Jarvis persuades hippy legend to play Meltdown

Jarvis Cocker has persuaded hippy icon Melanie to play her first British gig in 30 years at the Meltdown festival next month.

The full line-up for the event – which takes place between Saturday 16th June and Sunday 24th June - will be revealed today, but it has already been confirmed that the ‘Ruby Tuesday’ chanteuse will appear alongside The Jesus and Mary Chain and Motorhead.

Cocker, who is curating this year’s event at London’s South Bank, is determined to make the festival more diverse and thought-provoking than ever.

He told The Independent, “Culture should be a stimulant, not a sedative. Hide beneath the duvet in your plasma-screen, MP3-enabled pad if you like but we will find you and we will wake you up.

“I am eternally grateful to all the artists who have agreed to contribute to this Meltdown. They are a disparate bunch but they have one thing in common – they will make you think.”

As previously reported, the full Meltdown listings are:

Motörhead Royal Festival Hall (June 16)
Melanie Queen Elizabeth Hall (16)
Gonzales Purcell Room (16)
Northern Soul Night Ballroom Floor (16)
Forest Of No Return: Hal Willner presents the Vintage Disney Songbook
Featuring Jarvis Cocker plus very special guests Royal Festival Hall (17)
KPM Allstars Queen Elizabeth Hall (17)
Roky Erickson Royal Festival Hall (18)
SUNN O))) Queen Elizabeth Hall (18)
Saint Etienne presents Turntable Cafe Ballroom Floor (18)
Devo Royal Festival Hall (19)
Forced Entertainment: Bloody Mess Queen Elizabeth Hall (19)
Matthew Glamorre Ballroom Floor (19)
Iggy & the Stooges Royal Festival Hall (20)
Jerry Dammers' Spatial AKA Orchestra Queen Elizabeth Hall (20)
Jarvis in conversation with Don Letts Purcell Room (20)
Don Letts DJ Set Ballroom Floor (20)
John Barry & The London Philharmonic Orchestra Royal Festival Hall (21)
Cornershop / Jeffery Lewis & The Meteorites Queen Elizabeth Hall (21)
The Jesus & Mary Chain Royal Festival Hall (22)
Optimo DJs Ballroom Floor (22)
Jarvis Cocker Royal Festival Hall (23)
Lost Ladies of Folk Queen Elizabeth Hall (23)
Desperate Sound System Ballroom Floor(23)

Tickets for Meltdown go on sale at 9am, this Thursday (May 3).

To check ticket availability and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS.