Melt Festival 2018: The Acts You Can't Miss

Every year since 1999, the residents of the small town Gräfenhainichen have witnessed 20,000 festival-goers descend on the nearby "City of Iron". You could be mistaken for thinking it's the plot for a dreadful B-Movie, but this isn't further from the truth.

Ferropolis (as it's officially and somewhat unsettlingly known) is a open-air museum of industrial mining machinery dating back to the mid-20th Century, and this uniquely imposing backdrop has hosted Melt Festival over the years; seeing numerous career-defining performances from artists such as Portishead, Aphex Twin, The Knife, Oasis, and even the 'Princess of Pop' herself, Kylie Minogue.

The 2018 edition looks to follow the same trend so we've made a list of the acts that'll add to this festival's illustrious heritage, all of which are simply unmissable.

Kali Uchis

2018 has been a huge year for Kali Uchis, and collaborating on her sophomore album Isolation with funk legend Bootsy Collins, Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, and Tyler, The Creator has seen her propelled into the limelight.

Her sultry blend of Latin-inspired soul and R&B has lauded critical acclaim, and will prove to be the perfect sun-drenched early evening vibes. The aforementioned Tyler is playing the same stage shortly after, so fully expect him to pop up during Uchis' set.

When and where: 18:00, Friday 13 July – Melt Stage 

Jon Hopkins

The whirlwind of acclaim that followed the release of Hopkins' 2013 album Immunity solidified his emerging reputation as the auteur of modern electronic music, and after five years without releasing new material, 2018's Singularity duly picked up from where he left off.

A potent combination of ethereal ambience underlying the organic beats, and pulsating rhythms from start to finish, will ensure you're sent into a trance-like state for the remainder of the festival.

When and where: 02:00, Friday 13 July – Melt Stage

Fever Ray

Around the release of Fever Ray's debut album Fever Ray back in 2009, the elusive Karin Dreijer slowly crept from the shadow of former outfit The Knife, letting her mystique take precedence. Fast-forward to 2017's Plunge, and Dreijer is now front-and-centre, owning the spotlight and performing with more freedom than ever.

Accompanied by a pack of incredible female musicians, this elaborately constructed performance will likely overshadow any show The Knife previously executed.

When and where: 00:45, Saturday 14 July – Melt Stage

Parcels

The last day of a festival is commonly a struggle once the hedonism of previous days has caught up with you. Berlin-based, Australian disco-pop outfit Parcels will no doubt alleviate those aches 'n' pains and lift the spirits for the final stretch ahead.

Their cheeky stage presence and knack for writing uplifting dancefloor-fillers hasn't gone unnoticed, with Daft Punk (yes, Daft Punk) producing their 2017 single 'Overnight'. Good times all around.

When and where: 18:00, Sunday 15th July – Melt Stage

The xx

Why wouldn't you? The xx are now deserved headlining veterans, bestowing their celebrated 'Night + Day' tour upon the epic scenery of Ferropolis, which will be a sure-fire spectacular.

The band's melting-pot of R&B, dreampop, and electronic indie is a near-certainty to go down in the echelons of great Melt performances. So what ever you do, don't miss it.

When and where: 23:30, Sunday 15th July – Melt Stage