Detroit’s Sky Becomes the Stage

Fever Drone Show
Wayne State Soccer/Football Field
Detroit
Sept. 12, 2025

By Akeel Ahmed

In a show of technological advancement and artistic ability, more than 500 drones took to the Detroit sky, accompanied by the musical performance from local Detroit Listeso String Quartet (Yuri Popowycz, Alirna Korieva, Ryan McDonald, Cecelia Sha). The sold-out show is one of the longest drone shows available worldwide, with 45 minutes of choreographed drone sequences — from birds flying through the sky, to a ballerina dancing to classical music.

A large crowd of people gathers with blankets and candles facing a candlelit stage while it is still daytime. — Attendees secure a good view of the candle-lit stage before the band arrives and the drone show begins. Photo credit: Akeel Ahmed

A drone display shows a full-body blue ram with yellow horns in the night sky. — Claude Debussy’s “The Snow is Dancing” is played while drones form a ram as one of the last sequences before the finale. Photo credit: Akeel Ahmed

Hundreds of drones form a giant deer head with antlers made up of reds, greens, and blues. — During the second sequence of the show, a deer head is created to pair with Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”. Photo credit: Akeel Ahmed

The drones performed to a variety of musical pieces, including Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” as well as an original piece composed specifically for the show called “Brezza,” written by Enrico Fallea.

Hundreds of drones create a circle of red and yellow facing each other to make the shape of hearts. — Before the final sequence of the show, a circle of swans is created to make the shape of hearts. Photo credit: Akeel Ahmed

Hundreds of drones light up the night sky with a blue and yellow ballerina dancing with her arms in the air and one leg up. — Drones create a dancing ballerina as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” is played during the climax of the show. Photo credit: Akeel Ahmed

“We are so honored to be performing tonight's program — it is not only an artistic achievement but a technological one as well,” Cecelia Sha, a cellist for the Listeso String Quartet, said.

Drone shows are challenging due to limited flight times, but multiple drone fleets enable the completion of all six sequences by rotating drones that charge while others are flying.

The performance lasted roughly an hour, with the finale focused on birds.