9 Jun – 18 Jun

M.I.A. curates the 24th Meltdown. Sri Lankan-Tamil-born and London-bred, she is recognised worldwide as a rapper, producer, director, visual artist and activist.

Get ready for 10 days of one-off gigs, outdoor parties, art, talks and free events curated by M.I.A.

Launched 25 years ago, Meltdown is one of the UK’s most anticipated music festivals each year, as an iconic artist curates their own personal festival, revealing their interests and influences.

M.I.A., born Mathangi ‘Maya’ Arulpragasam, follows in the footsteps of renowned festival curators including Jarvis Cocker, Patti Smith, David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Ornette Coleman and David Byrne.

Her influences range from Nu Rave and dancehall to electro and hip-hop from around the world. Albums including Arular, Kala, /\/\/\Y/\ and AIM have topped critical charts with their politically conscious lyrics and inimitable genre-blending.

Named one of the ten defining artists of the 2000s by Rolling Stone and one of the world’s one hundred most influential people by Time magazine, she has been nominated for two Grammys, a Mercury Prize and an Academy Award.

FEATURED EVENTS:

17th June 2017 from 1pm: Meltdown Mela at the Riverside Terrace, Level 2, outside Royal Festival Hall – Come along with the whole family for a day of outdoor entertainment, as Meltdown Mela celebrates arts and culture from the UK’s South Asian communities. This is a free event.

18th June 2017 from 7.30pm: M.I.A. closes the festival with a special Royal Festival Hall performance. Tickets are £25 to £50