Massive Attack have been announced as Artistic Directors of the 15th Meltdown festival at Southbank Centre, a 9 day multi-arts, cross-culture event running since 1993.

Previous directors include John Peel, Robert Wyatt, Scott Walker, David Bowie, Lee Scratch Perry, Morrissey, Patti Smith and Jarvis Cocker, some well-respected company for sure. As we know, Massive Attack have diverse influence, influences, interests, co-collaborators and friends, so the nature and feel of the final lineup is pretty much anybody's guess. Perhaps their statement will provide a clue:

"We want this year's festival to have a strong political and visual element to it to reflect our influences and obsessions"

The Southbank Centre, Riverside, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the whole 21 cultural acres are theirs for 9 days of their choice of music, film, talks, info and arts - now how cool is that? Open to question, but here at BristolGigs.com we are confident that it will be very cool indeed (and intent).

Glenn Max, Producer of Contemporary Culture at the Southbank Centre said the group embodied "the promiscuous intermingling of late 20th-century music", whilst the group said "Our aim is to mix it up a bit by instigating collaborations that make sense and probably some that don't". Sounds like the most interesting Meltdown yet will be happening between Saturday 14th and Sunday 22nd June 2008.

For the best chance to get tickets you could become a Southbank Member because demand is very high every year. Alternatively, Massive Attack  might insist on mirroring the event in Bristol using the Cube, the Tube, Watershed and the Star & Garter (would greatly help in reducing audience miles).

So Portishead have curated theirs, Massive Attack will be doing theirs, who's the next Bristol band to curate a major festi then? Check back here at BristolGigs.com for more news on this and the Meltdown lineup.

For further info: 

http://www.massiveattack.co.uk/

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

For vacuous comment and a prime example of Rupert Murdoch's influence on music and journalism you could read this for a laugh:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3368509.ece