Where Sustainability Meets Art: 100% Solar-Powered Concerts By LA’s Trapdoor Social
The up and coming indie band Trapdoor Social is working at the edge of sustainability and art with their 1.64 kW solar trailer, which will allow them to put on 100% solar-powered concerts and to visibly promote solar as a solution to their fans.
Trapdoor Social, which hails from LA, came together after the two founders, Merrit Graves and Skylar Funk, met in 2008 at an environmental analysis program at Pomona College, and bonded “over a shared concern for the future of the planet.” The group “started off on a journey to make some important music and do some good along the way,” and their second album, an EP titled Science of Love, was a great example of both of those goals, as Trapdoor Social put their money where their mouth was.
The group partnered with Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit job-training program for former gang members, and decided to donate 100% of the proceeds from the EP toward a 6.4 kW solar array on the roof of the nonprofit’s headquarters, which ended up fully funded during the album’s pre-sale campaign.
And now, Trapdoor Social is again “marrying their passion for the environment with their musical ambition” with their 1.64 kW solar trailer and stage, which will not only allow the group to put on their own all-ages outdoors shows, but to also do so with 100% solar power. The trailer’s rooftop solar array feeds a battery bank inside the trailer, powering the amps, instruments, and lights with clean power for hours, and could serve as an practical example of solar power for fans who might otherwise not be exposed to solar as a solution.
According to an interview with Bandsintown, the solar trailer is much more than just a clean power supply:
“For us, it’s such a super practical thing, because we go on tour and we can’t always find venues to do all age shows. Which is a logistical hang-up for us because some of our fans aren’t 21 yet, and we can’t reach them when we are in their town if they don’t let them in. So we thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to put on our own show?” The trailer runs on solar energy and is basically a generator we can use anywhere. The trailer not only has a practical usage about it, by allowing us to reach all our fans and put on our own shows, but it also has a symbolic side to it. It really ties in our band’s purpose, our lyrics, our fundraisers, and tech stuff we’ve done.”
Here’s a brief intro to the project:
“Solar power is here, and it’s ready to party.”
Trapdoor Social is kicking off its first 100% solar-powered concert on October 24th in Los Angeles (details to be announced), and you can find out more via the band’s Facebook page or website.
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Nice article, Derek. Thanks. I like it when people branch out into new areas with renewables. Good luck to Merrit and Skylar and your solar endeavors, and your band!