Robert to curate this year's Meltdown Festival

From Southbank Centre:

"I am honoured and excited to be curating the 25th Meltdown Festival. More than 30 of my all-time favourite artists - some of the most exciting, inspirational, intense and influential performers of the last 40 years - will make sure this ten-night extravaganza is the ‘must see’ event of the summer!" - Robert Smith

"Robert Smith is the perfect artist to help us celebrate our silver jubilee Meltdown. Over a career spanning four decades, he has achieved globally-recognised excellence, paving the way for the alternative and the uncategorisable." - Bengi Unsal, Southbank Centre Senior Contemporary Music Programmer


The speculation is over, now the anticipation can begin, as we’re delighted to announce Robert Smith as the curator of Meltdown 2018. And he has already promised a packed line-up of unique performances here at Southbank Centre from 15-24 June 2018 as we celebrate the 25th edition of the iconic festival.

The Cure frontman follows in some pretty remarkable and diverse footsteps as Meltdown curator. From British composer George Benjamin in 1993 to rapper record producer and activist M.I.A. in 2017, 24 legendary artists have gone before Smith, each putting their own special stamp on the festival as they delivered their own Meltdown vision.

Lead singer, guitarist, lyricist and principal songwriter of The Cure, Smith is the group’s only constant member since their formation in 1978. One of popular music’s defining bands and an international phenomenon, The Cure took the sound of alternative rock sound mainstream and have continued to influence popular culture over a staggeringly successful 40-year career.

Beyond The Cure, Smith is of course a highly influential and talented musician in his own right. A recipient of an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement he has performed and recorded with a huge breadth of musical talent including David Bowie, Blink 182, The Stranglers, Crystal Castles, Junkie XL, Faithless, Korn, and Placebo.

This is a significant year for Meltdown at Southbank Centre. Not only does the longest running artist-curated music festival in the UK celebrate its 25th year, but it will also be the first major festival to take place across our freshly refurbished site, making use of the newly re-opened Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room.

Robert Smith’s Meltdown takes place at Southbank Centre on 15-24 June 2018. Further acts and ticket details will be announced in the coming weeks. To be first in line for tickets, become a Southbank Centre member.

Note: Robert is curating Meltdown, meaning he's in charge of picking the bands, putting the lineups together, etc, but don't expect The Cure to play there. Remember, the Hyde Park show is being advertised as the band's only European show of 2018.
They could go back on that, but I wouldn't think so. However, it wouldn't be too surprising for Robert to join some of the bands for a song or something. We'll see.

Articles about this: The Guardian, The Evening Standard, NME, The Quietus, Music Week, Fact Mag, Time Out, Clash Music, Noisey, God is in the TV, DIY, The List, Uncut, Crack, Clydebank Post, Far Out Magazine, Spin, CoS, Pitchfork, Slicing Up Eyeballs, HUH,