Massive Attack have taken a forward step in fighting climate change, announcing a “super-low carbon gig” in Liverpool next year.
As anyone who has read the news would be painfully aware, the Earth is at risk of falling victim to unsustainable climate levels.
While activists such as Greta Thunburg have taken a stand for the future of our planet, others have also begun implementing their own methods at helping fight the scourge of climate change.
In fact, English musicians Coldplay recently revealed that they won’t be touring their new album Everyday Life unless they can find a way for the tour to be carbon neutral.
“We’re taking time over the next year or two, to work out how our tour can not only be sustainable [but] how can it be actively beneficial,” frontman Chris Martin explained. “Our next tour will be the best possible version of a tour like that, environmentally. We would be disappointed if it’s not carbon neutral.
“The hardest thing is the flying side of things. But, for example, our dream is to have a show with no single-use plastic, to have it largely solar-powered. We’ve done a lot of big tours at this point. How do we turn it around so it’s no so much taking as giving?”
Now, fellow Englishmen Massive Attack have launched their own plan to make music environmentally friendly, announcing a “super-low carbon gig” in Liverpool next year.
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“I'm looking forward to exploring the social and scientific solutions to the challenges we face in transitioning to a low carbon society. This project offers an opportunity to work with new and progressive identities in the planning, energy, technology and transport sectors" RDN
— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) December 3, 2019
This show marks the first phase of the road to decarbonisation. All aspects of the live music experience – including audience transportation – will see a radical reduction of carbon emissions.
— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) December 3, 2019
Teaming up with the Tyndall Centre For Climate Change Research, the group recently explained they would be analysing the environmental impact of their upcoming gigs, hoping to identify where improvements can be made, with the results set to be shared with the wider music industry.
“For some time, despite taking consistent steps to reduce the environmental impact associated with an internationally touring music group, we’ve been concerned and preoccupied with the carbon footprint of our schedules and the wider impact of our sector overall”, the band explained in a statement last (as per Complete Music Update).
Now, the group have revealed that they will be performing a “super-low carbon gig” at Liverpool’s Good Business Festival in October of 2020.
“We’re looking forward to exploring the social and scientific solutions to the challenges we face in transitioning to a low carbon society,” Robert Del Naja explained in a statement. “This project offers an opportunity to work with new and progressive identities in the planning, energy, technology and transport sectors.
“After years of participation in large scale music events that have had questionable sponsors on the ticket & too often, very little enthusiasm for meaningful change.”
The group aim to use renewable energy for their performance, while also teaming up with Liverpool officials to offer fans public transportation options as well.
It remains to be seen how the findings of their upcoming shows will affect future international touring plans, but we can only hope the results inform the music industry as a whole how to ensure art does not harm the planet.