Massive Attack announce ‘climate action accelerator’ Bristol gig

Massive Attack have announced details of a huge new hometown gig in Bristol next summer, set to trial new advances in climate friendly live music events.

The gig at the Clifton Downs on August 25 is titled ‘Act 1.5: Climate Action Accelerator’, and aims to become the lowest carbon gig of its size ever held.

Initiatives at the gig include a presale of tickets for local residents with nearby postcodes to avoid extensive travel to the show, free electric-powered shuttles to train stations after the gig, the planting of a new woodland area in the south west and more. Find out more details here.

It comes after the band’s collaboration with the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, where they collaborated with climate scientists and analysts to work out ways of making live performance greener.

They were set to trial these findings at a special show in Liverpool, but that was cancelled during the pandemic.

The Downs show next Aug will be the lowest carbon event of its scale ever staged & Massive Attack fans will play a vital role in that achievement. Art & music can lead the way on climate action & climate justice, but our own house must be in order first. https://t.co/9UWP3S7uDW pic.twitter.com/wVuuTB4zfY

— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) December 5, 2023

Speaking about the show and its aims, Massive Attack’s 3D said: “We’re chuffed to play our home city again and to be able do it in the right way. 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 & help create precedents that are immediately available.”

Professor Carly McLachlan from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research added: “This is precisely the type of transformative approach that we need to see more of in the live music sector and indeed every sector; one that has the collaboration and vision to reduce emissions across all areas of impact and working beyond the areas you directly control to unlock the systemic change we urgently need to deliver on our Paris Agreement commitments.”