With Meltdown running across August at London’s Southbank Centre this year, featuring a line-up curated by former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, the organisers of the city festival have today announced that another band frontman will lead next year’s events.
With activities around 2014 album The Take Off And Landing Of Everything winding down, Elbow’s Guy Garvey will turn his attention to curating proceedings at the Southbank Centre in June 2016. He follows on from past curators including Patti Smith, David Bowie and Yoko Ono. Garvey will soon release debut solo album Courting The Squall and next year will mark his first involvement with Meltdown since Elbow played in 2008 at the invitation of Massive Attack.
Garvey said: "I see this as the perfect opportunity to shine a light on some amazing new talent whilst recognising and celebrating the artists that have had an influence on the new sounds of today. Beyond that I want my Meltdown to be a party where everyone feels invited and everyone leaves having had the best night out.”
Jude Kelly, Artistic Director at Southbank Centre, said: “Guy Garvey’s outright enthusiasm for sharing music and introducing new art and artists to the widest possible audience fits hand-and-glove with what Southbank Centres strives for across its festival programme. Guy is an exciting choice – his contagious energy and creative spark has inspired an avid following, not to mention critical acclaim – and is the perfect figure to continue the Meltdown legacy.”
The full line-up for Meltdown 2016 is set to be announced in the coming months. It takes place at London’s Southbank Centre from June 10-19 and you can find out more information here.
