A free concert held in honour of Earth Hour is expected to bring out some of the region's top musicians tonight.

Tauranga singer and songwriter Luke Thompson will be joined by Dreamgun, from Thames, and Tauranga's Chanelle Davis on a candle-lit stage for the event, which starts 45 minutes before Earth Hour at 7.45pm.

Michelle Elborn is expecting a good crowd for tonight's Earth Hour concert at the Edgewater Fan.

The lights will be dimmed at 8.30pm along The Strand, as Tauranga unites with cities around the world to support the conservation of energy in the international event.

Tauranga City Council is putting on the acoustic music event at the Edgewater Fan and the venue will be lit by donated candles from Flicker Candle Emporium.

Tauranga City Council sustainability advisor Michelle Elborn is encouraging people to bring down their chairs and picnics, and light up a candle from the stall to celebrate sustainability.

'It's about participating and showing support for climate change universally. It is quite a significant event. If you can't make it down, there are plenty of other ways to support Earth Hour such as turning lights off for the hour, having a camp out under the stars or whatever creative ideas you can come up with.”

Michelle says it is important to recognise going beyond Earth Hour, however, and identity changes that can be made to everyday activities.

'Little things such as turning appliances off at the wall, using energy saving bulbs, not wasting hot water and car pooling to work even once-a-week can make a huge difference.”

The council is also part of the international campaign ‘60 for 60' that aims to get 60 businesses, schools and organisations partaking in sustainable options after Earth Hour. Michelle says they have 41 groups onboard already, including Mount Maunganui College, Bethlehem College, Beca, Frocks on Bikes and Holistic Vets.

These groups have pledged to undertake energy and environmental saving options this year to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints.

For more information phone Tauranga City Council on 07 5777 000 or visit www.earthhour.org