Christine and the Queens Southbank’s Meltdown Festival lineup has been announced, including Warpaint and Sigur Rós

Programmed by Christine and the Queens, the 2023 edition of the festival is the longest-running artist-curated festival in the world. Its events take place in all buildings of the Southbank Centre, including the Royal Festival Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Django Django will open the program on June 9th, while Christine and the Queens will play twice at the 10-day festival, on both days of the final weekend on June 17th and June 18th.

Other acts announced include Nigerian artist Yemi Alade, backed by South African future-punk musician Moonchild Sanelly, American indie rock band Warpaint, eight-piece jazz and afro-beat ensemble KOKOROKO and Nigerian singer Oxlade.

Then Icelandic post-rock trio Sigur Rós will play a special set with the London Contemporary Orchestra.

Also in attendance are rock band Squrl, American musician Johnny Jewel, British multi-instrumentalist Bat For Lashes, dance band Lynks, New York experimental musician Serpentwithfeet, British pop duo Let’s Eat Grandma, electronic music producer Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Austrian experimental music act Soap&Skin .

“Ten nights that are ours. The Southbank Center is full of popular artists, some of whom I’ve discovered recently, others that I know are amazing artists and poets,” said Christine and the Queens. “Dancing. Theater. Words and music. Friends and future friends. Raving, hopefully. Art to save the city! To free one’s contours and invigorate the soul – that’s why we do what we do. I can barely wait for it.”

More acts will be announced in the spring. The festival is also teasing “outdoor parties and more inspired by Christine and the Queens’ curation” and a revamp of the Southbank’s outdoor spaces – news on that will follow later as well.

“Meltdown 2023 is developing like no other festival we’ve seen,” said Adem Holness, director of contemporary music at the Southbank Centre. “If you’ve ever had the chance to experience the creativity of Christine and the Queens, you’ll know that it’s filled with fun and joy, but also something that helps us make sense of the world around us, especially as queer ones.” People.”

Mark Ball, Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre, said: “Christine and the Queens’ work pushing boundaries has made him one of the most compelling artists of our time. It’s exciting to see the breadth of his extraordinary imagination come to life in Meltdown, one of the true highlights of summer at the Southbank Centre. I can’t wait for all of us to experience his curation and celebration of selfhood, identity and creativity.”

As the festival’s curator, the French singer-songwriter follows in the footsteps of Grace Jones, Robert Smith of The Cure, David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, Lee Scratch Perry and Jarvis Cocker. Christine and the Queens will become the youngest Meltdown curator ever at just 28 years old.

Meltdown runs June 9-18, 2023; Tickets will go on sale March 17; southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/meltdown