Checklist for producing a carbon-smart jazz tour in Europe
The Finnish Jazz Federation carried out the On The Rails project between 2022 and 2023, which involved a Central European train tour pilot exploring opportunities to promote lower-emission jazz tours between two European peripheral regions, the United Kingdom and Finland. The project partnered with the Welsh folk music organization, Trac Cymru, fostering collaboration between tour practices and concert venues within similar genres. Based on the project’s findings, a “checklist” was compiled for producing a carbon-smart jazz tour in Europe.
The On The Rails project collected and disseminated information on carbon-smart practices by engaging with jazz and folk professionals at international events, collaborating within European networks of both domains, and working alongside sustainability experts and projects.
In the summer of 2023, the project featured a train tour by the band Kaisa’s Machine, covering four countries and five concerts. The tour gathered experiences and sought solutions to the typical international concert sales and practical tour production challenges faced by many jazz ensembles. The tour’s production was managed by Minnamurra Agency. Leveraging these experiences, a Welsh folk ensemble will conduct a train tour reaching Finland in 2024.
Drawing from the knowledge gathered in the project, a checklist was developed for artists planning train tours. The checklist isn’t an exhaustive guide but is specifically tailored for small (jazz) ensembles, aiming to encapsulate the experiences accumulated during the project, particularly to address challenges related to musicians’ well-being. Trains are undoubtedly the most carbon-smart mode of travel for a European tour but often require more travel time and meticulous advance planning compared to flying – and this checklist provides excellent insights precisely for that purpose.
The Finnish Jazz Federation will utilize the network established in the project and its outcomes to develop its domestic tour operations to become carbon-neutral by 2030, while also sharing information on eco-friendly practices in their international collaborations.
The carbon footprint assessment for the On The Rails project was conducted by Puuni Oy, and the project was funded by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
In the picture, bassist Kaisa Mäensivu. Photo: Oskari Joutsen