Mo’ Wax boss and UNKLE member James Lavelle has been named as the curator of next year’s Meltdown.

The festival, which takes place once a year at London’s Southbank Centre, gives a guest artist free rein to pick their own line-up of performers and special events. Lavelle will take on the role in 2014 as his label celebrates its 21st birthday.

In a statement, Lavelle said he hoped to create “a vibrant and exciting collage of counter-culture and collaboration from the worlds of music, film, art and everything in between”, adding:

“I want to bring together my influences from the past, the present and my work as an artist in contemporary society as well as transforming the space in a way that’s never been done before, both artistically and musically. In curating Meltdown I have a responsibility to inspire the next generation of young artists in the same way that I was inspired as a teenager. Together we will push boundaries, shoot for the moon and create something that people will never forget.’

Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja of Massive Attack, who curated the 2008 festival, made his approval of the appointment known, saying: “James kept me up during the 90s… and by that I mean no sleep! He is a brilliant dictator… I mean curator, his label Mo’Wax and the UNKLE project are a great testament to that. Meltdown next year will be a blast!”

Meltdown 2014 takes place from June 13 to 22, with details of events and performances to come. Last year’s Meltdown was curated by Yoko Ono and featured performances from Diamanda Galas, Laurie Anderson and Boy George. Previous years’ events have been helmed by Morrissey, Massive Attack and Patti Smith, among others.

This year Lavelle allowed FACT TV to have nose around his extraordinary lock-up stuffed with records and memorabilia – watch parts one and two of our documentary, and listen to his recent Best of Mo’Wax mix. [via Clash]