Any event that offers great music, French food, beautiful wine, and general ‘joie de vivre’ promises to be a beautiful day. Cartell Music’s So Frenchy So Chic In The Park certainly didn’t disappoint.
The event was set to the backdrop of the gorgeous and historic Werribee Park Mansion, where festival-goers found themselves in a sea of picnic blankets. Despite the long car queue that stretched from the main road to the park, the venue was near-full by the time the music started. Once in, many people indulged in the huge selection of French-inspired food on offer in tents dotted around the park.
Edward Deer was the first artist to take the stage. The Sydney-based singer-songwriter, who is building a name for himself via Triple J Unearthed, appeared on the critically acclaimed Mélodie Française 2013 compilation with his rendition of ‘Belles! Belles! Belles!’ – a track made famous by Claude Françoise.
Deer did an excellent job of warming up the crowd, playing a selection of songs from Mélodie Française. He was a great choice for the early slot; the majority of people weren’t quite ready to leave their cheese and wine to dance, but the crowd still appreciated the atmosphere Deer brought to the stage – not to mention that the classic standards were performed in a remarkably good French accent for a born and bred Australian!
The long breaks between sets turned out to be a plus. The 30-45 minute gaps were long enough for people to brave the alcohol lines and stock up on food/homemade flower crowns/intoxicated photo booth shots before returning to their spot on the lawn. Perhaps these longer than expected breaks were due to the absence of Lou Doillon, who sadly pulled out of the festival due to being hospitalised. That said, the timetable worked remarkably well for the festival that was just as much about the atmosphere, drinks, and food as it was about the music.
Performing next was Lilly Wood And The Prick, a French alt/pop/folk duo with an accompanying band. They played a lovely, chilled-out set punctuated by some adorable banter in gorgeous French accents – undoubtedly making the whole audience swoon like nothing else.
Like Deer’s slot, it was perhaps a little too early in the day to tear most of the groups away from their picnic spots – but that didn’t stop a few keen spectators from edging up to the empty space in front of the stage (wines in hand) to have a boogie. With the sun beating down hard, the majority of the crowd stayed in their shady spots, but the reception for the French two-piece was still warm, and their catchy tunes, sang in a mix of English and their native French, warmed the audience up well.
After another break, by which time everyone was regaining energy, French-African singer and rapper Féfé took to the stage. His arrival marked the turning point in the day. What started as a relaxing afternoon of indulgence in the sun soon became a full-on party. The ‘mosh pit’ was full of people who were immediately captivated by the artist’s charisma, hilarious statements in broken English, and his sheer ability to entertain despite any language or cultural barriers.
Definitely a highlight of Féfé’s set – and also an excellent way to draw an anglophone crowd in – was the DJ’s energetic and clever use of samples from popular tracks. Kanye West and Jay-Z’s ‘Niggas In Paris’ certainly got the crowd amped, with spectators literally standing up and bolting to the stage the second they heard the familiar introduction.
After an hour and a half and THREE encores, Féfé retired from the stage. The audience took a well-earned break to quickly down some more wine, scoff a crêpe, and regain energy after 90 minutes of choreographed dancing led by Féfé himself.
The final act of the day was Babylon Circus, a Lyon-based ska and reggae band, who faced the daunting task of following Féfe’s gusto and ability to completely beguile the audience.
As it was a Sunday night, many of the families in the crowd started to drift out during the group’s set, but they did keep a decent-sized audience standing and grooving to their jazz, punk, and energetic tunes – and rightly so. The nine-piece combined the best of traditional French music complete with a warm, brassy sound, the occasional accordion, and modern ska. It was the perfect way to close the afternoon.
After a good couple of encores, Babylon Circus – and the day’s festivities – were over. After just one more macaroon, the content, cheese-filled festival-goers meandered out to the carpark.
Billing the festival with a motto of ‘good taste and joie de vivre’ certainly wasn’t a stretch of the imagination. Equal parts great food, great set-up, and a great musical bill gave the day the perfect atmosphere.
