Image: supplied
So Frenchy So Chic in the Park feels like a ‘festival for grown-ups’ in that it’s very comfortable, well-organised and hassle-free. There’s a delightful array of French-inspired food and beverages on offer, if you didn’t have the time or inclination to pack your own picnic hamper. Tall shady trees and well-manicured lawns provide a multitude of comfy spots to chat or doze, when you’re not dancing. Patrons are well-behaved in a relaxed, fun-having kind of way; the French wine is flowing but everyone keeps themselves nice. Even the less sexy logistical aspects of the festival, such as transport to the event, entry queues, interactions with security, toilet cleanliness and so on, are smooth and well-managed.
Musical programming comprised five acts, all performing on one stage throughout the day: Franck Monnet, Francois and the Atlas Mountains, Emilie Simon, La Femme and The Dø. I suspect many attendees hadn’t heard of these artists before Sunday, but they all delivered enjoyable sets and provided a charming and consistent musical experience. In particular I enjoyed Francois and the Atlas Mountains for their dreamy electro ambient passages, and The Dø for singer Olivia Merilahti’s excellent dance moves. There was a respectable turn-out of barefoot groovers in front of the stage, although the most predominant mode of audio enjoyment seemed to be lounging under an umbrella or tree. Thankfully the sound quality was very good from most areas of the festival site, so you had an excellent chance of enjoying the music from wherever you picked to relax.
The festival seems to attract a fairly uniform crowd: attendees looked mostly to be aged between 20 and 40, many toting toddlers and young children, who seemed to enjoy the expanses of grass for cartwheels as much if not more than the planned kids’ activities. Tasteful sundresses, flower garlands, tailored shorts and boat shoes abounded; as, by the end of the day, did sunburned limbs (how do you say “slip, slop, slap” in French?) Recent tragic events in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo office were acknowledged on site with a tribute board, allowing festivalgoers to share their messages of solidarity: the only sombre note in a day devoted to civilised frolicking.
In my view, at $89 for a full price ticket this event is very reasonably priced, although those delicious cheeses, dainty macarons and bottles of rosé certainly give the post-Christmas self-imposed budget a bit of a beating. In such a convivial atmosphere it’s hard to deny yourself the pleasures of the palate.
