Themed around 2004 Chaka Khan album ClassiKhan, the 33-piece Nu Civilisation Orchestra are to appear with Chaka Khan at Meltdown on the closing night at the Royal Festival Hall on 23 June - Meltdown being the long running South Bank Centre festival curated this year by the 'Ain't Nobody' and 'I'm Every Woman' hitmaker Khan. Directed by pianist Peter Edwards, it's the latest in themed concerts by the NCO following Aladdin Sane and Focus presentations themed around respectively David Bowie and Stan Getz classics. Edwards says: ''ClassiKhan is an incredible work and all at Nu Civilisation Orchestra are excited to present this acclaimed album live for the first time.''

Peter Edwards, photo: marlbank