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Review: Massive Attack, the Downs – ‘A pivotal climate forward event’
There was a huge climate-conscious party on the Downs on Sunday, thanks to Bristol’s own Massive Attack who headlined the event in collaboration with climate scientists and analysts from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
Despite the grey weather, attendees flocked to the event armed with camping chairs, ponchos and picnic blankets, ready to take in the day of live music and talks.
Kicking things off was Bristol music pioneer DJ Milo from local collective the Wild Bunch, who soundtracked the day’s arrivals, before Sam Morton – a synth-pop duo featuring BAFTA-winning actor Samantha Morton – took to the stage.
is needed now More than ever
As well as music producer Richard Russell, Samantha Morton has collaborated with Jack Penate, Alabaster dePlume and UB40’s Ali Campbell on her debut album
However, it wasn’t until Mercury Prize-nominated Irish folk group Lankum appeared that things really started to warm up. It felt apt to have an outfit that draws from the Irish experience of conflict, colonisation and migration performing at such a pivotal event.
The band were kitted out with more instruments than I’d seen a four-piece use before. Their sound whisked you away from the dreary city to the far reaches of the country, with wind in your hair and salt on your skin. It was a laid-back love affair that was both haunting and charming.
Lankum’s brooding experimental Irish folk was transporting, haunting and beautiful
In keeping with the eco-friendly environment, the event boasted compost toilets – no portaloos in sight – and solely vegan food traders.
Unfortunately, by the time evening rolled around, the queues for every stall were extensive, making it difficult to manoeuvre, sit or stand. In contrast, the bar queue was non-existent and it was always easy to grab a pint – even if it was £6.40 for a cider in a can.
It seems organisers may have underestimated the event’s demographic: with many families and older gig-goers in attendance, the emphasis was on a wholesome music-filled day rather than a bank holiday Sunday booze-up.
If only the extended bars could have made room for more food options so attendees weren’t destined to queue for an hour for a portion of cheesy chips.
The crowd at the day festival in honour of climate change action was largely made up of families and older music lovers
The event was partnered with Ecotricity, Grid Faeries, UN Race to Zero, Train Hugger and Zenobe, with the main stage powered entirely by Ecotricity batteries.
It was nice not to hear any diesel generators on site, and while many might still be mistrustful of electric batteries, the sound emitted from the stage was flawless and without technical issues despite the weather.
Massive Attack have been working with leading academics on a climate change roadmap for the live music industry, and staged the day as the biggest carbon-neutral event of its kind
For those who didn’t want to listen to music all day, there was a small stage set up which held talks and discussions hosted by Novara Media.
Guests included Green Party co-leader and Bristol Central MP Carla Denyer, economist and author Grace Blakeley, Ecotricity founder Dale Vince, and historian David Olusoga among others.
When the current news cycle is filled with war, genocide, terrorism and climate threats, it was pleasant to listen to like-minded individuals and social activists discuss ways we can affect change.
Carla Denyer (left) took part in a Question Time-style panel on climate change issues, with Dale Vince (right) and others, hosted by Novara Media
The top half of the site was filled with witty art exhibitions taking on oil companies like Shell as well as a field studio where attendees could purchase one-off limited edition prints and t-shirts, with all profits going to Médecins Sans Frontières.
The agenda was clear: anti-capitalist, anti-fascist, anti-racist and climate-forward.
Ecotricity founder Dale Vince at the event focused on upping the scale and speed of climate action
But back to the music!
The final support act of the night was rapper and activist, Killer Mike. All the way from Atlanta, the singer took to the stage with nothing but happiness, bringing some sunshine to the grey day.
Full of light and love for the crowd and for his backing singers whose vocals rivalled the likes of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, Killer Mike’s energy was infectious. Fusing the sounds of hip hop with choral elements, it was a brilliant performance.
Killer Mike’s energetic performance got even seated crowd members moving, with plenty of foot-tapping and chair-wiggling to be seen
Before the long-awaited headliners commenced, Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza took to the stage to speak out on the current atrocities facing Palestinian people, a stark reminder of the realities of events just over 2,000 miles away.
Massive Attack have long been social justice activists and anti-conflict champions
It was yet another way of shining a light on ongoing political issues and nice to see Massive Attack endorse this throughout the day.
Not only did the band provide a platform for Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza to discuss events in his home country, they also featured visual imagery of Gaza and conflict as a backdrop to their music
At their first live hometown show in five years, Massive Attack entered in a haze of smoke and flashing lights.
While the opener was slightly anti-climactic due to the screens either side of the stage being switched off, their sound was electric.
Not only did the duo share the stage with other performers, activists and bands before their set, they were also joined by special guests throughout their show.
Long-time Massive Attack collaborator Horace Andy is still performing with the band at the age of 73
The crowd roared when Horace Andy collaborated on Girl I Love You, thundered applause when Elizabeth Fraser took to the stage for Black Milk and screamed themselves hoarse when Young Fathers joined for an epic live rendition of their duet Voodoo In My Blood.
Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja and Grant ‘Daddy G’ Marshall proved still to be at the forefront of the UK music scene almost three decades since they formed with their stunningly executed vocals and psychedelic sound.
3D and his longstanding musical partner Daddy G proved they are still at the forefront of trip-hop, the style they pioneered almost three decades ago
The on-screen visuals – striking imagery of war zones and flashing slogans – such as #tommyrobinson, #stoptheleft, #antiimmigration and #saveourkids – were both poignant and anger-inducing, exactly the feelings they most likely wanted to evoke. It worked.
The love the band has for Bristol was beautiful to see: despite five years apart, it was like they’d never been away.
The pair are evidently still connected with Bristol; Daddy G’s next hometown performance will be in support of drum and bass stalwart Dr Meaker’s album launch at Trinity in November
Act 1.5 Climate Action Accelerator proved to be another way of fusing music with political and social ideology.
Not only was it an honour to have such an amazing lineup visit our city, it was an honour that the first event of this scale to be 100 per cent renewable energy-powered was held here too.
Bristol proved itself to once again be at the forefront of innovative and forward-thinking projects and I can only hope we can put into action what we’ve learnt.
All photos: @darrencphotography
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