Nadine Shah to premiere new material at free Meltdown Festival closing party

15 June 2016, 07:53 | Written by Paul Bridgewater

(News)

(Nadine Shah)

Nadine Shah will showcase new songs from her upcoming third album at a free event to close this year's Meltdown Festival in London and launch Refugee Week.

We're told that the as-yet-untitled record will be out at the end of the year and is inspired by the refugee crisis, which Shah has spoken out about frequently in the last 18 months.

"It was virtually impossible to even consider writing about anything else," Shah told us. "I hope to humanise the dehumanised. I want to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering and searching for peace and safety."

Refugee Week takes place every year across the world in the week around World Refugee Day on the 20 June. With a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, the week encourages a better understanding between communities. Refugee Week started in 1998 as a direct reaction to hostility in the media and society in general towards refugees and asylum seekers.

The first song from Shah's new album "Holiday Destination" was premiered via a live performance on BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends at the weekend.

The closing party runs from 8.30pm on 19 June in the Royal Festival Hall's Clore Ballroom.