Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, which is the UK’s largest indoor music venue, announced the “100 percent plant-based food menu” earlier this month. While this is a notable first for the arena, Co-op Live permanently features a large array of solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, intelligent energy controls, reusable cups, and a zero waste-to-landfill policy.

The 23.5 thousand capacity venue will utilize seven kitchens across three levels to prepare the dedicated plant-based menu, which includes Vegetarian Butcher NoBeef burgers and fries from Soundbites; NoChicken burgers from Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken; bao buns, hotdogs, and meatball marinara ciabattas from the Co-op Live kitchen; Koko’s Hot Dogs; Loaded Fries; Saucy Chips; and a selection of pizza and dough balls from the Co-op Kitchen.

Read more: New Film Merges Art, Disability, And Animal Rights – How To Support ‘Liberty’

Upcoming Massive Attack show will have the ‘lowest emissions’ possible

Last year, Massive Attack hosted the record-breaking Act 1.5 festival in their hometown of Bristol. It featured plant-based foods and renewable energy, banned high-impact glitter and disposable vapes, and encouraged concert-goers to use public transport and active travel.

“The Co-op Live gig allows another iteration of the show to materialise and for us to underpin that production with the lowest emissions measures possible,” said Massive Attack’s Robert “3D” Del Naja. “We’re pleased that this event will be the first ever 100 percent plant-based major show in Manchester with an extensive, curated menu, and that the arena is powered by renewables.”

The trip hop pioneers are well known for their politics and environmental messaging, and they also encouraged those attending the upcoming gig to join them in taking the train, where possible, to further cut pollution and help create “smarter, cleaner events.”

Massive Attack will headline the Co-op Live Arena on June 5, 2025. The band’s tour also includes a show at London’s Victoria Park in London, followed by dates in mainland Europe.

Read more: Massive Attack Serves Entirely Vegan Menu At Eco-Conscious Gig

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Massive Attack put on the Act 1.5 festival in Clifton Downs in its hometown of Bristol last August. The one-day event took a number of measures to reduce its environmental impact, including using renewable energy, encouraging attendees to walk, cycle, or use public transport to get there, banning glitter and disposable vapes, and not serving any animal products.

Bristol vegan caterers Chiki Monkey and Soy Ahoy were at the festival, alongside a number of other non-vegan businesses that served completely plant-based menus for the event. 

Now, a report by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research compared its emissions with those made by a standard hypothetical outdoor festival. Scientists compiling the report found that Act 1.5 created 98 percent fewer emissions than comparable shows. 

Read more: Bafta Guests Served Vegan Caviar As Part Of More Sustainable Menu

A low impact festival

According to the report, plant-based food and the electric cars that brought the food reduced catering emissions by 89 percent. The festival’s highest emissions were produced by the five percent of attendees who flew to the event, which made up 64 percent of overall emissions. 

Professor Carly McLachlan, associate director at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, said that this case study “could change the landscape for outdoor festivals”.

“It demonstrated that there are real opportunities for promoters, providers, local authorities and central government to create the conditions for the UK to lead the world in super-low carbon events,” she added, according to the BBC.

Studies have shown that eschewing animal products is the most effective way individuals can reduce their impact on the planet. According to research published in 2023, vegan diets lead to 75 percent less climate heating emissions, land use, and water pollution than those containing more than 100g of meat a day. In addition to this, plant-based diets cut the destruction of wildlife by 66 percent and water use by 54 percent. 

Act 1.5, which was named after the 1.5C global warming limit outlined by the Paris Climate Agreement, could serve as a blueprint for future events to reduce their climate impact. 

“Fans want clean shows, that’s very clear,” said Act 1.5’s lead producer Mark Donne. “The challenge for promoters and government now is to meet that need.”

Read more: Metal Band With Vegan Singer Takes Home First Grammy Win

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Along with opera singer Marina Viotti and composer Victor Le Manse, Gojira took home the award for their song Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!). The band made history as the first metal band to perform at the Olympics. It saw them playing their instruments from the window ledges and turrets of the Concierge building, in which Marie-Antoinette was held prisoner during the French Revolution. The infamous queen appeared during the song holding her own head in her hands.

