David Byrne to curate Meltdown festival

The erstwhile Talking Head will oversee the 2015 event.

David Byrne is taking the reins of the Meltdown festival, which will take place at London’s Southbank Centre from August 17-28. “This is going to be exciting! I plan to invite performers I’ve seen – and I do get out – and others I’ve missed or have dreamed of seeing,” he writes.

“It’s going to be a bit of fun puzzle-solving I imagine – seeing who’s interested, who is available and what venues at Southbank Centre are appropriate. I really hope to find things that take this beyond sit-down concerts as well – but of course I’m speaking way too early as I’m still working on my wish list.

“Hoping that I get to stay in the Room For London, on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall roof, for the whole time, but suspect that might expecting too much.”

The line-up is forthcoming, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it include artists that Byrne has collaborated with before; maybe it’ll even have a color guard competition. Last year’s festival was curated by Mo Wax boss and UNKLE member James Lavelle.