Harry Styles Delights Fans with Orchestral Performance at Southbank’s Meltdown Festival

Harry Styles captivated audiences with a unique orchestral performance at the Southbank’s Meltdown Festival on June 16. The renowned singer-songwriter, aged 32, took a brief hiatus from his blockbuster 12-show ‘Together, Together’ residency at Wembley Stadium.

Teaming up with the acclaimed composer Jules Buckley and the House Gospel Choir, Styles delivered a memorable concert at the sold-out Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Center in the U.K. He offered fresh renditions of tracks from his latest album, ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally,’ alongside selections from previous projects. A highlight of the evening was his surprising rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.’

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Styles shared his admiration for classical and orchestral music. He candidly confessed, ‘It’s quite an intimidating field to step into as someone who doesn’t, cannot, read music.’ Despite this, his collaboration with Buckley was a welcoming experience. ‘He never made me feel like I didn’t belong there in any way, and it’s been beautiful collaborating with him,’ Styles noted.

The intimate performance was a part of the week-long Meltdown festival, which began on June 11. Curated by Styles himself, the festival presents a vibrant mix of free and ticketed events featuring indie, jazz, electronic, and pop artists.

Speaking to ‘Billboard,’ Styles expressed his excitement about hosting the festival: ‘Music is my life; every artist involved in this year’s Meltdown festival means so much to me, both as a fan and a musician.’ He added, ‘It’s a true honor to host legends who have paved the way for the generations that follow them, as well as new acts that have inspired me to push my creative boundaries.’

The Meltdown festival, hosted by Styles, continues at the Southbank Center until June 21. Styles’ ‘Together, Together’ Tour is set to run throughout the year, with highlights including a 30-night stint at Madison Square Garden in New York this fall and his 12-night residency at Wembley Stadium in London, concluding on July 4.