Richard Thompson to curate Meltdown

Richard Thompson has been announced as the curator of the 2010 Meltdown festival.

The folk-rock icon and former Fairport Convention guitarist will direct this year's event, which takes place across the south bank of the River Thames from June 11-20.

Thompson said: "I am very excited to be hosting this year's Meltdown at Southbank Centre.

"The wide-ranging programme reflects many of my interests and influences across many musical, visual and literary styles, and should provide some unique moments, unusual collaborations and juxtapositions."

He added: "All this in the place where I saw my first concert in 1961 - such an honour!"

Past curators of the Meltdown festival have included Massive Attack, Jarvis Cocker, Patti Smith, Morrissey and David Bowie.