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Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Grace Jones to curate Southbank Centre’s Meltdown festival
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 7 November 2019
Grace Jones has been announced as the curator of the London Southbank Centre’s Meltdown festival in 2020. She will be given free reign over the ten day event across the Thameside venue complex, selecting a variety of artists to perform, as well as playing a headline set herself.
“I am honoured to be curating next year’s Meltdown festival”, says Jones. “Year after year, the festival continues to spread its colourful wings, allowing its curators to bring together an array of diverse talent not seen anywhere else. It’s about time I was asked to curate Meltdown darling, don’t you think?”
Bengi Ünsal, Head Of Contemporary Music at Southbank Centre, adds: “Meltdown offers an unparalleled window into the minds of the greatest musical influencers of our age. There’s no denying it: Grace Jones is unlike anybody else”.
“She was the first artist who made me feel that I could express myself, be whatever I wanted to be, and not be afraid of what the world might say”, Ünsal adds. “She is one of the few living artists who can truly be described as iconic, with a relentlessly individualistic vision. I am truly honoured that she will share it with us for Meltdown 2020”.
Jones is the 27th artist to curate Meltdown, joining a list of alumni that includes David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, Lee Scratch Perry, MIA, Robert Smith and this year’s curator Nile Rodgers, among others.
