Richard Thompson to curate Meltdown 2010

The folk-rock veteran and musical maverick will act as artistic director for this year's Meltdown festival

Folk guitarist Richard Thompson is to curate this year's Meltdown festival. Following in the footsteps of David Bowie, Patti Smith and Massive Attack, Thompson will act as artistic director for the event, which runs from 11 – 20 June, 2010.

Thompson, 60, is best known as a founding member of Fairport Convention, whose albums in the late 60s pioneered electric folk. He went on to success with albums such as 1974's I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight and 1982's Shoot Out the Lights, recorded with his then-wife and musical partner Linda Thompson.

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!"

A prolific musician, Thompson has recorded more than 400 songs over a long and varied career. He is now regarded as one of the world's greatest guitarists, his solo playing often mistaken for the sound of two or more guitars.

Although no acts have been announced yet, organisers promise that the bill will be diverse. Thompson's tastes are varied, ranging from Django Reinhardt and Jerry Lee Lewis to north African musicians and the avant garde.

More recently, Thompson toured the show 1,000 Years of Popular Music, which featured renditions of songs from the 11th century alongside Elizabethan madrigals, Victorian music hall and Abba.

Last year's Meltdown was curated by Ornette Coleman, who staged concerts by Yoko Ono, Mike Patton and James Blood Ulmer.

The Observer is the official media partner of Meltdown. For more information, visit southbankcentre.co.uk/meltdown.

Contributor

Tim Jonze

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Richard Thompson will help reboot Meltdown

Graeme Thomsons: He may not be a publicist's dream, but the maverick musician will bring his forward-looking curiosity to this year's festival

Graeme Thomson

23, Feb, 2010 @12:05 PM

Article image
Richard Thompson's Meltdown

Exclusive backstage photographs from Richard Thompson's Meltdown in London, starring Martha and Rufus Wainwright, Paolo Nutini, Emmylou Harris, Nick Cave and many more

19, Jun, 2010 @11:05 PM

Article image
Richard Thompson's Meltdown

Exclusive backstage photographs from Richard Thompson's Meltdown in London, starring Rufus Wainwright, Elvis Costello, Dangermouse, Rob Brydon, Nick Cave and many more

26, Jun, 2010 @11:05 PM

Article image
Video: Richard Thompson performs Britney Spears's Oops! ... I Did It Again

Richard Thompson is curating this year's Meltdown festival, which features acts such as Elvis Costello, Bettye Lavette and Islamic punk band the Kominas. His latest CD, 1000 Years of Popular Music, includes a range of covers of originals by a similarly eclectic mix of artists, and includes this Britney Spears hit

29, May, 2010 @10:05 PM

Article image
Antony Hegarty to curate Meltdown 2012
Antony and the Johnsons singer to explore spirituality, the environment and gender politics at annual music festival

Mark Brown, arts correspondent

14, Mar, 2012 @3:54 PM

Article image
Ray Davies to curate Meltdown 2011
Former Kinks singer 'thrilled' to take control of the Southbank Centre's 18th annual festival, promising to forge a 'musical bridge between past, present and future'

Rosie Swash

25, Nov, 2010 @12:01 PM

Article image
Why Richard Thompson is keeping the faith
As he prepares to curate this year's Meltdown festival, Richard Thompson reflects on his personal journey from the frontiers of English folk to the haven of Sufi Islam, the tempestuous years with his ex-wife, Linda, and how it feels to be rubbished in song by his children. By Tim Adams

Tim Adams

10, Apr, 2010 @11:05 PM

Taqwacore punks/Wainwright & Thompson | Pop/Folk review
Southbank Centre, London
Islam was fused with neo-punk in a brave concert and intriguing film, but it was curator Richard Thompson who really shone next door, writes Robin Denselow

Robin Denselow

22, Jun, 2010 @9:40 PM

Article image
Meltdown 2010: Richard Thompson on curating this year's event
Folk legend Richard Thompson on being chosen as Meltdown 2010 curator – and how he picked his line-up

Caspar Llewellyn Smith

29, May, 2010 @11:05 PM

Meltdown 2010 | Richard Thompson turns it all the way up to 11
Richard Thompson was an energetic yet self-effacing star turn as Meltdown curator. And his rousing, 11-day festival – poignant, rich and funny – leaves next year's organisers with a slight headache, writes Caspar Llewellyn Smith

Caspar Llewellyn Smith

26, Jun, 2010 @11:15 PM