The Meltdown Festival kicks off today, for the 23rd time with its unique approach of having a celebrated musician curate proceedings. This year the reigns have been handed over to Guy Garvey of rock band Elbow who has selected the acts to perform at London’s Southbank Centre.It’s the theme this year though that is especially apt. The simply concept of “welcome” is being used in coordination with Refugee Week, and Meltdown will culminate on June 19 with a special performance at the Riverside Terrace. Originally planned to be led by Robert Plant, and titled “The Boat We're In,” the event has been changed due to Plant needing to return to the United States, where his former band Led Zeppelin face a lawsuit from rock band Spirit alledging plagiarism in the song “Stairway to Heaven.”Refugee Week is managed by Counterpoints Arts, an organisation which supports, produces and promotes art by, and about ,migrants and refugees. The show on the final day will be led by Poet Kayo Chingonyi and feature acts from around the world.From the Zimbabwe capital Harare, Zee Guveya & the Heritage Survival Band will present their style of Afro-fusion, blending traditional rhythms with modern music. Lead singer and guitarist Zivai 'ZEE' Guveya began his career age just 15, touring widely before moving the UK.World music collective Rafiki Jazz are set to celebrate “ritual & trance, passion & dance,” their music founded in the tradition of the Sufis, who spread Islamic poetry and music from Pakistan to Senegal. With Brazilian musical influences too, the group see each performance as an invitation “to visit a new global utopia where faiths, technologies and traditions meet musicians.”From Palestine, Reem Kelani debuted with “Sprinting Gazelle – Palestinian Songs from the Motherland and the Diaspora,” to critical acclaim, and has recently released her second, “Reem Kelani: Live at the Tabernacle.” She will be joined by Jazz pianist Bruno Heinen.Elsewhere, acts including Femi Kuti, Laura Marling and I Am Kloot will perform during this year’s Meltdown. Click slideshow for more.
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