The Southbank Centre and Grace Jones revealed the third and final set of artists who are performing during this year’s Meltdown festival, running from Friday 10th to Sunday 19th of June 2022.
In addition to the new acts, the eclectic free public programme, which brings together a huge number of performers and activities inspired by Grace Jones’ career, has also been announced.
The latest addition to the Royal Festival Hall line-up, neo-soul star Greentea Peng will perform as part of Grace Jones’ Meltdown on Thursday 16 June. Her vibrant 2021 debut MAN MADE captured imaginations with its hypnotic blend of psychedelia and free-and-easy R&B. Opening for Grace Jones on the final night of the festival, Sunday 19 June, Eska will deliver a show of her rich and restless soundscapes. Alongside her lauded Mercury Award-nominated album ESKA, her eclectic career has included collaborations with artists such as Zero 7, Tony Allen, and Matthew Herbert.
On Monday 13 June, post-punk group Dry Cleaning will shred the Queen Elizabeth Hall with their no-nonsense riffs winding over poetic monologues which have made the band such a hotly-tipped talent. In the Purcell Room on Saturday 18 June, genre-hopping Lewisham local cktrl — standing for ‘can’t keep to reality’ — will perform a very special show with Southbank Centre regulars the London Contemporary Orchestra. Completing Honey Dijon’s line-up for Meltdown’s electric opening night party on Friday 10 June in the Queen Elizabeth Foyer, Josey Rebelle will step up to the decks alongside a live set from multidisciplinary producer, singer and Lil Simz collaborator Alewya, running long into the early hours.
The new names join recent additions to Grace Jones’ Meltdown including alt-synth star Sky Ferreira, her first show in the UK since 2014, ‘Africa’s premier diva’ and recent Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo, songsmith John Grant and a unique performance between members of Hot Chip and Congolese supergroup Kasai Allstars, as well as breakthrough acts including Desire Marea, Big Joanie and Skinny Pelembe. Grace Jones herself also added a new show, now opening her festival with ‘Grace Jones: Up Close and Orchestral’, featuring a live orchestra.
Tickets for the newly announced shows will be on sale Wednesday 13 April at 10:00am via southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/meltdown.
Taking place on the Southbank Centre’s sun drenched terrace, overlooking the River Thames, the Meltdown public programme is inspired by Grace Jones’ enormous creative canon, featuring a wealth of immersive activities, music and more, all for free.
As every festival should, we kickstart Meltdown on the terrace, Friday 10 June with Nightclubbing produced in collaboration with No Signal, the radio station celebrating Black British culture and communities. Featuring an incredible line-up of back-to-back DJ’s, each will select tunes in celebration of Grace’s impact as an icon.
Mark Ball, Southbank Centre’s Artistic Director, said: “Alongside the fantastic artists already announced for Grace Jones’ Meltdown, we’re delighted that Grace has now put the finishing touches to her extraordinary line up. From post-punk to psychedelia to R&B, Meltdown brings a truly eclectic line up of talent who are both inspired by Grace Jones and are a testament to her musical curiosity and inventiveness. There really is something for everyone, reaffirming the Southbank Centre as an open and inclusive space where people from all backgrounds can come together and enjoy Grace’s incredible curation.”
We Say Grace (free public programme)
Friday 10 June 2022 — Sunday 19 June, site wide
Nightclubbing with No Signal (free public programme)
Friday 10 June 2022, from 6:00pm, Riverside Terrace
Roll Up to The Bumper (free public programme)
Saturday 11 June 2022, from 2:00pm, Riverside Terrace
Island Life Reggae Soundclash (free public programme)
Sunday 12 June 2022, from 1:00pm, Riverside Terrace
Dry Cleaning
Monday 13 June 2022, 7:30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall
Greentea Peng
Thursday 16 June 2022, 7:30pm, Royal Festival Hall
Slay to the Rhythm (free public programme)
Friday 17 June 2022, from 6:00pm, Riverside Terrace
A Night of A Thousand Graces With AFWL (free public programme)
Saturday 18 June 2022, from 2:00pm, Riverside Terrace
cktrl x LCO
Saturday 18 June 2022, 7:45pm, Purcell Room
Do or Die… or Disco (free public programme)
Sunday 19 June 2022, from 1pm, Riverside Terrace