Massive Attack announce all-day climate action concert trialling new live music decarbonisation measures
"There are no excuses left" 3D said, "...so live music must drastically reduce all primary emissions and take account of fan travel"
Massive Attack are making their first UK gig in five years a test-run of their long-planned decarbonisation measures for live music.
The Bristol duo will headline an all-day climate action concert on 25th August at their hometown's open-air venue Clifton Downs. Working with regular collaborators Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall hope Act 1.5 will be the "lowest carbon show of its size ever staged". Special guests on the line-up are still to be announced.
Massive Attack's plans to decarbonise the event include providing electric shuttles to local railway stations to incentivise car-free travel, running the venue on 100% renewable energy, not serving meat at concession stands, and hiring touring and production vehicles that run on electric or 100% waste product HVO fuel. They'll also be offering early access to ticket pre-sales to fans in local postcodes to discourage long-distance private car use.
"We're chuffed to play our home city again and to be able to do it in the right way", 3D said in a press statement. "In terms of climate change action there are no excuses left; offsetting, endless seminars and diluted declarations have all been found out — so live music must drastically reduce all primary emissions and take account of fan travel. Working with pioneering partners on this project means we can seriously move the dial for major live music events and help create precedents that are immediately available."
Next summer's Act 1.5 concert will be Massive Attack's first chance to realise their years of decarbonisation research after plans for a similar Liverpool event were called off in the pandemic. They first shared blueprints for eco-friendly touring in 2019 and announced plans to tour Europe by train in 2020. That same year, they released a short film about reducing the carbon footprint in the live music and touring industries. In 2021, they called on the UK government to support the live music industry in cutting its carbon footprint.
Massive Attack's longtime touring and studio guitarist Angelo Bruschini died in October after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
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Find more information about the concert via Massive Attack's website.
