Christine and the Queens' Meltdown
Christine and the Queens, the French musical phenomenon, curated Meltdown 2023
The 28th edition of the UK’s longest-running artist-curated music festival, Meltdown, took place in June 2023 and was curated by Christine and the Queens.
Christine and the Queens made his explosive UK debut in 2016 with Chaleur humaine, the best-selling debut record of the year. With each subsequent album Christine and the Queens has scaled new heights. His follow-up, the eponymous Chris, reached No.3 in the UK chart and 2020’s La vita nuova, featured the hit single ‘People, I’ve been sad’ – TIME magazine’s song of the year. As well as his much acclaimed solo work Christine and the Queens has undertaken hugely successful collaborations with artists including Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek and 070 Shake.
In November 2022 Christine and the Queens presents Redcar released Redcar les adorables étoiles, the beginning of angels. The self-produced 13-track album featuring singles ‘Je te vois enfin’, ‘rien dire’ and ‘la chanson du chevalier’ was deemed ‘pop greatness’ by Rolling Stone.
In curating his Meltdown, Christine and the Queens invited artists who have influenced his musical identity, and those who continue to shape it today. Among them were Django Django, Kokoroko, Oxlade, Sigur Rós & London Contemporary Orchestra, Warpaint, Yemi Alade and Bat for Lashes, plus a unique sensory experience presented by BitterSuite and club night pioneers Pxssy Palace and The Chateau. Beyond the ticketed shows in our auditoria, two weekends of free outdoor gigs, performances and activities ensured Christine and the Queens’ creative vision was celebrated across the Southbank Centre from Friday 9 June until Sunday 18 June 2023.
‘What an honour to be picked by the fantastical teams of the Meltdown festival to be a curator.’
‘Long live poetry that burns and musicians crazy and brave enough to keep going – they are shaping the emotions of the future. Let’s thank them all!’
