Chaka Khan & Nu Civilisation Orchestra: ClassiKhan
Live with an orchestra for the first time, Chaka Khan presents the 20th anniversary of her album ClassiKhan for the closing night of Meltdown 2024.
For the finale of this year’s Meltdown festival, Khan celebrates 50 years of a pioneering career, bringing her incredible voice and global influence to this concert alongside the uncategorisable Nu Civilisation Orchestra.
ClassiKhan is the tenth studio album by Chaka Khan, featuring the London Symphony Orchestra. Released in 2004, Khan covers well-loved jazz and swing standards, such as ‘Stormy Weather’ and ‘Round Midnight’, as well as classics from a range of other genres, such as Broadway show-tune ‘Hey Big Spender’ from Sweet Charity and many more.
With countless hits under her belt – including the uncontainable ‘I’m Every Woman’, one of the most iconic voices in music, and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, Khan is a powerhouse in music and this event spotlights her incomparable vocals in a concert with a full orchestral backing.
Nu Civilisation Orchestra was founded in 2008 by artistic director Gary Crosby OBE. Under the direction of musical director Peter Edwards, the orchestra has earned a reputation as a shapeshifting, cutting-edge ensemble. Refusing to be bound by genre or scale, it metamorphoses into a new format as each new project is unveiled.
The orchestra has performed extensively across the UK, including a BBC Proms debut in 2019, playing Aladdin Sane Live at the Royal Festival Hall in 2023, and a national tour in 2021 for a creative exploration of Marvin Gaye’s seminal masterpiece, What’s Going On, five decades after its release.
Need to know
Haze and strobe may be used during this performance.
Doors: 8pm
Stage time: 9pm
Please check final stage times here on the day of the event.
Exclusive box package includes:
Hire of a private box (seats up to 8 people)
One free drink per guest on arrival
Dedicated host to take drinks orders throughout the event
Access
This event is British Sign Language interpreted (BSL). BSL interpretation is by Jacqui Beckford (subject to change).
To book tickets for BSL interpretation, email [email protected] or call us on 020 3879 9555.
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
All our Access & facilities information
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.