Read more: Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler Honored With ‘Rock Star for Animals’ Award

The award is the first Grammy for Gojira, who have been together since 1996. The band has a long history of supporting Sea Shepherd, and they have used their music to address animal suffering and environmental destruction. Gojira had planned to release a Sea Shepherd EP in the 2010s, but the hard drive containing the songs got corrupted. The only track that survived was Of Blood and Salt, which was about the whale massacres that take place in the Faroe Islands, known as the Grind. The band campaigned for Captain Paul Watson to be released from jail when he was arrested by Danish authorities in July last year.

Duplantier’s animal advocacy

Duplantier takes a particularly active role in trying to advance the rights of animals. He attended a protest demanding the release of Watson outside the Danish parliament in Copenhagen. In November 2024, he starred in an ad by PETA encouraging people to “Join the Vegan Revolution.” In a “public service announcement” (PSA) for PETA, he explained he went vegan for the animals, describing it as “an awakening.”

Duplantier often uses interviews to discuss his belief in animal rights as well as the health benefits of veganism. He credits his diet with giving him lots more energy. “Every time we finish a show, I’m still full of energy and I keep going,” he told Blabbermouth in 2023. “I can keep going and going and going. And back in the day, before I changed my diet, at the end of the show, I was at the end of my life.”

Duplantier’s wife is also a vegan animal activist. They have two children whom they are raising as vegans. “When my second child was born, we decided to go vegan as a family,” he said in his PETA PSA. “It’s going fabulous. They love not hurting animals.”

Read more: Massive Attack Serves Entirely Vegan Menu At Eco-Conscious Gig

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Read more: Meat Industry Musical ‘Mad Cow’ Debuts At UK’s First Vegan Theater

Act 1.5 took place last weekend at Clifton Downs in Bristol, Massive Attack’s home town. The one-day event, which featured music and talks, was intended to demonstrate how the music industry can cut its climate impact. As well as vegan food, Act 1.5 ran entirely on renewable energy. Attendees were encouraged to walk, cycle, and use public transport to reach the venue. Reusable cups were available and glitter and disposable vapes were banned to reduce harmful plastic waste. The name “1.5” comes from the 1.5C global warming limit outlined by the Paris Climate Agreement.

Among the food vendors were Bristol vegan caterers Chiki Monkey and Soy Ahoy. The other vendors were not vegan, but they all plant-based menus at the festival. The festival organizers explained on Instagram that “sourcing plant based providers with major event capacity isn’t as easy as you might think.”

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A post shared by MASSIVE ATTACK // ACT 1.5 // Clifton Downs (@act1.5_bristol)

Veganism in the music scene

Ahead of the festival, Massive Attack published a Roadmap to Super Low Carbon Live Music. The resource was commissioned by the band and produced by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. According to the report, audience travel accounts for the majority of emissions from live music events. It doesn’t specify food-related emissions, but according to a study from Music Declares Emergency Switzerland, food and drinks contribute about 10 percent of festival emissions.

Read more: Is Billie Eilish Vegan? Everything She’s Said About The Movement

Massive Attack aren’t the only band trying to remake the music industry into a more positive force for the climate, including by making gigs vegan. Billie Eilish has become as well-known for her veganism and climate activism as her music. In 2022, during her inaugural OVERHEATED climate-action week, London’s O2 Arena ditched all animal products.

Read more: Ariana Grande Says Her Family ‘Always Forgets’ That She’s Vegan

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

The 21-year-old has spoken publicly about the importance of animal rights and protecting the environment. At the time of writing, Eilish has 108 million Instagram followers, meaning her advocacy reaches a huge audience. 

The musician regularly posts about veganism, and has also hosted concerts and events to promote the cause. Here’s everything you need to know about Eilish’s advocacy and diet. 

When and why did Billie Eilish go vegan?

