Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI), the foremost conference for sustainability through live music, sport, and culture, is gearing up for its 18th edition on Tuesday, 24th February at the Royal Lancaster London, with the full agenda now revealed.
A partnership between green event pioneers A Greener Future (AGF) and the world’s leading platform for the live music and entertainment sector, the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), GEI18 will tackle the hottest topics facing the industry with a jam-packed programme across three rooms, a networking and exhibitor lounge, and a five-star plant-based lunch. The event also includes the International AGF Awards and access to Soho Calling music showcase festival taking place across multiple venues in central London on 25th February.
Joining the GEI lineup for the first time is conservationist and broadcaster Chris Packham CBE, who will speak alongside Ecotricity’s Dale Vince OBE as the duo introduce Saturday Night Beaver with Ecotalk, discussing ways we can protect nature. And Vince is later joined by Kneecap’s manager, Dan Lambert, who will provide first-hand insight into cancel culture and boycotts in Cancel Me, Cancel You: Values, Boycotts and Cancel Culture.
EarthPercent Hour returns with multi-award-winning singer-songwriters Anna Calvi and David Gray joining co-executive director of EarthPercent Cathy Runciman to discuss musical journeys, inspiration, community, and planetary care in GEI’s keynote session – Unleashing the Power of Music in Service of the Planet.
There will be live performances from Tobias Turley (MAMMA MIA!), who stars as Humanity in the award-winning pop musical Hot Mess, and Katarina Barruk, who collaborated with Bicep on the critically acclaimed immersive audiovisual project TAKKUUK, singing in the critically endangered language of Ume Sámi.
In Art For Earth’s Sake: The Power of Storytelling multi-award-winning artist Doddz and Ellie Coote, director and writer of Hot Mess will explore two storytelling artforms, using both age-old and emerging tools of communication, and Extraction Vs. Connection will spotlight those using creativity, events, and collective agency to build bridges and reconnect to real humanity.
Beyond the Burger Van, presented by Petra Daniëls of Paradise City festival and hosted by one of the UK’s leading voices in plant-based foods and sustainable living, Clare Every (The Little London Vegan), will explore the revolution in festival catering through the lens of Belgium’s pioneering Paradise City.
Riders on the Storm explores climate adaptation for events; and Sustainable Cities: Taking Diesel Out Of Events brings together teams from Liverpool UN Accelerator City, Bristol City Council, and Massive Attack’s Act 1.5 to explore real-world initiatives and the critical role cities can play in accelerating the transition to cleaner, greener event ecosystems.
The importance of data and research is highlighted in Industry Initiatives: Research and Tools for a Greener Live Sector, where delegates will hear research from MIT and the UK outdoor event sector, from AGF on digitalising 20 years of sustainability expertise, and YOUROPE’s update on the European Green Festival Roadmap 2030. AI and Sustainability discusses the issues around the social, economic, and environmental impacts of AI on the industry.
A Greener Tour Round VI returns featuring insights from Sam Fender’s eHGV tour, the battery systems used on Coldplay’s tour, Massive Attack’s revolutionary actions, key industry manufacturer L-Acoustics, and the colossal work of TAIT and the Live Events Energy Scheme (LEES) founded by Ecotricity, LIVE, AGF, and MVT will be discussed in Green Light for Venues.
Elsewhere, presenters will share solutions for audience travel and touring emissions, from product manufacturing to lifecycle analysis to slow touring; How to Achieve a 90% Recycling Rate will present insights from LIDO Festival and Radio 2 Big Weekend; Big Team and ClearText will present projects for accessibility and inclusion; the Centre for Festivals and Events (CEF) will look at how AI is transforming the live sector; and the unmissable Deep Dive into Toilets: The loos you choose needs no explanation.
The Quick-Fire Innovation Round, hosted by punk legend John Robb, presents Lightweight Design, Heavy Impact – reimagining event design with Airworks; the reinvented toilet from Cranfield University; Hydrogen power for events from GeoPura, and VESTROCK’s use of NaviLens technology to help visually impaired festivalgoers navigate their event.
Rounding off GEI18 will be the International AGF Awards, sponsored by Skydiamond, where AGF celebrates the most innovative and greenest events, venues, organisations, and individuals from across the globe over the last 12 months. Hosted by Claire O’Neill (A Greener Future & Grid Faeries), Madame Gandhi (Musician & Activist), and Ash Perrin (The Flying Seagull Project), delegates will raise a glass to the winners before enjoying a final drinks and networking party with devilishly good vegan balls courtesy of Devil’s Kitchen.
View the full schedule at www.agreenerfuture.com/schedule
GEI18 is sponsored by Ecotricity Business, TAIT, AEG & The O2.
About AGF
AGF is a not-for-profit company committed to helping the events sector towards sustainability worldwide. AGF provides certification, education & training, consultancy, sustainable event management, and facilitates the exchange and implementation of good ideas. They share best practice for greener events, and how to not only prevent damage but actually enhance the environment. AGF provides independent assessment and verification of sustainability claims through the AGF Certification for festivals, venues, events and suppliers, sustainability diagnosis and detailed carbon footprinting. More info: www.agreenerfuture.com
About ILMC
Attracting 1,700+ of the world’s top live music professionals from over 40 countries annually, the International Live Music Conference has been the foremost meeting place for live music professionals worldwide for nearly 40 years. In addition to its main conference, ILMC also produces Futures Forum, Touring Entertainment LIVE, and the International Festival Forum. More info: https://ilmc.com/
Contact
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@ globalpublicity.co.uk