London’s festival scene is about to get a major shake-up with the arrival of LIDO Festival, a brand-new addition to the capital’s summer calendar. The highly anticipated event has just announced its final headliner: the iconic British band Massive Attack, marking their first London festival appearance in nearly a decade.
Taking place in Victoria Park on Friday, June 6, Massive Attack’s performance will not only feature their renowned live show—designed in collaboration with Robert Del Naja, United Visual Artists, and documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis—but also serve as a landmark moment in sustainable live music. The show will be powered entirely by batteries in partnership with clean energy provider Ecotricity, significantly reducing carbon emissions and local air pollution.
Joining the lineup are esteemed acts including French electronic duo Air, hip-hop legends Yasiin Bey and The Alchemist presenting their project FORENSICS, and South East London singer-songwriter Tirzah. More acts are expected to be announced soon.
A New Standard for Sustainable Festivals
Massive Attack and ACT 1.5 have been leading the charge in revolutionizing the live music industry’s carbon footprint. Following their large-scale climate action accelerator in Bristol last year—hailed as the “gold standard for green gigs” by The New York Times—the group continued their mission with an indoor event at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, featuring IDLES and Nile Rodgers & Chic. Now, they are bringing their pioneering efforts to London’s LIDO Festival.
“To present London’s first-ever 100% battery-powered festival day with such a dynamic range of artists is an optimum outcome for us,” said Robert Del Naja (3D) of Massive Attack. “History shows it’s often the combination of art and science that overcomes the greatest challenges we face, so it’s good to see LIDO take learnings from our ACT1.5 event and apply those technologies. Clean productions beginning this journey to normalisation is good news for everyone—especially music fans and local communities.”
Jim King, CEO of European Festivals at AEG Presents, praised Massive Attack’s dedication to sustainability, stating, “Big changes require both courage and determination. Massive Attack has demonstrated that there is a better way to operate for the future of both our planet and our industry. LIDO represents the next step towards industry-leading sustainability principles across AEG European Festivals.”
An Artist-Curated Experience
LIDO Festival is breaking new ground by giving headlining artists full creative control over their respective festival days. This means that each headliner is curating their own lineup, artwork, and stage design, ensuring a unique and personal experience for fans. The festival is named after Victoria Park’s Lido Field and will span 10 days, featuring hand-picked music line-ups as well as community-focused events throughout the week.
Other headliners previously announced for LIDO include Jamie xx (Saturday, June 7), OUTBREAK Fest (Friday, June 13), Charli XCX’s party girl festival (Saturday, June 14), and London Grammar (Sunday, June 15).
With a strong emphasis on sustainability, community, and artist-driven programming, LIDO Festival is set to make waves as London’s newest and most forward-thinking music event. Tickets are expected to sell fast as excitement builds for this groundbreaking festival experience.