2013 Events & Tickets
Full listings of events in this year's festival
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Past Festivals
Browse the festival archive of unique Meltdown moments
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Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 guitarists of all time and the recipient of both an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting and the 2006 BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, Thompson first emerged in 1967 as a founding member of British folk-rock innovators Fairport Convention before carving out an extremely successful solo career and establishing himself as one of the leading singer-songwriters of his generation. Over his career he has collaborated with Linda and Teddy Thompson, Nick Drake, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, Loudon Wainwright III, David Byrne and director Werner Herzog amongst others.
He follows in the footsteps of past Meltdown directors Ornette Coleman, David Bowie, Morrissey and other luminaries, curating a festival that will take place across the 21-acre Southbank Centre site and reflecting the diversity of his career and enduring influence.
Past events
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21 June 2010
Broken Bells + Lone Wolf
Broken Bells, the new project from frontman of the Shins James Mercer and producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse, play a much-anticipated L...
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20 June 2010
String Quartets: Dutilleux, Ravel & Shostakovich
Southbank Centre Artist in Residence and acclaimed cellist, Oliver Coates, and his string quartet featuring Alexandra Wood (violin), Tom ...
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20 June 2010
Elvis Costello: Solo
One of the all time great singer-songwriters, Elvis Costello, returns to Southbank Centre 15 years after directing Meltdown himself.
Sup...
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20 June 2010
The Bandstand Busking Freestage
The second of two full and thrillingly diverse days of live music programmed in partnership with Bandstand Busking, on the specially crea...
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19 June 2010
Fisherman's Friends
Down on the harbourfront of the tiny fishing village of Port Isaac, the authentic sound of the shanty can be heard loud and clear via the...
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19 June 2010
Loudon Wainwright III & Richard Thompson
Loudon Wainwright III is a genuine living legend of the US folk scene. He comes to the UK specially for Meltdown to perform with his old ...
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19 June 2010
The Kominas, Al-Thawra, Fun-Da-Mental, Poetic Pilgrimage & Michael Muhammad Knight
A one-off night of Islamic punk
Bringing together the best in an emerging Islamic punk scene (Taqwacore), this special gig sees The Ko...
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19 June 2010
Richard Thompson's 1000 Years of Popular Music
Leading the audience on a tour through the last 1000 years of popular music, Richard Thompson showcases his guitar virtuosity and tradema...
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18 June 2010
Sam Carter
Winner of the BBC Folk Awards 2010 Horizon Award for best newcomer, Sam Carter is a startlingly perceptive and self-assured young singer ...
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18 June 2010
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
BBC Radio 4's much-loved self-styled antidote to panel games I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue comes to Royal Festival Hall for a rare live show...
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18 June 2010
Film screening: Dreams With Sharp Teeth
With a soundtrack written and performed by Richard Thompson, Dreams With Sharp Teeth is an acclaimed documentary about th...
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18 June 2010
Van Dyke Parks & Clare and The Reasons
Composer, arranger, singer, producer and musician, Van Dyke Parks has been at the heart of some of the great albums of the last 50 years,...
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18 June 2010
The Willkommen Collective Presents: Kristin McClement & Laish
A double bill of nu-folk talent from this exciting Brighton-based musicians' collective. An enchanting wanderer with a nylon guitar at th...
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17 June 2010
The Duckworth Lewis Method
Inspired by batting collapses, Shane Warne and rain stopping play, Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy) and Thomas Walsh (Pugwash) present mus...
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17 June 2010
Bettye LaVette
US soul sensation Bettye LaVette plays a rare UK concert.
Thursday 17 June 2010 - 19:45+ Extra performance added!Thursday 17 June 2010 -...
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17 June 2010
An Evening of Political Song
Drawing upon a rich history of political song, a special multi-artist bill compered by and featuring Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, Spinal ...
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16 June 2010
Teddy Thompson + Jesca Hoop + Pete Molinari
Teddy Thompson's latest album A Piece of What You Need was adored by fans and critics alike and now he returns to London to showcase ma...
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16 June 2010
Ollabelle
New York's Ollabelle draw from a deep well of gospel, blues, bluegrass, and country influences to create timelessly resonant music. ...
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16 June 2010
Beausoleil + Sarah Savoy
Louisiana's BeauSoleil have long been acclaimed as the world's finest Cajun band, collecting their fair share of Grammy Awards along th...
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15 June 2010
Observer Meltdown Discussion
A special discussion featuring Meltdown director Richard Thompson and legendary producer Joe Boyd in conversation.Please note - this free...
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15 June 2010
Field Music
Led by brothers Peter and David Brewis, Sunderland's Field Music are one of the gems of British art-pop, mixing lush harmonies and skew...
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15 June 2010
Paolo Nutini
After two triple platinum albums and sell-out shows across the world, Paolo Nutini plays a unique London show as part of Richard Thompson...
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14 June 2010
Six Strings / Six Guitars
Featuring James Burton, Martin Simpson, Richard Thompson, Nokie Edwards, Dennis Coffey and John Etheridge
If you love ...
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14 June 2010
Film Screening: Grizzly Man
With a soundtrack composed and performed by Richard Thompson, Werner Herzog's celebrated film Grizzly Man charts the life and death of Ti...
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14 June 2010
Seasick Steve + Duke Garwood
Seasick Steve performs a special show at Royal Festival Hall as part of Richard Thompson's Meltdown with support from Duke Garwood.
Mond...
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13 June 2010
Philharmonia Orchestra: Hovhaness
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas TallisHovhaness: Fantasy on Japanese wood prints for xylophone & orchestra, Op.211Hov...
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13 June 2010
The Bandstand Busking Freestage
The first of two full and thrillingly diverse days of live music programmed in partnership with Bandstand Busking, on the specially creat...
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13 June 2010
Krystle Warren
With influences ranging from The Beatles to Marvin Gaye, Willie Nelson to Bill Withers, Krystle Warren's breaktaking voice carries a tend...
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13 June 2010
Raihan
Due to unforeseen circumstances Raihan can't make the show and their show has had to be cancelled. We apologise to patrons for this disap...
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12 June 2010
Shifting Sands Insight Day
Come and take part in this year's Meltdown!
Following on from their performance together the previous evening, you are invited to meet a...
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12 June 2010
Codeine Velvet Club
Jon Lawler - alias Jon Fratelli of The Fratellis - and singer-songwriter Lou Hickey bring Codeine Velvet Club, a new project that celebra...
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12 June 2010
Joe Henry
Singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Joe Henry performs a rare London show. Jeb Loy Nichols joins him on the bill.
Saturday 12 June...
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12 June 2010
A Celebration of Kate McGarrigle
Singer and songwriter Kate McGarrigle first won the hearts of the folk scene and beyond with her and her sister Anna's eponymous 1976 deb...
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11 June 2010
Shifting Sands
Andy Mellon leads this new collaboration with fellow Bellowhead musicians Brendan Kelly and Pete Flood, folk's rising star Sam Carter,...
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11 June 2010
Richard Thompson's Cabaret of Souls
Tonight's launch of Meltdown is the exciting European Premier of Cabaret of Souls that is arguably Richard Thompson's finest work to date...