News British music festival dubbed one of the “greenest gigs ever”

A recent festival organised by UK trip hop group Massive Attack served up entirely vegan catering – and a blueprint for future eco-friendly gigs.

Attendees at Massive Attack’s recent music festival, Act 1.5, had a variety of mouthwatering menus to choose from to fuel themselves between gigs – and all of them were 100% plant-based! 

By featuring popular vegan food vendors like Chiki Monkey and Soy Ahoy, and requiring other non-vegan vendors at the event to serve completely plant-based fare too, Massive Attack aimed to encourage both audiences and those involved in the music industry alike to be more active in reducing their climate impact.

According to a recent Oxford University study, switching to plant-based eating can reduce diet-related emissions, water pollution, and land use by a whopping 75%.

The amount of meat we consume is strongly related [to] our environmental footprint … Cutting down the amount of meat and dairy in your diet can make a big difference.

Prof Peter Scarborough, Oxford University

Ensuring fully plant-based catering was just one of the measures the trip hop legends took in order to make their one-day festival in Bristol as environmentally friendly as possible. 

Act 1.5 ran entirely on renewable energy, with festival-goers strongly encouraged to walk, cycle, or use public transport to reach the venue in Bristol – and, in an effort to reduce plastic waste, reusable cups were provided for beverages, and glitter and disposable vapes were banned. 

The festival’s name, in case you were wondering, is a direct reference to the global temperature rise limit set down in the Paris Climate Agreement, 1.5 degrees celsius. 

Massive Attack even commissioned the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to develop a Roadmap to Super Low Carbon Live Music, which is intended to help the UK live music sector “play its part in tackling the climate crisis” by providing an eco-friendly blueprint for other event organisers. 

Proof that unforgettable music experiences don’t have to cost the planet 

With fully plant-based catering, renewable energy, and a commitment to reducing waste, Massive Attack’s Act 1.5 festival has set a powerful precedent for the future of eco-conscious live music.

And when it comes to encouraging the music industry towards vegan events, and planning gigs with sustainability in mind, the band is in good company! American singer, Billie Eilish, is also renowned for her climate and vegan activism, and London’s O2 Arena even went fully vegan for her six-day climate event back in 2022.

By taking bold steps like these, the music industry can show that sustainability is not just possible but exciting, accessible, and inspiring. 

Whether you’re a fan, an artist, or a festival organiser, Massive Attack’s blueprint is clear: Together, we can make a positive impact on the planet – and have a great time while doing it!

Header image: © Iwi Onodera/Redferns