Eilish previously stated that she’s been vegan since she was 12, which was nine years ago. 

In 2022, she spoke about her diet in a clip posted to Instagram. The celebrity said: “I was raised vegetarian, and I chose to stop eating all animal products when I was 12. Once I learned about how animals are treated in our industrial food system, I didn’t want any part of it.”

The artist added that she subsequently learnt about the connection between animal agriculture and the climate crisis. 

“Climate change is a huge threat facing all of us,” she said. “But it is especially frightening for young people and for vulnerable communities who are really really going to suffer in our lifetimes.”

Eilish went on to say that shifting one’s diet towards more plant-based foods can have a “major impact” on the environment.

Billie Eilish’s vegan advocacy

As well as speaking publicly about the ethical and environmental costs of animal farming, Eilish has used her concerts to raise awareness of the issues. 

At her Happier Than Ever tour, which took place in early 2022, she encouraged fans to pledge to include more plant-based foods in their diet. 

She included an “Action Village” at every concert location, which hosted a number of environmental organizations. One of these was Support + Feed, which Eilish herself launched with her mother, Maggie Baird.

Support + Feed is an award-winning nonprofit organization focused on “creating an equitable, plant-based food system and combating food insecurity and the climate crisis.”

In June 2022, Eilish and her mother hosted an event called Overheated at the O2 Arena in London. It included several expert speakers on the subject of animal agriculture and the environment, including Plant Based News co-founder Robbie Lockie. 

For the six-day event, the O2 removed all animal products from its menus. Instead of meat, it served plant-based dishes – including meatless sausage and chicken parmigiana – created with Impossible Foods.

Eilish has also launched a vegan Air Force 1 and Air Jordan sneakers in collaboration with Nike. She was nominated for PETA’s “person of the year” in 2021, with president Ingird Newkirk stating that Eilish has seized “every opportunity” to promote vegan food and fashion. 

Animal rights: Eilish calls out Oaks Farm

Back in 2019, Eilish took to Instagram to post about an investigation into Oaks Farm in Indiana that uncovered a number of instances of animal cruelty. 

A video published by Instagram user @carla.sweet.vegan showed workers appearing to kick and push newborn calves onto the floor when they wouldn’t drink from an artificial nipple.

“I keep my mouth shut most of the time about this because I believe everyone should do eat and say whatever they want… and I don’t feel the need to shove what I believe in, in anyone’s face,” Eilish wrote in a repost of the video. 

“If you can watch the videos that I just posted and not give a f*ck that it’s YOU contributing by LITERALLY EATING the creatures that are being fully tortured just for your pleasure. I feel sorry for you.”

After a fan commented saying that one person going vegan wouldn’t change anything, Eilish responded: “That’s ignorant and stupid. If you have half a brain, you should know ‘one person’ adds up. Be smarter.”

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

The American rock band has pledged to give an unconfirmed percentage of ticket sales from three shows to the nonprofit. The donated proceeds will go towards tackling food insecurity and the climate emergency.

Support + Feed was founded to assist the LA plant-based restaurant sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by singer Billie Eilish’s mom Maggie Baird, the charity asked consumers to order food from local restaurants, which would be donated to those without access to affordable healthy nutrition. As a result, it fed those in need and kept vegan businesses afloat.

The initiative has since evolved to provide nationwide food support to communities in need. This is why Paramore is donating proceeds from its two LA shows and a single New York performance.

Hayley Williams leads by example

This is not the first time Paramore and Support + Feed have linked up. Last year, lead singer Hayley Williams baked vegan chocolate chip cookies to donate to the charity. She kept her then 2.7 million Instagram followers in the loop via her Stories.

Williams has also taken part in an Instagram Live hosted by Baird, to talk about all things plant-based. The conversation included her own vegan and cruelty-free hair and beauty brand Good Dye Young.

“There’s a lot of education that I’ve been able to acquire and learn about how it affects our economy alone and how sustainable it is to eat without eating meat. [But] I’m still learning about it,” she said at the time.

