A
Aly Panic
Guest
After several years of self-imposed exile in LA, Morrissey returns to his native soil as host of the Meltdown Festival.
KELLIE REDMOND finds out more.
WELL, it's here - 2004's hotly-anticipated Meltdown line-up has finally been announced.
And what an exciting list of bands, writers and music icons will be appearing at South London's annual two-week festival in June.
But what else could be expected from this years guest curator, Morrissey, who, like past hosts - including David Bowie and Scott Walker - has been able to hand pick artists for his own fantasy festival at the South Bank Centre.
As rumoured, his good friend Nancy Sinatra will be making a special headline apperence - with the promise of a new song, Let Me Kiss You, penned by the ex-Smiths man himself.
Another blast from the past, 60's icon and famous fellow ex-pat Jane Birkin gets her own headline slot, joined by The Slits' vocalist Ari Up.
As their most celebrated fan, it's no suprise Morrissey has offered a headline gig and film night to reformed 70's glam punk rockers The New York Dolls - have pursuaded the three surviving members to reform for Meltdown.
As well as performing three concerts himself (opening the festival on June 11th plus June 25th and 26th), the coiffured one has lined up current faves The Libertines, as well as Cockney Rejects, veteran troubadour Loudon Wainwright III, oddballs Sparks and Irish songwriter Damien Dempsey. This years Meltdown is as much about words as it is about music for Morrissey, hence an evening of theatrical wit in homage to Oscar Wilde entitled We Are All In The Gutter - an Evening With Mr Wilde, which features the acerbic Will Self among others.
And having famously once declared he'd be able to retire happy because he had taken tea with Alan Bennett, Morrisey willenable people to share the legendary dramatist and performers wit with a special night hosted by him.
There's also dazzling diva glamour from Lypsinka, plus caberet-style caricatures from Ennio Marchetto.
And a chance to enjoy contemporary classical from the London sinfonietta performing Gorecki's Symphony No.3 - subtitled Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, a homage prehaps to The Smiths own tag as the great arch misrablists of Pop? or instead of seeing them go down to the Metro Club on Oxford Street for top DJ- Aly Panic's Smiths and Morrissey All Dayer.
(I added that bit on the end)
The SLP is available in all good South London Newsagents until Monday.
Other stories in this weekends issue include
THE SPACEY MAN COMETH
Being Robbed of his mobile phone has not stopped KEVIN SPACEY to walk the streets of Waterloo.
KING COKES GANG JAILED FOR 128 YEARS
Britains biggest cocain barron who became known as King Coke has been jailed for 25 years.
KELLIE REDMOND finds out more.
WELL, it's here - 2004's hotly-anticipated Meltdown line-up has finally been announced.
And what an exciting list of bands, writers and music icons will be appearing at South London's annual two-week festival in June.
But what else could be expected from this years guest curator, Morrissey, who, like past hosts - including David Bowie and Scott Walker - has been able to hand pick artists for his own fantasy festival at the South Bank Centre.
As rumoured, his good friend Nancy Sinatra will be making a special headline apperence - with the promise of a new song, Let Me Kiss You, penned by the ex-Smiths man himself.
Another blast from the past, 60's icon and famous fellow ex-pat Jane Birkin gets her own headline slot, joined by The Slits' vocalist Ari Up.
As their most celebrated fan, it's no suprise Morrissey has offered a headline gig and film night to reformed 70's glam punk rockers The New York Dolls - have pursuaded the three surviving members to reform for Meltdown.
As well as performing three concerts himself (opening the festival on June 11th plus June 25th and 26th), the coiffured one has lined up current faves The Libertines, as well as Cockney Rejects, veteran troubadour Loudon Wainwright III, oddballs Sparks and Irish songwriter Damien Dempsey. This years Meltdown is as much about words as it is about music for Morrissey, hence an evening of theatrical wit in homage to Oscar Wilde entitled We Are All In The Gutter - an Evening With Mr Wilde, which features the acerbic Will Self among others.
And having famously once declared he'd be able to retire happy because he had taken tea with Alan Bennett, Morrisey willenable people to share the legendary dramatist and performers wit with a special night hosted by him.
There's also dazzling diva glamour from Lypsinka, plus caberet-style caricatures from Ennio Marchetto.
And a chance to enjoy contemporary classical from the London sinfonietta performing Gorecki's Symphony No.3 - subtitled Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, a homage prehaps to The Smiths own tag as the great arch misrablists of Pop? or instead of seeing them go down to the Metro Club on Oxford Street for top DJ- Aly Panic's Smiths and Morrissey All Dayer.
(I added that bit on the end)
The SLP is available in all good South London Newsagents until Monday.
Other stories in this weekends issue include
THE SPACEY MAN COMETH
Being Robbed of his mobile phone has not stopped KEVIN SPACEY to walk the streets of Waterloo.
KING COKES GANG JAILED FOR 128 YEARS
Britains biggest cocain barron who became known as King Coke has been jailed for 25 years.
