Dear Green Music Scene Festival
A unique festival bringing research, local artists and public together to celebrate creativity, sustainability and community.
Bringing people together
The Dear Green Music Scene Festival returned for its second year, transforming St Mungo Square into a lively, sustainably powered space that brought people together through art, science and conversation.
Led by the Mazumdar Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC), and in partnership with the College of Arts and Humanities Sustainability Forum, Doughnut Music Lab, GALLANT, Glasgow Science Festival, Music in the University and WestFest, the festival showcased the University’s commitment to putting sustainability at the heart of public engagement and creative practice.
Photos: Gavin McCourt
Harnessing sustainable energy
At the core of the festival was its innovative use of hydrogen and solar energy to power two music stages, a living example of what sustainable cultural events can look like.
Solar energy harnesses sunlight using photovoltaic panels to generate clean electricity, offering a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen, meanwhile, is an emerging clean fuel that can store and release energy without producing harmful emissions, making it a promising solution for sustainable power needs.
A spotlight for local artists
Audiences enjoyed performances from talented local acts, including Grayling, Zoe Graham, Beautiful Cosmos, R.aggs, Bloco Dandara and Lily Monaghan. The day opened with the popular WestFest ceilidh, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere that welcomed nearly 1,000 people.
More than a music festival
But the festival wasn’t just about music. Visitors also explored the thought-provoking CARBON touring exhibition, which was presented in partnership with the Science Gallery Bengaluru, stepped into the ARC Maker Space, and tried their hand at creating stop-motion animations from recycled materials. The Carbon Screen Test offered festivalgoers a playful way to discover the climate impact of their favourite films and TV shows. Meanwhile, a screening of Cuba’s Life Task: Combatting Climate Change sparked discussion on global approaches to sustainability.
Importantly, the event embodied the University’s dedication to collaboration across disciplines. Researchers, creatives and students from the College of Arts and Humanities, College of Science and Engineering, and ARC’s Events and Engagement team came together to deliver the festival.
With 80% of sampled attendees travelling by foot, bike or public transport, the festival also reflected wider community commitment to reducing carbon footprints.
Photo: Gavin McCourt
A shared ambition of climate action
The festival forms part of the University of Glasgow’s wider ambition to explore how creative practice and cultural events can contribute to climate action. Similar initiatives, such as the Phonoautobothy, a solar-powered mobile music studio, and the GALLANT project, which uses Glasgow as a living lab for sustainability research, all share the goal of turning complex environmental challenges into meaningful community engagement.
Through projects like this, the University of Glasgow continues to explore what sustainability means in practice, from research and innovation to cultural events that engage and inspire.