Billie Eilish also spreads the word

In April this year, it was revealed that Eilish concert-goers would see pre-performance messages from Baird, asking them to eat more plant-based meals. 

The messages formed part of a wider collaboration between Support + Feed and the Happier Than Ever tour, which was also supported by environmental nonprofit REVERB. 

To showcase the importance of climate action, including eating a plant-based diet, every one of Eilish’s tour dates included an Eco-Village that offered information about the climate crisis and custom reusable water bottles.

This article was written by Amy Buxton on the PBN Website.

For Eilish’s tour dates, the O2 has pledged to remove animal products from the arena.

A statement on its website reads: “Within The O2 arena, together with our catering partner, Levy’s, we have committed to go 100 percent vegan on food throughout the arena for the Billie Eilish residency. This includes a range of vegan food offerings on concessions and the removal of certain items.”

It adds that most drinks will be vegan, and it will replace all dairy milk with plant-based options.

The venue also confirmed that starting this month, its wristbands will consist of PET fabric instead of plastic.

Supporting climate action

On the days of Eilish’s residency, the O2 is also hosting a climate awareness event in its corporate event space Indigo, called Overheated Live.

Eilish and her brother Finneas will introduce the event, which is set to feature talks from prominent activists, including climate activist Vanessa Nakate and sustainable fashion advocate Samata Pattinson.

Plant Based News co-founder Robbie Lockie will host a panel on the day alongside Baird on the negative environmental impact of animal products. They will speak in-depth about the urgent need to move towards a more plant-based food system.

Eilish’s first O2 performance takes place this Friday, and you can find out more about how to buy tickets here. 

This article was written by Charlotte Pointing on the PBN Website.

Ryder, who once owned a vegan juice bar in Coggeshall, has TikTok to thank for his rise to fame. Ryder began posting musical covers on the social media platform in March 2020, during the UK’s first COVID-19 lockdown.

His covers won the approval of a string of high-profile names including Elton John and Alicia Keys. And by the end of 2020, he was the most-followed UK artist on TikTok. (At the time of writing, Ryder has near to 13 million followers.)

During the pandemic is also when he penned his hit song Space Man, which he performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 – the 66th edition of the competition, which took place on May 14.

There, Ryder topped the jury vote, reeling in 283 points, and secured another 183 points from the public.

‘Unity, peace, love’

The 32-year-old musician named the experience an “incredible, incredible, rewarding journey.”

Speaking to presenters Scott Mills and Rylan Clark after the scores were released, Ryder said: “We signed up to come and sing. We enjoy music, and I know that every single artist involved this year absolutely smashed it.

“Everyone was a credit to themselves and a credit to what Eurovision is all about: unity, peace, love, togetherness, inclusivity and expression. Thank you for having us.”

This article was written by Jemima Webber on the PBN Website.

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A post shared by OVERHEATED (@overheated)

Billie Eilish pushes for climate action

Eilish, a vegan, is passionate about climate awareness. Her current Happier Than Ever tour has its own Eco-Village, where fans can learn more about climate action. It also features a pre-performance message from Baird. She urges viewers to take Support + Feed’s plant-based pledge and ditch meat for 30 days.

Diet change is a key way to fight the climate crisis. The meat industry is a leading cause of deforestation, water pollution, and contributes 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In the recorded message, Baird says: “I know that you know that Billie and her whole family are very concerned about climate change and I know you are too. By taking a pledge to eat at least one plant-based meal a day for 30 days you will help save the planet.”

Eilish is also backing a new collaboration in the music industry called Music Declares Emergency U.S. Other artists in support of the group—which is the new US chapter of an existing European initiative and pushes for more governmental action—include Arcade Fire, Annie Lennox, Tom Odell, and Bon Iver.

A joint statement from the group reads: “The climate crisis is the greatest challenge of our time, and the power of music should take its place at the forefront of this important movement to create a safer, fairer, more sustainable world. The climate crisis is about science, not politics.”

Overheated is at the O2 Arena in London on June 10-12, 16, 25, and 26. Tickets are on sale now.

