The likes of Kim Churchill, The Stamps, and Charlie Needs Braces will perform at the environmentally-conscious Solar Sessions Showcase next month.
Kim Churchill (Supplied)
The ever-growing need for environmental change within the music world is being addressed by Melbourne’s Wildlive, an organisation dedicated to transforming music events through eco-friendly technology.
The organisation will be presenting their fully solar-powered stage setup with a special net zero concert series and panel at Melbourne’s Collingwood Yards on Friday, October 11. The free event will feature a sound system developed by French startup PikiP Solar Speakers, which asserts itself as the “first low-consumption solar-powered” system, and promises to use ten times less energy than the normal PA.
The event will launch with a panel titled Sustainable Choices, Financial Voices: The Economic Case for Greener Events. Held in partnership with the Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO), it aims to discuss innovative approaches to reducing environmental impact while amplifying the power of music.
Alongside Wildlive Founder Alex Pinte, the panel will feature Green Music Australia’s Berish Bilander; Strawberry Fields Festival Director Tara Benney; Green My Plate Co-founder and Managing Director Jess Fleet; and Earthed Consulting’s Jen Kyna.
Following the panel, the Solar Sessions Showcase will take place, featuring performances from acclaimed folk musician Kim Churchill; pioneering Lebanese Australian DJ and multihyphenate MzRizk; Melbourne soul artist Wilson Blackley; Charlie Needs Braces, the moniker of Naarm-based GuriNgai musician Charlie Woods; and rising melodic trio The Stamps.
“Powered by the sun, the Solar Sessions aim to set a new standard for green concerts,” their official website states. “We are on a mission to combine the magic of music with the power of sustainability to create unforgettable experiences that delight your ears and make the world a better place.”
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First launched in 2022, Wildlive was founded with the focus of reducing energy consumption in the live music space, intending to ensure that Memorable events could still take place within Australia, yet with greater importance placed upon limiting the carbon footprint and increasing environmental awareness.
“We couldn’t find the ideal solution, so we created one,” explained Pinte. “We realised that we often ask the audience to make efforts and change their habits to make events more sustainable.
“We believe our responsibility as organisers is to make things as smooth and enjoyable as possible for our audience, without forcing things. That’s our approach.”
The Wildlive-presented Solar Sessions seek to illustrate the capabilities and potential of such events across Australia, with Kim Churchill having worked with the team for previous concerts.
“Getting a lot closer to the carbon neutral line is very doable, and this crew is getting dang close,” Churchill explained. “We’ve been putting on beautiful shows out in nature and bringing together communities in a new way. It’s really exciting!”
Since its launch, Wildlive has already worked with a number of artists and festivals around the country to provide environmentally-friendly solutions, including Queenscliff Music Festival, St Kilda Festival, Sydney Road Street Party, Laneway Festival Sydney, Teneriffe Festival, and more.
Both the panel and the Solar Sessions Showcase are free, but attendees are invited to register to ensure their spot. Further Solar Sessions are planned to take place in the future, with full details to be announced via their official website.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body