This Friday sees the start of James Lavelle’s Meltdown, and the festival will take over the Southbank Centre site for 10 days, giving audiences the chance to engage with James Lavelle and some of the artists that have collaborated with him, influenced and inspired him across music, art, design and film. The line up includes UNKLE, Trentemoller, Jeff Mills, Benji B and the UK premiere of Nick Zinner’s 41 strings.

Since starting the iconic music label Mo’ Wax aged 18, Lavelle has been witness to and at the forefront of the worldwide DJ-ing scene, and a celebration of club culture past and present will form a key part of his Meltdown. Through the festival there will be free post-show DJ sets in the Clore Ballroom of the Royal Festival Hall from leading DJs, including sets from Gilles Peterson (15 June), Pam Hogg (20 June) and Trevor Jackson (21 June).

Over both weekends of the festival audiences will be given a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask their questions and get advice from leading figures in the creative industries at the Meltdown Sessions. These are a series of talks, seminars and workshops with a host of iconic names in the music industry, including many musicians appearing at Meltdown, with support from Ableton and CDR. Guests and speakers include Jeff Mills, DJ Shadow, James Lavelle, Max Richter, Gavin Turk, Tom Baker (Field Day), Fiona Stewart (Green Man) and Renee ESG. Ableton will also host the "Push Playground" - a free drop-in music lab where you can learn to create your own tracks in the company of expert trainers and artists.

As Meltdown turns 21 so does James Lavelle’s iconic label Mo’ Wax. The creative output of James’ label will also be celebrated in Urban Archaeology: 21 Years of Mo’Wax; a retrospective exhibition of the Mo’Wax archive which has been devised with Southbank Centre uniquely for this year’s Meltdown. The exhibition will include tracks and record sleeves plus previously unseen proofs and artwork, as well as unveiling the workings behind the label. This takes place in Clore Ballroom of the Royal Festival Hall

On the final day of the festival visitors are invited to come to the Sunday Come Down (22 June), an afternoon of free music celebrating club classics on the terraces outside of the Royal Fetival Hall. From midday there will be music from Don Letts, James Priestley, Horsemeat Disco, Craig Richards and James Lavelle himself, as well as a performance of Acid Brass by Jeremy Deller performed by The Fairey Band. Visitors can also visit Skylon at Southbank Centre and sample a Meltdown cocktail or a special festival brunch. Dishes will include crispy duck hash with fried egg and Worcestershire sauce dressing, grilled Gloucester Old Spot ham with egg and chips and the ‘Meltdown’ beef burger plus a Meltdown Mary – a Bloody Mary mix with tomato juice and vodka, served in a pint glass with a stick of celery and a layer of basil foam.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

Meltdown Sessions

14, 15 & 21 June, Foyer Spaces, 11.30am – 6pm, £12, under 18s £4

(names subject to change and more names subject to being confirmed)

Saturday 14

Guests and speakers include Jeff Mills, DJ Shadow, James Lavelle, Ben Willmott, Paul Bradshaw, Johnno (Bugged Out).

Sunday 15

Guests and speakers include Max Richter, Gilles Peterson, James Lavelle, Petite Noir, Chassol, Ben Willmott, Sie Medway-Smith (Miloco Studios), Jesse Abayomi (Ableton), Daniel Miller, Eamonn Forde

Saturday 21

Guests and speakers include Gavin Turk, Ralph Rugoff, Tom Baker (Field Day), Fiona Stewart (Green Man) Ruth Barnes (Amazing Radio), Renee ESG, Benji B, Nihal.

Ableton Push Playground

14, 15 & 21 June, Clore Ballroom of Royal Festival Hall, 10.30am – 5pm, Free

A free drop-in music lab where you can learn to create your own tracks in the company of expert trainers and artists.

Urban Archaeology: 21 Years of Mo’ Wax

Friday 13 – Sunday 22 June, Clore Ballroom of the Royal Festival Hall, 10am – 11pm, free

The record label Mo’ Wax as established by James Lavelle in 1992 and was responsible for unearthing revolutionary artists including UNKLE, DJ Shadow and DJ Krush, as well as visual artists such as Futura and Swifty. To commemorate this landmark, Lavelle presents Urban Archaeology, a retrospective exhibition of the Mo'Wax archive, including tracks and record sleeves, previously unseen proofs and artwork.

It unveils the workings behind the label, including private notes and intimate photographs, as well as an array of the non-musical collaborations with Lavelle and the label, including collectible toys by Medicom, memorabilia, clothing and sneakers (including the notorious UNKLE collaboration with Nike). The exhibition coincides with an anniversary book published by Rizzoli.

Sunday Come Down

Sunday 22 June, outdoor spaces at Southbank Centre, midday – 6pm, Free

An afternoon of free music celebrating the history of club culture. There will be sets from Don Letts, James Priestley, Horsemeat Disco, James Lavelle, Craig Richards.

There will also be free post-show DJ sets throughout the festival.