Between 14–22 June, one of the most influential bands of the past 20 years take control of one of the UK’s most unique festivals. For eight days in June, Southbank Centre's riverside venues and spaces will buzz with unmissable concerts, provocative films, hard-hitting talks, interactive sound and light installations and rocking soundsystems - all programmed by Massive Attack, the first band to take the helm in this prestigious festival’s 15 year history.

Massive Attack's era-defining music has provided the soundtrack for a generation. Their instinctive embrace of technology, groundbreaking use of live visuals and distinctly dystopian vision has had a pervasive influence on contemporary culture. And, while they have increasingly used their international profile to draw attention to global issues close to their heart, their reputation for throwing a rocking party is legendary - sealing their credentials as perfect candidates to curate Southbank Centre's annual Meltdown Festival. 

The Meltdown programme for 2008 gives us a fascinating insight into the aesthetic, stylistic, thematic, political and musical influences that drive the band that emerged from Bristol collective The Wild Bunch at the end of the 1980s. From roots legend Horace Andy to hip hop futurists Dalek. From rising stars Fleet Foxes and Aloe Blacc to peerless international diva Grace Jones. From firebrand punks Stiff Little Fingers to legal action charity Reprieve, with whom Massive Attack have formed a close alliance in recent months. Reprieve provides frontline investigation and legal representation to prisoners denied justice by powerful governments across the world.

About The Meltdown Line-up:
Massive Attack will open and close Southbank Centre's Meltdown Festival with two different concerts in the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday 14 & Sunday 22 June. Meanwhile, over in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, mythic, proto-trance collective Gong, make a very rare appearance on Saturday 14 June. The following night sees a performance in the Royal Festival Hall by revered Japanese ‘technopop’ pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra. This will be the first UK performance by the band (recently voted No. 2 in HMV’s list of Japan’s top 100 musicians) since 1980, and will feature the original line-up of Harry Hosono, Yukihiro Takahashi and Ruichi Sakamoto.  

On Saturday 15 June, Meltdown Directors for 2008 introduce the Reggae Acoustic Songbook, a very special night in the Queen Elizabeth Hall of unplugged performances by renowned roots and reggae artists Johnny Clarke, Earl 16, Prince Malachai and long time Massive Attack collaborator, Horace Andy. Elbow, renowned for their uncompromising approach and thrilling live performances, play on Monday 16 April. On Tuesday 17 June, Massive Attack live mix a unique performance in the Queen Elizabeth Hall by Heritage Orchestra of Vangelis’ majestic, glacial soundtrack to dystopian classic Blade Runner – a thematic and stylistic influence on Massive Attack albums Mezzanine and 100th Window. On Thursday 19th June, in the Royal Festival Hall, Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall pay their respects to the returning queen of electro-soul and all-round international style diva, Grace Jones, whose stunning turn as The Snake in Jarvis Cocker’s Disney tribute was one of the unforgettable highlights of Meltdown in 2007.

Terry Callier – hero to the 70s Northern Soul scene and 90s dance hall revival –received 5-star reviews for his recent gig at The Jazz Café. On Friday 20 June, the jazz, folk and blues guitarist, vocalist and Massive Attack collaborator plays the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Given Massive Attack’s genius at creating deeply affecting electronic textures, it is no surprise that the mighty alchemists of pastoral electronica, Tunng have been invited to play on 21 June alongside Warp favourite Leila in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, or that psych-pop eccentrics Shortwave Set play a double bill with Mercury-nominated, fellow Bristolian Martina Topley-Bird in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Wednesday 18 June. 

Also on Wednesday 18 June, Belfast punk legends Stiff Little Fingers share a bill on the Royal Festival Hall stage with Mark Stewart And The Mafia - an explosive combination of Mark’s wayward genius and ex Sugar Hill musicians. While Nick Cave and Daddy G have recently stated that Mark is their all time favourite artist, Tricky tellingly says of the godfather of Bristol’s trip hop scene: “he’s chaos”.  Add to that Gang Of Four, whose urgent delivery and defiant stance has influenced everyone from Red Hot Chilli Peppers to Franz Ferdinand, and the hugely influential Tom Tom Club, and it becomes clear that Massive Attack's Meltdown is as much about attitude as musical genres.

Massive Attack' idiosyncratic take on hip hop is well known. On Thursday 19 June, in The Queen Elizabeth Hall, the band present their pick of some of the most innovative hip hop around today, including Dalek, currently hot US sensations Cool Kids, Shape Of Broad Minds and Flying Lotus. 

Meltdown is renowned for showcasing emerging talents. The Polyphonic Spree, Fischerspooner and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in David Bowie's Meltdown (2002). Brian Jonestown Massacre in Patti Smith's Meltdown (2005). While the talk of this year’s SXSW, Fleet Foxes, support Elbow on Monday 16 June, and the hotly tipped Alow Blacc supports Terry Callier, the Clore Ballroom Stage will be the place to see rising stars in pre and post show sets throughout the festival.   

Meltdown Films And Debate:
Between Thursday 19 and Sunday 22 June, there will be a series of Meltdown Films, including several screened at BFI Southbank, who partner Meltdown for the first time in 2008. The series includes the first London screening of Shane Meadows' Somers Town, an acclaimed film following the friendship of two young boys in North London due for release in the autumn; In Prison My Whole Life, William Francome’s remarkable investigation into the case of a death row prisoner Mumia Abul Jamal; BUG – Massive Attack Special, gives festival-goers a rare chance to see some of the band’s iconic videos on the big screen, including Unfinished Sympathy and the stunning Tear Drop, as part of BFI Southbank's hugely popular music video strand. And, in a real treat for fans of Ridley Scott’s neo-noir masterpiece, BFI IMAX will be screening Blade Runner: The Final Cut.

Showing in the Purcell Room on 15 June will be Taxi To The Dark Side, the Academy Award-winning documentary on the controversial death of an Afghan taxi driver, programmed in conjunction with legal action charity Rperieve. This special event will include a post screening discussion with ex-Guantánamo Bay prisoner Moazzam Begg and Reprieve’s director and founder Clive Stafford Smith.

Meltdown Party:
While there are issues of serious import to debate, let us not forget that Meltdown is also a week long Party, and the place to hang out by the Thames this summer. While the excellent Trojan Soundsystem will set up for several pre-concert sets, Saxon Soundsystem and guest MCs will take over the Riverside Terrace on Sunday 22 June. And, for five nights during the festival, Silent Disco – a huge hit during Southbank Centre's opening celebrations -  will include sets by guest DJs including Fourtet’s Kieron Hebden, Peaches and more to be confirmed.

Massive Attack have commissioned long-time collaborators UVA (United Visual Artists) to transform the exterior of the Royal Festival Hall with a powerful and possibly controversial series of projections conceived in collaboration with campaigning charity Reprieve. UVA’s visionary, award-winning interactive light and sound installation Volume will be set up on the Riverside Terrace.