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'

Ray Davies has been appointed artistic director of next year's Meltdown festival at the Southbank Centre in London. The former Kinks frontman follows in the footsteps of Morrissey, Jarvis Cocker and Patti Smith to curate the annual music and art event.

Davies said he was "thrilled" to be asked, adding: "My wish for Meltdown 2011 is that it will be a creative celebration through the decades. A bridge between past, present and future."

Since starting out with the Kinks in the 60s, Davies has scored many hits and cultivated an esteemed musical legacy. Over the last few decades he has forged a successful solo career, and recently recorded Kinks songs with artists such as Metallica, Mumford & Sons and Bruce Springsteen for the album See My Friends.

"His songwriting has kept him on our turntables, on our iPods and in our hearts, and his skills as a storyteller make him a tantalising choice as Meltdown director," said Jane Beese, senior music programmer at the Southbank Centre.

Jude Kelly, the venue's artistic director, added: "Enigmatic, provocative and literate – his razor-sharp observations on British society have coloured perceptions of ourselves for nearly 50 years."

Davies has yet to select performers for the festival, which will take place on 10-19 June 2011. Next year will mark the 18th annual Meltdown festival, an event that has handed over creative control to the likes of Laurie Anderson, Massive Attack and David Bowie since its inception in 1993. Last year's Meltdown was curated by Richard Thompson.

The lineup for the 2011 festival will be announced next year. The Observer is Meltdown's official media partner.

For more information visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk/meltdown

Contributor

Rosie Swash

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Ray Davies at Meltdown - review

Kicking off his festival, the former Kinks frontman was in giddy form

Caspar Llewellyn Smith

13, Jun, 2011 @9:49 AM

Article image
Ray Davies: 'Curating Meltdown? It's like buying a bag of sweets'
The former Kinks frontman on vaudeville, his hatred of The X Factor and his pick'n'mix approach to the Meltdown lineup

Tim Adams

25, Nov, 2010 @1:48 PM

Article image
Sleeve Notes: Ray Davies's Meltdown

This week we've been getting in gear for Ray Davies's Meltdown festival and listening to a lot of albums

Tim Jonze

10, Jun, 2011 @2:50 PM

Article image
Meltdown 2011: Meet some of the stars of the festival

Soul man Geno Washington promises to get the party started, while Suggs plans a classical 'Baggy Trousers', finds Mina Holland

Interviews by Mina Holland

08, Jun, 2011 @2:59 PM

Article image
Ray Davies: 'I'm easy to love… but impossible to live with'
Long revered as one of England's finest songwriters, Ray Davies remains shy, insecure and steadfastly old-fashioned, finds Rachel Cooke

Rachel Cooke

30, Apr, 2011 @11:01 PM

Article image
Video: Ray Davies on Meltdown 2011

Kinks legend and Meltdown curator Ray Davies brings his uniquely English humour to this year's lineup, from Terry Jones to Nick Lowe

Caspar Llewellyn Smith and John Domokos

24, Mar, 2011 @12:04 PM

Article image
Ray Davies reveals lineup for 2011 Meltdown festival
Caspar Llewellyn Smith: The Kinks singer, who is curating this year's Southbank-based festival, has ambitious plans for the programme of diverse acts

Caspar Llewellyn Smith

24, Mar, 2011 @11:59 AM

Article image
Kinks reunion is 'down to Ray', says brother Dave Davies

Feuding brothers may put aside differences for Kinks reunion, Dave Davies hints in new interview

Sean Michaels

28, Mar, 2011 @10:22 AM

Article image
Richard Thompson to curate Meltdown 2010
The folk-rock veteran and musical maverick will act as artistic director for this year's Meltdown festival

Tim Jonze

23, Feb, 2010 @10:00 AM

Article image
Meltdown 2011 - in pictures

Exclusive photographs from Ray Davies' Meltdown at its mid-way point

15, Jun, 2011 @9:53 AM