27/02/2020

Massive Attack tour schedule for 2020

Update on 3 April 2020: this tour will have to be entirely rescheduled, due to the current events and health crisis.

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A message from, you know, Massive Attack:

link to website: https://www.massiveattack.co.uk

In light of the Climate Emergency, the Massive Attack tour schedule for 2020 has now been redesigned and reduced.

Science tells us that if global warming emissions peak in 2020, every country and every sector must reduce emissions by around 15% each year (through to 2040) if we are to then limit planetary warming to the critical 1.5°C figure.

Mezzanine XXI in Glasgow, Scotland, in January 2019 - photo by myself

In this context, and in advance of the comprehensive report into decarbonisation and smart touring we’ve commissioned from Tyndall Centre Climate Scientists, we’ve also decided to take immediate steps to reduce any high-carbon activities generated by the band - aviation being the key area where those emissions are generated.

In real terms, our 2020 tour cycle will achieve an immediate 31% (tour-by-tour) reduction in our use of aviation.

This reduction will be achieved by switching transportation of band, crew and equipment to rail wherever physically possible, and by curtailing tour cycles. Unfortunately, this does mean taking the tough decision to decline multiple show offers in North America and Australia.

The immediate 31% reduction in the most carbon intensive band activity will sit alongside the first ever super-low carbon live show, where working with Liverpool City Council we will achieve unprecedented reductions in the emissions generated by audience travel – the highest offending area of carbon emissions for any large live music event - at an event powered entirely by 100% renewable energy.

The combination of the Liverpool show model, and the roadmap generated by our wider collaboration with Tyndall Centre Climate Scientists will then form the framework for all Massive Attacks tours going forward, allowing us to achieve greater and faster emissions reductions year on year.

Massive Attack will continue to explore & incorporate innovations to eradicate or greatly reduce any negative carbon impact from our shows, and contribute to the systemic change of our sector overall.

To complement, Robert's column in the Guardian: