Christine and the Queens, the French musical phenomenon, will curate Meltdown 2023 Festival at London Southbank Centre this June.
This annual festival is held each summer in London at Southbank Centre. Each festival is curated by an artist. Previous Meltdown directors have included Elvis Costello, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Lee Scratch Perry, Morrissey, Jarvis Cocker, Niles Rogers, Nick Cave, Scott Walker, John Peel and Ornette Coleman.
The 28th edition of the UK’s longest-running artist-curated music festival, Meltdown, is to be curated by Christine and the Queens.
Christine and the Queens made his explosive UK debut in 2016 with Chaleur humaine, the best-selling debut record of the year. With each subsequent album Christine and the Queens has scaled new heights. His follow-up, the eponymous Chris, reached No.3 in the UK chart and 2020’s La vita nuova, featured the hit single ‘People, I’ve been sad’ – TIME magazine’s song of the year. As well as his much acclaimed solo work Christine and the Queens has undertaken hugely successful collaborations with artists including Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek and 070 Shake.
In November 2022 Christine and the Queens presents Redcar released Redcar les adorables étoiles, the beginning of angels. The self-produced 13-track album featuring singles ‘Je te vois enfin’, ‘rien dire’ and ‘la chanson du chevalier’ was deemed ‘pop greatness’ by Rolling Stone.
What to expect of Meltdown 2023 Festival at London Southbank Centre
For his Meltdown, Christine and the Queens will invite artists who have influenced his musical identity, and those who continue to shape it today. In addition to ticketed shows, two weekends of free outdoor gigs, performances and activities will ensure Christine and the Queens’ creative vision is celebrated across the Southbank Centre.
Christine and the Queens’ Meltdown takes place at the Southbank Centre from Friday 9 June until Sunday 18 June 2023. The line-up includes Django Django, Kokoroko, Oxlade, Sigur Rós & London Contemporary Orchestra, Warpaint and a whole host more. See more about the line up here.
‘What an honour to be picked by the fantastical teams of the Meltdown festival to be a curator… I will pick musicians that have some gut-wrenching quality, and I wish for all of us to stroll around in those ten days being rejuvenated by artistic gestures.’
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