Massive Attack announce Act 1.5, a large-scale climate action accelerator event

05 December 2023 - Press release

MASSIVE ATTACK ANNOUNCE 'ACT 1.5' ALL DAY EVENT ON CLIFTON DOWNS, BRISTOL ON AUGUST 25TH 2024

THEIR FIRST UK SHOW IN FIVE YEARS WILL TRIAL NEW STANDARDS FOR THE DECARBONISATION OF LIVE MUSIC

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 8TH DECEMBER HERE

LOCALISED PRE-SALE TICKETS STARTING WEDNESDAY DEC 6th HERE

 

Today,  that sees Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall play what will be their first concert on UK soil in 5 years. Taking place on 25th August 2024 at Clifton Downs in their hometown of Bristol, it promises to be the lowest carbon show of its size ever staged.

The event will mark the culmination of 25 years of climate activism on the part of the band, and a first physical fruition of their collaboration with climate scientists and analysts from the renowned Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, including Massive Attack's commissioning of the only Paris 1.5 compatible roadmap for decarbonisation of the Live Music Sector.

The band had previously planned a prototype show of this nature in Liverpool; ambitions that were thwarted by global pandemic and their boycotting of an Arms Fair being held in the city. As part of the ACT 1.5 initiative, Liverpool has now become the first City worldwide to commit to a global gold standard of Paris 1.5 compatible carbon reductions as a condition for licensing major live music events. 

Massive Attack were the first band globally to become members of the UN Race to Zero programme – committing all of their touring & production activities to Paris 1.5 compatible decarbonisation measures, in all scopes 1, 2 and 3 - and the band have now worked together with partners UN Race To Zero, Zenobe, Ecotricity, Train Hugger and Act 1.5 to construct a unique event. 

Unprecedented decarbonisation measures for the Bristol Downs Event include:

·       A localised presale period to deter private car travel Anyone living within Bristol, Bath and the surrounding Gloucestershire, Swindon and Taunton area postcodes will be able to access the local pre-sale which goes live to sign-ups at 10am on Wednesday 6th December.)

·       An entire event site powered entirely by 100% renewable energy.

·       A rail travel incentive initiative that will generate a vital drawdown of audience travel emissions (where up to 80% of emissions for major live music events are generated)

·       A meat free arena

·       Free post-show electric shuttles to main rail hubs.

·       100% zero to landfill waste removal

·       As a show legacy, the creation of a new, climate resilient woodland plantation in the South West region, consisting of mountain, shining and southern blue gum trees (chosen for their fast growth and efficient carbon capture qualities) in partnership with Train Hugger and The Royal Forestry Society.  

·       All touring & production vehicles electric or fuelled by verified 100% waste product HVO fuel.

 

Fans wanting to pre-sale tickets, can follow the sign-up link found on www.massiveattackbristol.com and enter the first half of their postcode when asked. A full band incentivised train travel campaign will be launched ahead of the event in 2024.

 

Quotes
3D
'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: The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research:
"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".