On 17 October, the first ever Climate Music Blowout event will take place at the EartH venue in Hackney, London. The event is being organised by climate and music organisation Music Declares Emergency, creative studio Adapt and promoter Bird On The Wire, and will present a day of talks, panels and music performances with the aim of addressing how the UK music industry can play a key role in responding to the climate emergency. 

The event will open at 1pm with an introductory address from Mike Smith, Global President of Downtown Music and Trustee of Earth Percent. The afternoon will then present a series of panel discussions on topics including how record labels can operate on a zero-emissions basis; environmental efforts at music festivals and moving towards a zero-carbon live sector; and the production of vinyl and physical music merchandise in ways that are ethical and sustainable. PRS for Music will also host a session on the challenges artists can face when standing in support of action on the climate emergency.

The Climate Music Blowout live show will feature rock band Black Country, New Road playing a special improvised set involving guest performances from friends. Brighton indie band Porridge Radio will also perform a set, along with psychedelic soul artist Skinny Pelembe and London artist collective Steam Down. More performers will be added to the line-up at a later date. 

A statement from Adapt reads:

Creativity in many forms is essential in instigating real, tangible action. The music industry has always proven itself to be a strong force for change, driving engagement and communicating difficult ideas in accessible and powerful ways. The impact of real life community and live music spaces is vastly underestimated in their ability to galvanise people, which is why the Climate Music Blowout had to take the form of a real life experience. We hope that the blowout will light a fire in all that are touched by it, to go out into their own communities, organisations and projects and feel inspired to make real systemic changes.

Music Declares Emergency commented:

The UK music industry has made definitive and public commitments in recent times to action on sustainability and has the ambition to do far more. By bringing everyone together after such a period of separation by screens we aim to connect all parts of UK music to encourage everyone present to share the huge talent for innovation that has been the hallmark of our industry since its birth.

Tickets to the conference are free. A limited number of tickets are currently on sale for the concert. Audience members can also opt to make a small donation to offset the carbon load of travel incurred on the day. Visit: www.climatemusicblowout.com.

The Climate Music Blowout conference is presented in association with headline sponsors SONOS.

Roadmap to Super Low Carbon Live Music
In other news relating to the music industry’s response to the climate emergency, English electronic band Massive Attack have this week released a new report detailing proposed guidelines on how the music industry can progress into operating on a low-carbon basis. The report was commissioned by the band and produced by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research – a specialist body of scientists, engineers, economists and social scientists working to accelerate society’s transition to a sustainable low-carbon future.

The Roadmap to Super Low Carbon Live Music report is being offered by the band as an open resource to the industry and includes suggestions such as the elimination of private jet use in the sector; a switch to electric transportation; a phasing out of the use of diesel generators at festivals; and ‘plug and play’ models for venues to allow touring artists to utilise in-house equipment and eliminate the need for transporting equipment.

Read the full report below, or visit: www.massiveattack.co.uk.