Enigmatic British musician Robert Wyatt, the former Soft Machine drummer, was invited to become Meltdown's artistic director this year.

BBC: Meltdown for legend Wyatt

Comparisons will inevitably be made between Conor O'Brien of Villagers and Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst not only because of the similarity in their names, but also for their similar voices and tentacles that reach back to shared heroes such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Robert Wyatt.

NPR: First Listen: Villagers, 'Becoming A Jackal'