Baton is better

Former Talking Heads man David Byrne is twirling the baton for his next project in order to introduce the world of ‘colour guard’ – the fl ag and rifl e-twirling marching practice showcased at military demonstrations in North America – to theatres. Byrne is orchestrating 10 colour guard teams at Toronto’s Luminato Festival on 22nd & 23rd June, where they will perform routines soundtracked by live artists including St. Vincent, Dev Hynes, tUnE-yArDs, Kelis, Nelly Furtado and many more. Byrne is also following in the footsteps of David Bowie and Jarvis Cocker by curating 2015’s Meltdown festival at the Southbank Centre in London between 17th-28th August. “I plan to invite performers I’ve seen,” says Byrne, “and others I’ve missed… or have dreamed of seeing.”