The Southbank Centre has revealed that Little Simz will curate the 30th edition of Meltdown, the UK’s longest-running artist-led music festival. Taking place from Thursday 12 June to Sunday 22 June 2025, the event will see the Mercury Prize-winning rapper, musician, and actor craft an innovative and genre-defying lineup, alongside her own headline performance.
Simz joins an esteemed list of past curators, including David Bowie, Grace Jones, Robert Smith, Nile Rodgers, Patti Smith, and Christine and the Queens, and is set to bring her unique creative vision to the Southbank Centre. The festival will also feature two weekends of free participatory programming, celebrating grassroots collectives, local organisations, and special one-off performances.
Sharing her excitement about taking the reins, Little Simz said: ‘I’m super excited to be the 2025 Meltdown festival curator! My team and I are preparing eleven days of art, music, workshops and more. So many incredible artists have curated this festival so it’s a true honour to be a part of it. Thank you to the Southbank Centre for having me. Meltdown 2025 the Simz way is going to be epic. I’ll see you there.’
Widely regarded as one of the UK’s most innovative and influential artists, Little Simz has carved out a singular path in music and beyond. From handing out mixtapes as a teenager to winning a Mercury Prize, a BRIT Award, two MOBOs, and an Ivor Novello, her career has been defined by artistic ambition and creative fearlessness.
Her critically acclaimed albums, including Grey Area (2019), Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021), and NO THANK YOU (2022), have pushed the boundaries of hip-hop, soul, jazz, and spoken word. Her electrifying performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2024 cemented her reputation as one of the most captivating live acts of her generation.
Meltdown’s 30th anniversary edition follows a spectacular 2024 festival curated by Chaka Khan, which featured performances from Emeli Sandé, Lady Blackbird, Bruce Hornsby, and Incognito.
Southbank Centre’s Head of Contemporary Music, Jane Beese, praised Simz’ genre-defying ideas and ambition to inspire the next generation of creators, while Artistic Director Mark Ball described Meltdown as ‘her cultural playground, where she can fully explore her musicianship, her icons, and her passions’.
The first artists for Little Simz Meltdown 2025 will be announced in spring 2025, with tickets expected to sell fast.
For updates, visit southbankcentre.co.uk.
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