GaiaStage came into being as a speculative design idea in 2021. The idea was motivated from the question how a less carbon extensive music industry could be possible. Following the imagination into all sorts of "what if's" — pedal power being just one idea, stages that sail by wind from event to event and flywheels made of recycled water bottles being other plans under consideration. Speculative design is not just about applications but implications. Accordingly, we are interested in how a reconceptualisation of technology as social entities impacts our lifes.

The principle is simple: Rather than driving to an event, the audience comes to GaiaStage by bicycle and docks their bikes to a number of generator-stations. By pedalling their bikes on the stations, they provide the electrical energy for the off-grid event infrastructure (audio amplification, lights).

The technical details too are quite simple: The DC generators connected to the standard bikes provide the electricity to run car Hifi amplifiers that drive a number of passive loudspeakers. Additionally, the generators arfe fitted with motion sensors that give information as to the speed of the wheel that can be used for interaction technology, for example, to make the music respond to the speed of pedalling. The technologies of GaiaStage are low-tech, and most materials are re-cycled or up-cycled. The largest stage, consisting of 5 generator stands, 4 loudspeakers, a subwoofer and a party-tent, fits onto three bicycle trailers. The bicycle trailers are of the type used to carry kids, as they are the most ubiquitously available on secondhand markets.

Pedal-powered GaiaStage

GaiaStage is a project bridging the gap between “tech” and “society” through a very mild form of activism: We want to show that technologies are human activities. Understanding this can help to make technologies more human. As simple as this idea is — it could herald the beginning of a complete rethinking of the technology paradigm, as we argue in our academic work. As a cultural initiative the project constitutes an example of infrastructure–as–art: From Zero Carbon Karaoke events to sound-art installations, GaiaStage composes interactive, participatory situations highlighting the interdependence of people, machines, ideas, and means of expression and their impact on ecosystems. Through the physical activity of cycling, and the universal language of music.

The organisation behind GaiaStage is the Finnish Registered Association Gaia Stage Ry (Y-3342072-2). According to the associations rules, “The purpose of the association is to promote responsible and sustainable technical interaction with the environment by promoting, building, and maintaining low-carbon performance stages in a sustainable and socially just manner. To achieve its purpose, the association raises funds through donations and fundraising events to build and operate performance stages. In addition to the performance stages, the association also offers a non-profit, low-carbon performance stage rental service. All those employed by the association are paid a reasonable wage. The association enters into only those employment contracts in which wages are guaranteed in advance for the entire duration of the contract.”