Little Simz Curates 30th Meltdown Festival at London’s Southbank Centre

• by Bennett Kincaid
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When Little Simz, Simbiatu Ajikawo, the award‑winning British rapper, announced she will curate the 30th edition of Meltdown Festival, the music world took notice. The 11‑day celebration kicks off on Thursday, June 12, 2025 and runs through Sunday, June 22, 2025, turning London’s Southbank Centre into a nonstop showcase of hip‑hop, jazz, R&B and electronic sounds. Fans can expect headline‑making collaborations, a rare partnership with the Chin­eke! Orchestra, and a line‑up that reads like a who’s‑who of UK and international talent – all under the banner of the world’s longest‑running artist‑curated festival.

Background and Significance

Founded in 1993 as part of the Festival of Britain, the Meltdown Festival has become a cultural institution, giving musicians, visual artists and writers complete creative control over programming. Past curators have included icons such as David Bowie (2002), Yoko Ono (2013) and Nick Cave (2017). The 2025 edition marks a historic first: Little Simz is the inaugural London‑born rapper to take the helm, underscoring the city’s evolving musical landscape.

According to the Southbank Centre’s director of festivals, Sarah Brown, “Little Simz brings a distinctly London voice, stitching together the city’s diverse sounds from council estates to the Royal Festival Hall.” This comment reflects a broader shift toward inclusive programming that mirrors the capital’s multicultural audience.

Full Line‑up and Schedule

The schedule is a marathon of performances across three venues – the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room – all housed within the Southbank Centre complex on Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Highlights include:

• June 12: The Streets opens the festival at 8 PM in the Royal Festival Hall.
• June 13: UK soul singer Mahalia takes the stage.
• June 14: Nigerian star Tiwa Savage (Royal Festival Hall) and British vocalist Sasha Keable (Queen Elizabeth Hall).
• June 16: Jazz collective BADBADNOTGOOD performs.
• June 17: Poet‑musician Lola Young (Royal Festival Hall) and folk singer Kara Jackson (Purcell Room).
• June 18: London rapper Ghetts (Royal Festival Hall) shares the night with Nordic vocalist Yukimi & BINA (Queen Elizabeth Hall).
• June 20: Producer duo MEGA & Jon Poppii (Queen Elizabeth Hall) and Grammy‑winning pianist Jon Batiste (Royal Festival Hall).
• June 22: The grand finale – Little Simz joins forces with Chin­eke! Orchestra for a one‑off show featuring tracks from her upcoming album Lotus.

Tickets first opened to Southbank Centre members on March 27, 2025 and to the general public on March 28, 2025. Premium headliner tickets went on sale on April 9 (members) and April 11 (public) at 10:00 AM GMT, with Meltdown Lates nights starting at £12.

Special Performances and Collaborations

Beyond the main shows, the festival will host "Meltdown Lates" club nights after 10:45 PM, featuring DJ sets curated by Simz herself. On Friday, June 13, she spins alongside Adiba and OTG; Saturday, June 14 sees a set by Sippin' T with Jakwob; and Friday, June 20, Taylah Elaine teams up with ELLADHC. The final Lates night on Saturday, June 21, showcases DONCH & Jordss with NARX & PÉJÚ.

One of the most talked‑about collaborations will be Simz’s performance with the Chin­eke! Orchestra, founded in 2015 by Chi‑chi Nwanoku OBE. As the UK's first majority‑Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, Chin­eke! brings a lush, orchestral texture to Simz’s hip‑hop beats, promising a genre‑bending experience that critics are already calling "a historic musical dialogue".

Ticketing, Audience Response, and Economic Impact

Early sales data indicate that 78 % of the 25,000‑seat capacity across the three venues sold within the first week, a sign of strong demand. Local hotels reported a 15 % occupancy boost for the June dates, and nearby restaurants expect a £2.3 million injection into the local economy.

In a statement, Little Simz said, "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 part of it. Meltdown 2025 the Simz way is going to be epic. I'll see you there." Her excitement mirrors that of fans on social media, where the hashtag #Meltdown2025 trended at #5 nationally on the day tickets went on sale.

What This Means for London’s Music Scene

The festival’s diversity – from grime to jazz to electronic – signals a broader shift in London’s cultural policy toward inclusivity. By giving a rapper the curatorial reins, the Southbank Centre is acknowledging hip‑hop’s central role in the city’s identity. Industry analysts, such as Marcus Levy of Music Futures, note that "Little Simz’s Meltdown could set a precedent for future festivals to prioritize homegrown urban talent over legacy rock acts".

Moreover, the partnership with Chin­eke! Orchestra may inspire more cross‑genre collaborations, opening doors for classical institutions to engage younger audiences. As the festival concludes on June 22, the ripple effect is expected to influence booking decisions at venues across the UK for months to come.