Melbourne’s premier French festival So Frenchy So Chic once again returned, to celebrate all thing French culture; with an impressive lineup of music, food and wine. Taking in a plethora of sights, sounds and smells, So Frenchy So Chic brings a little bit of France to you.
Hosted at Werribee Park, with the iconic mansion in the background, SFSC is part music festival, part picnic in the park – equating to the perfect day. So with picnic rug and some snacks in hand, we set ourselves down in some prime real estate (AKA the shade) for the beautiful sunny day ahead.
So Frenchy So Chic invites you to bring the whole family, and is welcoming to all ages. For kids, there was face painting, pétanque, and even flower crown making classes. If you were feeling peckish, you could treat yourself to some raclette (as we did), for the perfect marriage of melted cheese and potatoes. Pray to the cheesy gods, as it’s practically heaven on a plate. For those wanting to embrace a cheese platter or charcuterie, pre-ordered hampers from Melbourne’s very own Milk The Cow, Bar Margaux and Hotel Gitan were available for pick up. Combined with some crusty bread, and a variety of wines available from the bars, and you had yourself the perfect lunch!
Opening the stage was Senegal born Tété, whose delicate blend of soul and folk were an invigorating start to the day. As an artist who started off busking on the streets of Paris, his music still stays true to his roots, and had crowds clapping and dancing along. Playing songs off his new album Fauthentique, Tété’s smooth vocals and relaxed vibes put everyone in a good mood.
French cover band Nouvelle Vague was up next, with their original jazz-inspired takes on new wave and alternative classics from bands such as Joy Division and Violent Femmes. As the brainchild of producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux, this is not the band’s first time at SFSC – and it probably won’t be the last. With a range of covers that had everyone singing along, Nouvelle Vague ticked everyone’s boxes. Some of our favourites were Love Will Tear Us Apart and I Wanna Be Sedated – both with Nouvelle Vague’s own spin on them.
Gracing the stage with her presence was folk-pop musician Lou Doillon; an artist with an impressive back catalogue, and equally impressive dance moves. Known to some as the daughter of Jane Birkin, Doillon’s trademark husky voice is flawless, charming and soulful. Opening her set with a guitar-heavy Burn, Doillon’s music was given a new, grungier life on stage. From song to song, she brings out her own guitar to play along, and really gets into the grittiness of it all. Telling the audience ‘If you find a good man, make sure you never let him go’, she launches into Good Man, later following up with Too Much, an anthem for all the people who are a little too intense. Before we know it, her set is finished – and all we know is that we can’t wait to see her again.
Disco-pop queen Corine gets the party started and the audience jumping along from the opening notes of her set. Backed by a band in matching tracksuits, the charismatic Corine walks onto the stage dressed head to toe in gold. Her hair is huge, her heels high, and her stage presence is undeniable. Corine has taken European audiences by storm, and its easy to see why, with the instant hits she has. Tracks Il fait chaud and Pourquoi pourquoi are easily some of our favourites, and are catchy as anything. Throughout the entire set, Corine displays an unbeatable energy; with flashy dance moves that are mirrored by the audience. This is Corine’s first time in Australia, but we’d love to see her back.
Continuing the party and closing the stage for the night was Philippe Cohen Solal, one third of the eletronic trio Gotan Project. Playing a DJ set with a variety of drum and bass, mash-ups, and dance infusions, Solal’s set was the perfect way to wind down after a big day. With the crowd swaying along to his music, it really had everyone in a great mood. We then left So Frenchy So Chic that evening feeling refreshed, and as though we’d soaked up all the French culture we could possibly get. We look forward to what the festival has in store for next year, and can’t wait to see which artists hit our shores next!
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