Massive Attack have been named as the artistic directors for this year’s Meltdown Festival at London’s South Bank Centre.
The fifteenth annual festival of music and arts will take place from 14 – 22 June, prior to the Britol trip-hop band’s headline slot on the Other Stage at this year’s Glastonbury festival.
The band, renowned for creating innovative videos, films and art installations as well as producing two of the most influential albums of the 90s – Blue Lines and Mezzanine, are currently recording their fifth studio album which is scheduled for release in September.
Over the years Massive Attack have collaborated with artists such as Portishead, Sinead O’Connor, Horace Andy and Madonna.
More recently the band have been working with Damon Albarn sourcing musicians in the Congo for his Africa Express Project.
This year’s Meltdown will see nine days of concerts, talks, films and art, with more details to be announced soon.
The band have commented: “It’s an honour to host Southbank Centre’s Meltdown festival and to be in such inspiring company as its previous curators. In addition to the music, we want this year’s festival to have a strong political and visual element to it to reflect our influences and obsessions. Our aim is to mix it up a bit by instigating collaborations that make sense and probably some that don’t.”
Previous curators of the Southbank Meltdown festival have included Robert Wyatt, Scott Walker, David Bowie, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Morrissey, Patti Smith and Jarvis Cocker.
Pic credit: PA Photos