Music Venues Trust and Music Declares Emergency unite for Earth Day campaign
The #GoLocal initiative has been backed by Architects' Sam Carter
By Joe Goggins
The Music Venue Trust (MVT) and Music Declares Emergency (MDE) have launched a joint Earth Day campaign, with Architects confirming their backing.
The two campaign groups have joined forces for a new, environmentally-driven spin on the MVT‘s #GoLocal initiative, urging music fans to attend a gig in their hometown on April 22 by walking, cycling or taking public transport to the venue. In 2020, a study carried out by the MVT found that just 35.2 percent of gig-goers walk to shows, with 48 percent travelling in their own cars.
In a joint statement, the MVT and MDE said: “When you #GoLocal you are considerably improving the impact you make as an individual on the environmental damage caused by vehicles. You are also supporting the cultural development of your town, the development of your local artists and your local venue.”
Architects singer Sam Carter has lent his backing to the campaign; he has a history of environmental activism, and is also an ambassador for the marine conservation charity Sea Shepherd. “This Earth Day I would like to encourage you to #GoLocal to see some live music, and when you do, why not take a nice walk or cycle to get there instead of a taxi or driving,” he said in a statement shared on the MVT’s Instagram. “That way you’re helping the environment, and also you’re helping yourself and your body! If you’re not able to do that, how about taking some form of public transport to lower your footprint?”
“By going local like this, you are doing your bit for local venues and the environment,” Carter concluded. MDE are the group behind the No Music on a Dead Planet campaign that has garnered support from artists across the musical spectrum, including from Brian Eno, The Cribs, Sam Fender, Anna Calvi, Imogen Heap and others.
Last October, as part of that campaign, the iconic cover art for Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’ was adapted as a mural to draw attention to the climate crisis; the design has since been made available as one of a number of exclusive t-shirts to raise money for the campaign, with other designs coming from the likes of Thom Yorke and artist Anthony Burrill.