Artist News Gigs & Festivals

MIA to curate Meltdown 2017

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 7 February 2017

The Southbank Centre has announced that MIA will curate its annual Meltdown festival, joining David Bowie, Patti Smith, David Byrne, Morrissey and more among its former overseers. Last year’s multi-venue festival was directed by Elbow’s Guy Garvey.

“For me this Meltdown will be about putting on a musical week that shows different types of music which have inspired each other to exist”, says MIA. “Genres that support other genres, redefining the concept of a melting pot. Respect the history, don’t live in it. I plan to bring together music’s best forward thinkers who have contributed to all our lives. When music acts as inspiration, it’s boundary-less”.

The Southbank Centre’s Senior Contemporary Music Programmer Bengi Unsal adds: “In a progressively polarised world, we are now appreciating those that don’t fear standing out and those that defy moulds. MIA is fearless in the way she pushes boundaries and makes music that is so refreshingly original that it effectively doesn’t age. Her ever-evolving, yet readily identifiable musical style inspires people to dance, whilst giving a voice to the voiceless, from refugee camps in Africa through to London’s streets. MIA is a trendsetter and social critic, but most importantly, an internationally loved and acclaimed musical star”.

MIA’s last planned involvement with a UK festival ended in controversy, when her headline slot at last year’s Afropunk London was cancelled, following public pressure after comments she made about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Meltdown will take place from 9-18 June. The first line-up announcements will arrive in the coming weeks.