This article was written by Charlotte Pointing on the PBN Website.

Festival-goers will not be required to provide evidence of a negative Covid test, show proof of vaccination status, or worry about contact tracing before or after the event.

The festival team welcomed the news that restrictions in England officially ended yesterday, and they expect a return to near-normal for the event this summer.

Vegan Camp Out will run from Friday, July 15 to Monday, July 18 at its new venue, Stanford Hall in Leicestershire.

Covid restrictions ending

The government announced an end to all legal Covid restrictions in England from February 24, nearly two years after the first rules were introduced in March 2020. 

According to the government’s Living with Covid plan, people no longer have to self-isolate if they test positive for Covid, although they’re still advised to do so. 

Routine contact tracing will also end and close contacts will no longer need to self-isolate or take daily tests. Covid passports won’t be recommended except for international travel. 

Face masks will no longer be legally required although ministers still suggest they be worn in crowded and enclosed public places. 

2022 agenda released 

Vegan Camp Out’s lineup this year is jam-packed, and includes vegan educator, public speaker, and content creator Earthing Ed. Actor, writer, and podcaster Evanna Lynch, best known for her role in the Harry Potter series, will also be in attendance.

Other famous faces include Lucy Watson, a British reality tv star, model, and entrepreneur who appeared in the award-winning television series Made in Chelsea. Gaz Oakley, aka Avant-Garde Vegan, a cookbook author who collaborated with Wagamama to craft its iconic plant-based egg, will also take to the stage.

Matt Pritchard, Heather Mills, Preacher Lawson, and Happy Pear will be sharing their vegan experiences at the celebrated event too.

The much-anticipated food area will include 45 exciting vendors offering vegan kebabs, pizzas, smoothies, curries, ice cream, cakes, and burgers, to name a few.

The festival team is keeping the final food list a secret until the event kicks off.

Previous years 

This year marks the sixth Vegan Camp Out. The festival came from humble beginnings, when in 2016, 400 people turned up from all over the country. 

The first event had no talks or stalls, just 400 people gathered together in a field in Derby with one food vendor. The gathering allowed people who’d only ever met online to meet in person for the first time.

In 2019, numbers increased to 7,500 attendees and this year that figure is expected to be double that.

Adult tickets cost £70 for the whole weekend and that includes a camping pass. And tickets for children will cost £35 for the weekend. 

Get your tickets from VeganCampOut.co.uk.

This article was written by Joanna Macdonald on the PBN Website.

Abel has been vegan for four years since making the switch for ethical reasons. A Londoner of Moroccan-English descent, Abel has worked with some of the biggest names in the dance music industry such as Wookie, Gorgon City, Kaytranada, Don Diablo, and Kygo. 

He has become well known for his style which infuses soul, funk, and pop influences. But Abel is perhaps better known in the vegan community for his song Vegan, which imagines a romantic scenario with a comedic twist. 

Why Zak Abel went vegan

“She said she was vegan, vegan, vegan, just to get with me”

Abel has made it publicly known that becoming vegan was one of the best decisions he has ever made. 

What began as an intellectual debate between friends ultimately changed his life. He explains that once confronted with the ethical arguments against meat and dairy consumption, he no longer saw the logic in continuing to eat animal products. 

His sense of integrity and remaining true to his beliefs is ultimately what pushed him to follow through with the decision to go vegan.

It’s turning to veganism that has allowed him to live his most authentic life. And that’s because he knows he isn’t harming any animals in the process, he says.

Toxic masculinity in veganism

However, he explains, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding that choice.

“Trying to figure out my place in the world and my place as a man in the world really got me thinking. Over the past few years there’s been a lot of discussion on gender especially online and it’s made me think. 

“It’s been really amazing to have a different perspective challenging the world’s perspective and the way society has existed for so long.”

In his latest single Less of a Man, Abel tackles the topic of toxic masculinity head on. 

