Pictured: La Femme (Photo by Larry Heath)
It was a relaxed atmosphere under the hot Summer sun on Saturday, as families, Francophiles and Festival fans got their spots under the umbrellas and on top of the hay bales that scattered the rarely used (but very well suited) site of St. John’s college for Sydney’s second annual So Frenchy So Chic in the Park. Naturally, the picture would not be complete without a glass of champagne and a baguette in hand with a French soundtrack playing on our arrival. We found a spot under one of the marquees so enjoy some respite from the 30+ degree heat, and it wasn’t long before quartet Francois and The Atlas Mountains hit the stage.
We last witnessed the band in Brighton in 2012, though this was my first time enjoying the group in Australia. With notably excellent sounds in the surrounds, their music started off laid back and reserved, in that typical French sort of way. As some got up and danced, others enjoyed their drinks in the shade; nearby, kids were playing chess and families were learning boule in the Bic kids tent. The whole atmosphere couldn’t have been more fitting for the sounds, and the sounds couldn’t have been more suitable for our expectations.
More beats, more guitar and more synth were added as the set went along, as more dancers braved the heat and moved to the front of the stage – plenty with a Kronenburg in hand. “The Way of the Forest” was a highlight of the set, with some jungle beats and great energy. Another stand out moment was their interpretation of “Talaalbadro Alaïna”, a traditional Moroccan welcoming song, for the prophet in Mecqua, which they broke down and turned into an exotic – and exciting – jam session. Their closing number seemed to continue the trend in style.
Renowned chanteuse Émilie Simon followed, performing with a three piece; keys, guitar and drums creating some spectacularly cinematic soundscapes, keys leading the way. Émilie’s red hair flowed underneath her sunhat, as a well positioned fan kept things more comfortable for her in the hot Summer sun. Though her voice was our focus, she later donned a guitar (which seemed to perfectly match her dress and hair) and suddenly the the music exploded with intensity.
She sung mostly in French, but she was sure to include one of her rare English language tracks “The Eye Of The Moon”, which was stunning – and also added in a cover of the classic “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by Iggy & The Stooges. It was hard to look away from her the entire set – she was an excellent performer and as much as it was all about her voice, the show definitely hit its peaks when she added her own spice of guitar into the mix.
It was the first time in Australia for La Femme, and they immediately promised, “today we give you pleasure!”. Performing in Australia as a six piece, the group are led by the energetic vocals of Clémence Quélennec. Together, they got people dancing early, with moments of surf rock, sultry French vocals and three on the keys ensuring things got pretty electronic. Though the tempo changed from song to song, the band were at their best when they were the most energetic… which thankfully was more often than not during the 75 minute set.
Closing the night were Franco-Finish duo The Dø, who perform live with two extra members – though it’s definitely lead vocalist Olivia Merilahti who runs the show. Donning a red jumpsuit and punching her weight into the sky and the ground, she proved a force to be reckoned with, as her iconic (and immaculate) voice pushed through their first show in Sydney in some five years. Though the focus of the set was on their latest album Shake, Shook, Shaken, for a lot of us it was tracks off of Both Ways Open Jaws that we wanted to hear – especially given that they never toured the popular record down here.
“Keep Your Lips Sealed” off the latest record opened things up, with at least 24 keyboards* (and a Wurlitzer?) littering the stage, and they bounced straight through tracks like “Miracles (Back In Time)”, “Sparks”, “Opposite Ways”, “Going Through Walls” and “Despair, Hangover & Ecstasy” . “Slippery Slope” was an early highlight, and it was great to hear “Anita No!” off Both Ways… as well as “On My Shoulders” off of A Mouthful.
A one song encore of “Dust It Off” (which culminated in Olivia donning a Dinosaur mask at the front of stage) ensured we’d all heard some of our favourite songs – but as it is too often the case when a band hasn’t been here in oh-so-many years, it’s impossible to get to hear it all. But they did not disappoint. They ended So Frenchy So Chic in the Park for 2015 with a bang – and hopefully it won’t take them so long to come back next time.
All in all, this incredibly well run event proved to be a perfect day. There’s something to be said for a festival that encourages picnics, lets kids under 12 in for free (with parents, of course) and serves baguettes with pate instead of Dagwood Dogs. It makes for an event that’s relaxed, intoxicatingly enjoyable and utterly French. And you can count me in for next year… if only every festival was so chic!
