Yoko Ono to take control at Meltdown 2013

The Southbank Centre have announced that the twentieth Meltdown will be artistically directed by the musician, artist, author and activist, Yoko Ono who celebrates her 80th birthday in February.

Meltdown 2013, the 10-day event in June next year, will see Yoko create a line-up over the duration of the festival of not just music, but also debate and performance that will reflect her interests, influences and passions.

Ono has performed twice before at Meltdown, she appeared as part of Patti Smith's Meltdown in 2005 and again in 2009 under Ornette Coleman.

Yoko Ono brings a lifetime of achievement in music, visual art and peace activism to Southbank Centre led by her dedication to environmentalism, feminism and peace.

She follows in the footsteps of past Meltdown directors Antony Hegarty, Ray Ravies, Richard Thompson, Ornette Coleman, Massive Attack, John Peel, Robert Wyatt, Scott Walker, David Bowie, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Morrissey, Patti Smith and Jarvis Cocker, curating a festival that will take place across the Southbank Centre site and reflect the diversity of his career and enduring influence.

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 2013 are confirmed as Friday 14th until Sunday 23rd June 2013.

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