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Fresh from his triumphant musical collaboration Here Lies Love, David Byrne will curate the 2015 Meltdown Festival at London's Southbank Centre.
The festival takes place in August (17-28) and Byrne, unsurprisingly, is excited by the potential.
"This is going to be exciting! I plan to invite performers I've seen – and I do get out – and others I've missed or have dreamed of seeing, he said. "It's going to be a bit of fun puzzle-solving I imagine – seeing who's interested, who is available and what venues at Southbank Centre are appropriate."
Byrne would also like to make the experience more innovative than simply a passive observers in neat seated rows - and he quite fancies staying in the moored boat that rests on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof.
"I really hope to find things that take this beyond sit-down concerts as well – but of course I'm speaking way too early as I'm still working on my wish list. Hoping that I get to stay in the Room For London, on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof, for the whole time, but suspect that might expecting too much."
Jude Kelly, Artistic director at Southbank Centre, said: “Because a perfect Meltdown Director is David Byrne we can't quite believe that fate has conspired to make it happen! All of us are thrilled at the prospect of his musicality and terrific brain power being used to curate our great and historical festival.”
Previous directors include David Bowie, Patti Smith, Morrissey, Nick Cave, John Peel and Yoko Ono. Musical highlights from previous shows have included Jeff Buckley's last UK performance, the New York Dolls reuniting and Pete Doherty singing Disney songs for Jarvis Cocker.
A full lineup announcement will be made in the forthcoming months. Naturally we're hoping St Vincent will make an appearance...
