Bengaluru band Swarathma’s goes green with a solar-powered concert tour

Bengaluru’s Swarathma embarks on a solar-powered concert tour, combining clean energy with live performances to highlight the potential for sustainable events

The dusty road stretched ahead. Inside a car, a Swarathma song was brewing. A few months ago, the Bengaluru-based folk-rock music band members were on a research trip with the Selco Foundation, collaborating on songs for their initiative to bring clean energy to rural villages. A question sparked a brainwave between bursts of creative energy.

“We were literally writing music in the car,” recalls Jishnu Dasgupta, bassist and vocalist. “When the thought struck us, if solar power can light up villages, why not a concert?” This question ignited the idea for Swarathma’s upcoming multi-city concert tour (for their latest album Raushan), which will be powered by solar energy.

The tour, which kicked off in Mumbai on May 25, travelled to Bengaluru on June 1 before heading to Pune, Hyderabad, Indore, Delhi, and Jaipur. The songs from the album will be released one by one as the band travels to these cities.

“While there may have been some attempts at solar-powered concerts before, our goal is bigger,” says Jishnu. “We want to demonstrate that a viable alternative to conventional energy exists for live events. We hope this becomes the standard, replacing the fossil fuels typically used for concerts.”

“This isn’t just about a unique stage setup; it’s about proving that even large concerts with 1,000 people can run on renewable energy. That’s the true challenge and what excites us most. Of course, we’re also excited to just play these concerts for our fans,” he adds.

The traditional approach to powering concerts relies on loud, polluting diesel generators. Jishnu highlights the challenge: “The amplification system doesn’t care if the power source is clean or not. The long hours and the need for reliable power during a concert make generators the norm.”

Swarathma’s solution is a unique, multi-stage approach. Jishnu explains: “Ideally, we’d have solar panels directly powering the concert, but that’s not always feasible. Our current system uses a large battery bank charged with clean energy sources whenever possible. This battery can power the sound system for the entire concert.”