Antony Hegarty's Meltdown Music Festival kicks off this weekend in London

Others will shape their schedules by genre (jazz, for example) or by theme. This Southbank Centre event is another story altogether.

Each year, it’s shaped by one person who curates it along the lines of their own personal tastes; DJ legend the late John Peel, indie hip-shaker Jarvis Cocker, trip-hop innovators Massive Attack have all taken responsibility in the past. This year it’s the turn of Antony Hegarty, from the operatic, touchingly angelic pop troupe Antony And The Johnsons.

As Hegarty has eclectic tastes, this diverse 11-day festival takes on a truly unique flavour, featuring music skewed with performance art.

Eighties talisman Marc Almond, who’s shifted no fewer than 30 million albums across the world during his career, lines up with the likes of politically charged singer/ performer Diamanda Galas.

Electronic music producer and performer Laurie Anderson brings her new show Dirtday! to town, and Lou Reed performs with his band, promising to feature anything and everything from Velvet Underground’s back catalogue to his Metallica collaboration, Lulu.

Hegarty himself will be taking to the stage, as well. So if you want to see, and hear, something different to the other fests out there, look no further. 

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
August 1-12 | Doors at various times |  £20+
Tube | Waterloo 
southbankcentre.co.uk

Photo: Getty Images