Massive Attack unveil short film on live music and climate change

The eight-minute short film, put together by Anthony Tombling Jr for Unit 3 Films, is narrated by Massive Attack's own Robert Del Naja.

Last year, Massive Attack started taking steps to show their dedication towards research on climate change and the impact the music industry has on the environment. They partnered with Manchester University’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in the hope of finding solutions for decarbonisation in the music industry, and planned a low-carbon live show in Liverpool for this year to collect data, but then the coronavirus pandemic happened.

The film includes excerpts of interviews with collaborators helping set up the low-carbon show, including Liverpool’s director of culture Claire McColgan, green energy industrialist Dale Vince, and the Tyndall Centre’s Carly McLachlan.

In the film, McLachlan warns that the world should be looking for more sustainable ways of hosting shows following the COVID-19 pandemic following an increase in drive-in gigs. She says, "I think it’s a really critical moment to make sure that as we rebuild the sector - as it comes out of this period of crisis - that we do that in a way that gives it long-term sustainability."