Carbon Footprint - In 2021, Coldplay announced a 12-point plan to cut the carbon footprint of touring by 50%. Now, they've given an update on their progress, saying the first two years of their Music of the Spheres tour saw a 59% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared with their previous world tour.
They have used things like a dancefloor that generates electricity when fans jump up and down and have cut down on air travel. They have also revealed that seven million saplings have been planted as part of a commitment to grow a tree for every fan attending the shows.
"As a band, and as an industry, we’re a long way from where we need to be on this," they said in a statement. "But we’re grateful for everyone’s help so far, and we salute everyone who’s making efforts to push things in the right direction."
Among the developments, 72% of tour waste was diverted from landfill and sent for reuse, recycling and composting - up from 66% in 2023. And the band said the energy produced by in-venue solar installations, kinetic dancefloors and power bikes has increased from 15 to 17 KwH per show - enough to power one of the smaller stage areas each night, and provide the crew with phone, laptop and tool-charging stations. They said the figures had been assessed and verified by the environmental solutions initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Sustainable Theatre - The Theatre Green Book has launched an expanded second edition aiming to put the sector on track for net zero by 2030, with a renewed call for the commercial sector to embrace sustainable practice. Set to represent a "meaningful step" towards carbon neutrality in the sector, the online second edition has been road-tested by a number of venues, including the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The second edition has been developed by Renew Culture and Buro Happold. Renew Culture’s co-director Lisa Burger said that some organisations were already "pushing ahead very fast and very well", citing the National Theatre of Scotland’s achievement of implementing sustainability standards for the majority of its productions and its commitment to emulate that success across its buildings and operations.
Annie’s Songs - The BBC and Glastonbury Festival will celebrate the life of the late DJ Annie Nightingale at this year's event. The pioneer became the first female BBC Radio 1 presenter when she joined the station in 1970. Nightingale died in January, aged 83, and a special event will be held in tribute to her across two stages at Worthy Farm on 27 June. She last performed at Glastonbury in 2017, on The Glade Main Stage, where the celebrations will start. Special sets will feature some of the late DJ's favourite music.
Ahead of the festival beginning in less than a month, a statement from Glastonbury said the celebration of Nightingale's life would be "fitting". It read: "Annie Nightingale loved Glastonbury Festival.
Park Life - The Pet Shop Boys and Sting have been announced as the headliners of BBC Radio 2 in the Park in Preston this September. The festival will also see performances from the Manic Street Preachers, Sugababes, Craig David, Snow Patrol, Travis and Sister Sledge.
In The Sale Room - A collection of instruments and equipment used by musical pioneer John Martyn to create his distinctive sound are to be sold at auction. The sale, at Omega Auctions in Newton-le-Willows on Merseyside on 2 July, will include two 1954 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top guitars and Martyn's ‘famous’ Echoplex delay unit and amplifier set-up. Martyn, who died at the age of 60 in 2009, has been cited as an influence by artists as varied as U2, Portishead and Eric Clapton.
(Jim Evans)
4 June 2024
