January 3, 1999 10:58

CAVE NEARS MELDOWN

[B]Nick[/B] choses bill for seventh arts festival on London's South Bank...

Nick Cave will be hosting this year's Meltdown Festival, to be held over two weeks at London's Royal Festival Hall starting on June 24.

The singer, author and actor will choose the bill and work with organisers to shape Meltdown 99, the seventh to be held at the South Bank venue.

Last year's event was hosted by John Peel.

Organiser David Sefton said: "We asked Nick to do it because he's got such a diverse range of talents and he's done so many different things.

It will be very diverse, which is what Meltdown is all about."

Cave and Meltdown organisers are now working on securing the artists they have on their shortlist.

Tickets will be on sale in around six weeks.

Meanwhile, Cave plays a solo performance at the Royal Festival Hall with The Dirty Three and Jock Scott on March 30. Tickets are available from NME's 24-hour ticketline on 0870 1212 500. Click here to go tou our online gig guide.