If the rush for tickets following the festival’s announcement is anything to go by, this year’s Meltdown looks set to be the most highly anticipated in some years. And, thanks to the reopening of the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room it’s also set to be one of the biggest, with Robert Smith taking full advantage of the additional stages and spaces to add a fresh wave of talent to his ever-expanding bill. 

Among the host of top names added to the festival bill this week, is that of the curator himself. CURÆTION-25 is a special show from Robert Smith, closing out his Meltdown on Sunday 24 June, in which he promises to be joined by ‘four curious friends’ and other acts for a one-off two-hour Royal Festival Hall performance. 

Also, joining Smith on the singer’s incredible Meltdown roll-call are the American alternative rock group DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE and the English post-rockers MAYBESHEWILL, who a reuniting for an exclusive festival show.

I have finally figured out my Meltdown festival psychedelic puzzle… and it really is just like heaven… ten delirious June days at London’s Southbank Centre await – Robert Smith, Meltdown curator

The reopening of our iconic brutalist venues have enabled Smith to add a host of intimate experiences to his Meltdown line-up. These will include the UK premiere of Liminal – the acclaimed immersive live sound experience performed by Sigur Ros singer JÓNSI, as well as a performance from alt-folk singer-songwriter SUZANNE VEGA and musician and artist ALEX SOMERS and composer PAUL CORLEY. 

Scottish indie band FRIGHTENED RABBIT and the Irish instrumental trio GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT have both been lined up to perform on Queen Elizabeth Hall stage. Whilst newly added acts for the intimate Purcell Room include the female-fronted Welsh alt-rock group THE JOY FORMIDABLE, Swedish experimental instrumentalists PG.LOST and the electronic rock sound of VEX RED.

As if that wasn’t enough for you to get your musical teeth into, the 25th edition of Meltdown is also set to feature the following fantastic acts; LOW, AND ALSO THE TREES, EMMA RUTH RUNDLE, JAMBINAI, JOYCUT, LOOP, MOON DUO, THE SOFT MOON, BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW, FEAR OF MEN, KAELAN MIKLA, THE TWILIGHT SAD, YONAKA, DRAHLA, MATT HOLUBOWSKI, I LIKE TRAINS, JAMES WALSH, JO QUAIL, PUMAROSA, A DEAD FOREST INDEX, DOUGLAS DARE, HILARY WOODS, INDIAN QUEENS, KIDSMOKE, THE KVB, PLANNING FOR BURIAL, THOUGHT FORMS, TROPIC OF CANCER, AND DJ SETS FROM EAT STATIC, KIASMOS and VESSELS.

Tickets for all of these newly added events go on sale to Southbank Centre members on Friday 13 April, and on general sale on Monday 16 April.