simple servicing requirements.

Diamondback Music Hall’s lighting system stands out as a benchmark in venue transformation, blending innovation, efficiency, and creativity. Key highlights include:
• Seamless Multi-Use Design: The lighting system was carefully engineered to adapt between live music and club nights, ensuring a cohesive yet dynamic experience for all event types.
• Architectural Integration & Immersive Atmosphere: The vaulted wooden ceiling lighting concept showcases a unique approach to venue enhancement, proving that lighting can be functional and artistic.
• Maximized Performance on a Budget: The cost-effective yet powerful ADJ lighting solutions demonstrate how a well-planned lighting design can achieve world-class results without excessive costs.
• Enhanced Audience Engagement: The intelligent lighting design ensures that whether guests are enjoying a live rock concert or an electrifying dance party, they experience a visually captivating show from every angle.
By delivering a cutting-edge yet budget-conscious lighting system to Diamondback Music Hall, Audio Rescue Team has redefined what’s possible in a multi-purpose concert venue.