Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar

The latest new addition country music star Jason Aldean’s chain of Kitchen + Rooftop Bars, which opened in Las Vegas late last year, is a groundbreaking entertainment venue that seamlessly blends live music, dining, and nightlife. Located within the Aria Resort and Casino, the 20,000-square-foot, two-story venue features a restaurant, rooftop bar / nightclub, and two stages hosting non-stop live performances. To create an immersive and dynamic atmosphere that transitions effortlessly from a laid-back dining experience to a high-energy nightclub, JAG Warner Productions designed and installed a state-of-the-art lighting system using ADJ’s cutting-edge fixtures.

To achieve this, JAG Warner Productions integrated a versatile range of lighting products, including:
• 32 x ADJ Focus Hybrid moving head fixtures for dynamic GOBO projections, aerial beam effects, and stage washes.
• 12 x Focus Flex L7 LED wash-zoom fixtures for vibrant color washes and eye-catching pixel-mapped effects.
• 12 x Jolt Panel FX2 strobe/wash fixtures to amplify the nightclub experience with powerful strobes and color chases.
• 14 x Obsidian NETRON EP2 and 2 x Obsidian NETRON EP4 DMX nodes to distribute control signals efficiently throughout the venue.

The lighting system was designed to be flexible, offering subtle ambient effects during dining hours and escalating into high-energy lighting displays for the nightclub experience. A circular truss above the upstairs dance floor and strategic fixture placement around the stages and DJ booth ensured an immersive environment that evolves throughout the evening.

Several challenges were encountered during the installation process:
• Limited Ceiling Height: With a 14-foot ceiling, selecting compact yet powerful fixtures was essential. The Focus Hybrid and Focus Flex L7 provided high-output effects while maintaining a low profile.
• Seamless Transition Between Restaurant and Nightclub Modes: The lighting needed to enhance live bands during the day and deliver club-level energy at night. The solution was to use versatile fixtures, such as the Focus Hybrid, which functions as both a spot and beam light, and the Jolt Panel FX2 for dynamic strobes and washes.
• Complex DMX Control Across Multiple Zones: To ensure precise control, the team deployed Obsidian NETRON EP2 and EP4 nodes, allowing efficient DMX signal distribution throughout the venue. The remote web interface enabled seamless adjustments and troubleshooting without sending a tech to site.
• Aesthetic and Functional Considerations: Since the venue operates as a restaurant by day, visible cabling needed to be minimized. The team utilized Accu-Cable’s combo cables to keep power and data wiring neat and unobtrusive.

Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar in Las Vegas exemplifies excellence in entertainment lighting design in the following ways:
• Seamless Versatility: The lighting system successfully balances two distinct atmospheres—enhancing live performances during the day and transforming the venue into a high-energy nightclub at night.
• Enhanced Guest Experience: The dynamic lighting design elevates the venue’s ambiance, immersing guests in a vibrant and engaging environment that adapts to the music and energy of the night.
• Efficiency and Reliability: By choosing high-performance, multi-functional fixtures, the design ensures longevity and minimizes downtime, crucial for a venue operating daily.
• Cultural Impact: Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, this venue sets a new benchmark for hospitality lighting, seamlessly blending country music culture with the city’s high-energy nightlife.

By pushing the boundaries of venue lighting design, this project stands out as an industry-leading installation worthy of recognition.