As outlined on this episode of The PBN Podcast, Abel discusses how being raised by a single mother has instilled empathy in him. Further, it’s influenced his views on masculinity. 

Despite what society conditions us to think about gender and masculinity, Abel hopes to drive positive change by speaking up about empathy, emotions, and mental health through his music.

This article was written by Antonia Georgieva on the PBN Website.

Irish musician Padraig O’Dubhlaoidh is behind the creation, which took years of research to complete. The violin maker’s instruments have been played at high-profile venues, including Buckingham Palace, the White House, Carnegie Hall, and the Royal Albert Hall.

Violin makers have historically used non-vegan materials in their designs, such as animal hide glue, derived from the skin, bones, and tendons of animals. It is typically sourced from horses but rabbits, fish, and other species can be used too.

Further, violin strings and bows can contain ivory, horse tail hair, and animal intestines, among other animal-derived products. 

But O’Dubhlaoidh is insistent that animal body parts are not needed to create the instrument. The musician stayed true to the traditional tools and methods used in violin production, but with some modern twists of his own.

For instance, to develop the purfling decoration that wraps around the instrument’s edges, he used wild berries and spring water sourced from beneath the granite of the Malvern Hills in the UK, where O’Dubhlaoidh lives.

Although animal-free strings and bows do exist, they are not currently registered with the Vegan Trademark.

For ‘ethical musicians’

O’Dubhlaoidh explained the process in a statement sent to PBN.

“I learned a lot about my craft during years of research and ultimately, it was the science of conservation that brought about a series of breakthroughs leading to success. During my experiments, I also discovered that there are unforeseen advantages to a vegan violin.

“Apart from the benefit to animals, society, and our environment, it has become very clear that animal-based glues have harmful effects on violins, inducing powerful tensions on wooden components. The adhesive used in my vegan violins however, has no such effect. Irrespective of ethics, this is an acoustic improvement.

“With our planet facing crises on almost every front, the collective voice of people wanting a fairer future grows stronger every day. Ethical musicians are part of this movement and have long wished for a violin that is fully vegan yet retains all the qualities of the classic instrument.”

The Vegan Society’s marketing manager, Ericka Durgahee, applauded the launch.

“It’s incredibly exciting to have the world’s first vegan violin registered with the Vegan Trademark. This will be music to the ears of so many violinists who have longed for a high-quality instrument that is free from animal products,” they said in a statement.

“Every violin is also completely bespoke with the sound and feel tailored to the player’s individual style and preference. Padraig has done a fantastic job and we’re extremely proud of what he has produced.”

To learn more about the vegan violin, see O’Dubhlaoidh’s website. 

This article was written by Jemima Webber on the PBN Website.

Farm animal sanctuary Pigs in the Woods teamed up with vegan cider brand Orchard Pig to bring the concept to life.

The event will take place at the 10-acre sanctuary, located in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Around 20 pigs live on the property, and they will be free to roam the festival grounds and interact with attendees.

Many of the animals were saved from slaughter. For instance, Angel the pig, mother of two pigs who are also at the sanctuary, was rescued from a petting farm. Since the pig family were no longer being used, they were due to be killed.

Another resident, Harry the pig, has been saved from slaughter twice within his first three months of life. Since he was the runt of the litter, he was due to be discarded as waste. And Florence was set to be euthanized by a city farm before she found a home at the sanctuary.

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‘Pigs deserve a home’

Orchard Pig Gig will feature local plant-based food, as well as jazz, rap, and classical music performances.

“Our pigs are one of a kind and love to socialize and dance to music,” said Russell Haggata, Operations Director and Chairman at Pigs in The Wood.

“They can’t wait for this year’s Orchard Pig Gig. Our sanctuary wouldn’t exist without the generosity of donations, and we’re aiming to raise over £50,000 to improve the facilities for our pigs so that everyone can experience the joy these animals can bring,” he continued.

Emily Gray, Brand Manager at Orchard Pig, added: “Just like people, pigs deserve a home, and we believe they also deserve to party.”

This article was written by Jemima Webber on the PBN Website.