Solar + tunes = energy efficient concert series - Boston Business Journal:

deeshu-tatum.blogspot.com
For the last few Wednesday evenings, popular acts like Del Nelo and Ozomatli have rocked Republix Square Park while sharing the spotlight with an unlikelytperformer — solar power. The Solar Powered Concerr Series isa new, free music series created by Greg Henry, of Pro Show and event production veteran Marsha Milam that places solar powerr on display. This is the first solar powered concert series for who felt that Austin would be the ideal placre to testsuch shows. Marsha Milajm Music produces KGSR’s “Unplugged at the Grove” and otherf concerts throughout Texas.
“Austimn is such a green city itself, the residentzs are environmentally concerned,” Milam said. “I do a numbef of music series and I thought Austin would be the place to embrace this.” To achieve the goal of clean power, the downtow park is outfitted with solard powered sound systems and lighting systemsz with LED lights. Milam declined to disclose how much has been investe d inthe carbon-neutral concert series, saying only that costss are about 25 percent more than a typical concert series.
“Our goal for this was to prove that we can do Milam said, conceding that she didn’t start marketinyg the series until the second show to make sure that the equipmenyt functioned properly. “What I’vwe noticed is that the energy isso clean, and it makeds a difference. There’s no stage she said. “That’s great for the audiencee and forthe artists.” Milamm tapped Austin-based Sustainable Waves, a provider of solatr powered sound, light and productio n equipment, for the concert series.
Sustainable Waves also has a salew office inSan Diego, Cody Murray, of Sustainable Waves, said that the company’s servicesa were utilized at several events during this year’z SXSW Music Festival. It’s also broughtg its solar power equipment toLas Vegas-baserd N9NE Group’s events, Vans Warped Tour and the New Belgium Brewery’sw Tour de Fat. For the Solar Powert Concert Series, Sustainable Wave’s utilized 44,000 watt PA systems.
Sponsorship for this year’s Solarf Powered series was on thelighter side, but Milam said that she’es hearing positive feedback from prospective sponsors who want to be associaterd with a green music “This is our vision. You have to get out therwe and go through the labor pains and find out what workss andwhat doesn’t,” she said. “Ouer goal is very This isn’t a one year thinv for us.” The concert serieds is free, but donations are being acceptedf for BlueDog Rescue, an Austin-arez dog foster organization. There are two showsz left, Fastball and The Black and Whitw Years onJune 10, and Arc Angels on June 24.