Richard Thompson to take control at Meltdown

The Southbank Centre have announced that the seventeenth Meltdown 2010 will be artistically directed by Richard Thompson.

The full line-up for the annual ten day festival is still to be announced, Richard Thompson first emerged in 1967 as a founder member of British folk-rock innovators Fairport Convention, who has since spent over 40 years defying musical categorisation and convention, it is expected he will make an appaearance and play the event.

Thompson began a solo career in 1972, beginning with the bold Henry the Human Fly, and has gone on to produce a body of work that challenges, delights and amazes in equal measure. He has now written and recorded over 400 songs marked by consistent intelligence, taste and emotional resonance and has succeeded in becoming one of the most distinctive and iconoclastic guitar virtuosos, whether playing acoustic or electric guitar, performing solo or in a group.

Richard Thompson, said, ""I am very excited to be hosting this year's Meltdown at Southbank Centre. The wide-ranging programme reflects many of my interests and influences across many musical, visual and literary styles, and should provide some unique moments, unusual collaborations and juxtapositions. All this in the place where I saw my first concert in 1961 - such an honour."

Jude Kelly, Artistic Director at the Southbank Centre, said:, said, "From the precociously talented 17 year-old with folk-rock pioneers Fairport Convention, through his inspired partnership with Linda Thompson to classic solo albums and brilliantly crafted songs covered by the likes of Elvis Costello, David Byrne and REM, few artists can claim to have maintained such musical virtuosity and songwriting excellence for so long. We are delighted and honoured that Richard Thompson has accepted our invitation to curate Southbank Centre's Meltdown Festival."

Each year Meltdown offers a guest director the chance to produce their own fantasy festival, mixing artists and art forms, and reflecting their own personal passions and interests.

Richard Thompson is following in the footsteps of previous festival hosts Ornette Coleman, Massive Attack, John Peel, Robert Wyatt, Scott Walker, David Bowie, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Morrissey, Patti Smith and Jarvis Cocker.

Meltdown takes place over all 21 acres of the Southbank Centre, including the riverside, Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall. The dates for Meltdown 2010 are confirmed as from Friday 11th until Sunday 20th June.

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