The Band's solar sound system collects sunlight via three photovoltaic panels. Each SunWize SW115 panel outputs 115 watts of power, for a total of 345 watts. The panels provide direct current at 16.7 volts. The SunWize panels have a "rated" working life of about 50 years, at which point the cells will still put out 85% of their design power.

The solar panels are wired into a charge controller that regulates the current supplied to the battery. This is the heart of the Solar Stage. The charge controller keeps the battery topped up while protecting it from being damaged by overcharging. The life of the battery is directly impacted by the quality of the charge controller, so this is not a place to skimp. The Solar Boost 2000E from Blue Sky Energy is a pretty good one.

The inverter takes 12 volt direct current from the battery and converts it into standard 120V alternating current to run our gear. The band has considered running directly off 12V DC, but has found it difficult to find gear that can do that without major modifications to the power supplies. Their inexpensive Whistler PP300AC inverter does a pretty good job. It will shut down automatically if the battery voltage drops too low, preventing the batteries from being discharged completely.

The two batteries are sealed lead-acid gel cell batteries (Type 8G8D) with a capacity of 265 Amp-hours at a nominal 12 volts. These batteries are designed for deep discharge cycles, unlike the battery in a car, which are optimized for the big surge of power needed to start it.

Even on an overcast day, diffuse sunlight is enough to charge the system's battery.

Maggie Spike

Joey Welz, CEO, Canadian American Records: "Maggie Spike's Sol Paradise has well-crafted songs with imaginative lyrics married to gracious melodies...just what the music industry needs"

Ian Bruce, Founder, Lehigh Valley Music Conference: "Maggie Spike are wonderful performers; Maggie's voice is sweet and bright, real good songs, so very entertaining"

Kharizma Belly Dancers
A kinship was created when an eclectic group of friends discovered the art of dance. We are a newly formed group with 3-9 years of belly dance training, and dance has become the voice of our bodies. Watch us shimmer as one with music and motion. By day, we are professional women; by night, we emerge into Mystic Shimmy.
We are fools whether we dance or not,so we might as well dance!” (Japanese Proverb).

Contact:
kharizmabellydancers@yahoo.com

OMNY TAIKO with Madi Sato and Maaya Ota
Madi Sato and Maaya Ota will be joining OMNY taiko this year.
[MORE ABOUT MADI SATO] [MORE ABOUT MAAYA OTA]
OMNY, or known as "One Miracle in New York," was started in 2006 as a part of Shumei New York's Art and Beauty Initiatives while helping to engage Shumei's youth. Initially the vision of having a Taiko group in New York seemed unrealistic amongst many reasons: the cost of drums and practice space and no permanent Taiko teacher to lead the group. But thanks to the unwavering passion and generosity of the Shumei members, a Miracle happened and OMNY Taiko group was born!

OMNY Taiko Group is open to all ages that has an interest in the art of Taiko. To join us for a workshop session, please check the "UPCOMING EVENTS" for the next workshop date. For additional question, feel free to contact us with your questions.

Since our inception we have performed in Catskill Festival in Catskill, NY, Prayer Vigil in D.C., Energy Festival in PA and finally, in NYC for Shumei's anniversary celebrations.We view taiko drumming as a spiritual art. The sound of the taiko drum is pure and as fundamental as the heart beat and therefore has the power to cleanse ourselves and our surroundings. Therefore our style of drumming is traditional based and there is a heavy emphasis on the taiko drums.

This Year's Featured Musician:
Ben Sollee
"Sollee's own songs on Learning to Bend channel the artists he heard his parents play while growing up — Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, Otis Redding — with a touch of the folk recordings he later discovered. Sollee pays tribute to these singers with a remarkably soulful voice of his own and some surprising instrumentation. At the heart of Learning to Bend is Sollee's warm and resonate cello, an instrument he's plucked and bowed since he was a child."
- All Things Considered, National Public Radio

"Fusing unique instrumentation with a soulful and sometimes playful voice, Ben Sollee defies convention." - World Cafe Live

"On his debut solo LP, he wields his instrument in slightly more familiar singer/songwriter territory, but to no less delightful an end. Whether gently fingerpicked or dramatically sawed, Sollee's deft stringwork adds an uncommon dimension to his songs about life and love."
- Paste Magazine's Best Of What's Next Issue, Sept. 2008

“Sollee’s combination of spunk and smarts makes Learning to Bend a lesson in essential Americana.”
– Performing Songwriter

“Saucony Creek” musicians: Cat Elwell, the leader, fiddler and back-up vocalist, hails from the hills of South Mountain near Fredericksville. Linda Fritzinger plays the big ol’ stand up bass and lives in Maidencreek. Pat Miggins comes from way off in Lavelle, Pa. to play virtuoso guitar and sing lead.

Terry Strongheart
In an ideal world, the Terry Strongheart Band would be filling stadiums, headlining the halftime show at the Superbowl, and this album would already be triple platinum. This is not, however, an ideal world. Strongheart is part Cherokee, and the songs are imbued with Native American concerns and dreams, but there is very little overtly traditional Native American music here. Terry Strongheart has his very own distinctive sound, anchored by his vocals. Stronghearts impassioned, tremulous delivery is perfectly supported by the rhythm of his guitar and percussion behind him. In a world of prefabricated songs and singers designed to milk teenybopper purses, Terry Strongheart is the real deal, a mature, tight and powerful singer that says things worth saying. Along with the aforementioned influences, the tone of Strongheart's songs remind me of those of Cherokee roots. I kept being reminded too of the politically concious mid-80's albums of Steve Van Zandt and his songs "Trail of Broken Treaties" and "Native American." Like those works, these songs are socio-political, but they are also songs of deep humanity. Strongheart never preaches or pontificates, but he tells the truth in ways you may not have thought of before, opening your eyes to the nightmares and dreams and hopes of those who first walked the American landscape. And by the way the music also kicks ass. [--- Article by Chet Williamson] Rambles Magazine.