The first wave of artists have been announced for, the Nile Rodgers curated, Meltdown Festival 2019. Among the first wave of acts, confirmed to be heading to the prestigious venue this summer, is Despacio, Thundercat, and SOPHIE. Meltdown Festival will be returning to Royal Festival Hall, between the 3rd and 11th of August of 2019.
The Chic legend, Nile Rodgers, will take over the prestigious venue with a hand-picked bill between for the festivals 26th edition. He will be following in the footsteps of The Cure’s Robert Smith, David Bowie, and M.I.A. As well as a headline performance from Nile Rodgers himself, the line-up also features an electric mix of artists including Eurythmics Songbook, Despacio, Anitta, Thundercat, and Songhoy Blues.
The following names have also been announced in the first wave of confirmed artists and joining the already stellar line-up is Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein performing Stranger Things, Alfa Mist, Durand Jones & the Indications, Kokoroko, and A Night of Studio 54.
Speaking about this year’s line-up, Curator, Nile Rodgers, said: “It’s an honour for me to step into the shoes of David Bowie, Patti Smith, Ornette Coleman, Robert Smith and so many more to curate nine nights of amazing music for the people of London on its glorious South Bank. This is my home from home and it’s given me so much love and this is my way of giving back.
“My prime motivation was to present incredible music from all walks of life that would make everybody dance. From CHIC to KOKOROKO and our special Studio 54 night to my boy David A. Stewart and the Eurhythmics Songbook, Songhoy Blues, Despacio and the full incredible line-up, we are going to dance, dance, dance from 3 – 11 August.”
Rodgers will kick things off with a headline set, at Royal Festival Hall, on Saturday the 3rd of August, before A Night Of Studio 54 will recreate “the hippest place on the planet” with “state-of-the-art sound, go-go dancers and original DJs”, in the Queen Elizabeth Foyer until 4am.
The wait is over! It’s time to announce the first acts of @nilerodgers‘ #MeltdownFest, a festival that’s set to be full of exclusive collaborations and global one-offs. Find out more here: https://t.co/302XnoJgoI pic.twitter.com/s1iHW9zGm6
— Meltdown Festival (@meltdownfest) May 9, 2019
Meanwhile, on Friday the 9th of August 2019, will see Dave Stewart “put together an all-star collaboration of musicians and vocalists to perform the greatest songs of Eurythmics”, while the LCD Soundsystem and Soulwax collaboration Despacio takes over, on Friday the 9th and Saturday the 10 the of August 2019.
A bespoke soundsystem, which has been designed by James Murphy and the Dewaele brothers, in collaboration with audio-pioneers McIntosh, Despacio was “designed to create the ultimate inclusive club listening experience.”
“We are truly honoured to have the legendary Nile Rodgers taking the reigns of Meltdown this year, and thrilled to be able to make his dream a reality here at Southbank Centre. I’m so excited to share his line-up with the world! With new, legendary, diverse, experimental and international talent, it promises something to enjoy – and something to discover for everyone this summer,” says Bengi Unsal, Senior Contemporary Music Programmer, Southbank Centre.
While, other highlights include Thundercat – who will be headlining, on Sunday the 4th of August 2019, Anita on Tuesday the 6th of August, SOPHIE’s performance on Saturday the 10th of August, and Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein perform the music from Stranger Things, on Wednesday the 7th of August 2019.
Marking its 26th year, the original Meltdown Festival took place, in 1993 which was curated by British composure George Benjamin. Since then Laurie Anderson, John Peel, David Bowie, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, Massive Attack, Ornette Coleman, Yoko Ono, David Byrne, M.I.A and Robert Smith, in 2018, have all put their stamp on the Southbank Centre.
