On 25 November Make Noise Wales has its sights set on Pontypridd for the last of its free – yes free – gigs in South Wales. The gig is completely free to any audience member who wishes to donate a broken electrical item upon entry.
Club Y Bont are the proud hosts of this final freebie event which is in its sixth consecutive year. Starting in 2010 with a one off event called “the visible play,” Carl Goslin, 36, from Heavenly Recordings took the initiative to keep Make Noise alive.
Thus, Make Noise was in full swing. Funded by the European Recycling Platform (ERP) and organised in conjunction with Heavenly Recordings the Make Noise manifesto is quite simple: to programme “cutting edge electronic music events and making entry 100% free in exchange for a piece of broken recycling, for example, a broken mobile phone, a hairdryer, a laptop or anything with a battery.”
Old phones at the ready
In 2015, UK citizens spent £2.1 billion on concert tickets so the free factor adds to Make Noise’s unique charm.
However, it is more than just a free concert, Carl says “There is no hidden agenda behind Make Noise. Its initiative is to just raise awareness to young people that electrical items can actually be recycled.”
According to a Wastesavers representative, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is only a small percentage of the waste that ends up in landfill, but never the less is symbolic of a throw away society.
Cardiff is also playing its part to combat unnecessary waste on landfill sites. Currently 54% of Cardiff’s waste avoids landfill, but plans are underfoot to increase this figure to 70% by 2025. So, if you’re one of Cardiff’s residents who regularly recycles then why not go to a free gig too?
