Massive Attack on the Downs

About

Massive Attack have announced Act 1.5, a large-scale climate action accelerator event that sees Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall play what will be their first show on UK soil in 5 years. Taking place on 25th August 2024 at Clifton Downs in their hometown of Bristol, the show promises to be the lowest carbon show of its size ever staged.

Localised pre sale tickets starting on Wednesday 6 December. General ticket sale starts on Friday 8 December.

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 festival 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.