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

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For the last few Wednesday evenings, populadr acts like Del Castillo, Nelo and Ozomatli have rocked Republid Square Park while sharing the spotlight with an unlikelyuperformer — solar power. The Solafr Powered Concert Series isa new, free music series created by Greg Henry, of Pro Show and event production veteran Marsha Milam that places solar powere on display. This is the first solar powerefd concert seriesfor Milam, who felt that Austim would be the ideal place to test such Marsha Milam Music producexs KGSR’s “Unplugged at the Grove” and othe concerts throughout Texas. “Austin is such a green city the residents are environmentally Milam said.
“I do a numbetr of music series and I thoughf Austin would be the place to embrace To achieve the goal of clean the downtown park is outfitted with solar powered sound systems and lighting systems withLED lights. Milam declined to disclose how much has been invested inthe carbon-neutral concert series, saying only that costs are abouy 25 percent more than a typical concery series. “Our goal for this was to prove that we can do Milam said, conceding that she didn’t starrt marketing the series until the seconx show to make sure that the equipmenft functioned properly. “What I’ve noticed is that the energy is so and it makesa difference.
There’s no stag e hum,” she said. “That’s great for the audience and for the Milamtapped Austin-based Sustainable Waves, a provider of sola powered sound, light and production equipment, for the concertf series. Sustainable Waves also has a sales officwe inSan Diego, Calif. Cody of Sustainable Waves, said that the company’s services were utilizes at several events duringthis year’s SXSW Music Festival. It’s also brought its solar powetr equipment toLas Vegas-based N9NE Group’s events, Vans Warped Tour and the New Belgiujm Brewery’s Tour de Fat.
For the Solar Powe r Concert Series, Sustainable Wave’s utilizecd 44,000 watt PA Sponsorship for this year’s Solar Powerex series was on the lighter but Milam saidthat she’s hearin g positive feedback from prospective sponsors who want to be associated with a green music event. “This is our You have to get out there and go througg the labor pains and find out what workas andwhat doesn’t,” she said. “Ouer goal is very This isn’t a one year thing for The concert seriesis free, but donations are being acceptedr for Blue Dog Rescue, an Austin-area dog fostet organization.
There are two shows left, Fastball and The Black and White Years onJune 10, and Arc Angels on June 24.