25.08. Rock en Seine Day 3: Fred Again, Jungle, Olivia Dean, Loyle Carner, Sampha… The United Kingdom in full force!
Review of Friday, August 23
What a lineup of British artists for this third day, with 8 representatives! And it’s safe to say that the British audience took advantage of this to make a quick trip to Paris as the lineup was just perfect for them.
The day began at 4 p.m. Cascade stage with Elmiene. With his mix of soul and R&B, the Oxford native’s set was the perfect, gentle start to the day. Full of sincerity, the artist was accompanied by talented musicians who breathed new life into his great tracks: « One day» « Crazy about fire» « Crystal Tears“ … We can only urge you to listen to the songs immediately! The voice is beautiful, the interactions with the audience are frequent and it is easy to understand why he is loved by people like Questlove, Missy ElliottAnd Pharrell.
Next on the cascade stage, was Olivia Dean. And then came the shock: a huge crowd had gathered! What a leap for our English singer in just a few months, and what a confirmation of her rising star, seeing how many fans know the lyrics by heart! Sure, the audience wasn’t all French, but it was still heartwarming. And what a rise, with an increasingly polished set, even more confidence from Oliviaand a track like « Time » This will definitely be a hit.
Then it was Loyle Carneris next, and on the Big sceneno less. Some artists reach a whole new dimension live, and the Londoner is proof of that. With his four musicians, his lyrics are perfectly brought to life and show the full extent of his potential. The rapper is authentic, engages a lot with his audience and shows real joy in being there. Perhaps it would be interesting to bring in a DJ for some tracks. We look forward to the next time!
Then came a difficult decision between Sampha on the cascade And Venna on ForestWe started with Samphawho had a very special stage setting, as if he was in his little room with his musician friends. To put it bluntly: It was an absolute pleasure, with an extraordinary voice and first-class musicians. The set was pure bliss, and it was hard to tear yourself away for Venna… One more reason to listen to his songs, especially with titles like « Alpha House. ” Let’s go!
The final spurt began, starting with jungle. A reference in the genre that once again proves their effortless live talent. A real treat, a ray of sunshine that makes you dance from start to finish. Old tracks mixed with the newer ones, the duo increasingly developed into a full-fledged band and we were transported into an enchanted bubble for 1 hour and 10 minutes. They are just one step away from becoming headliners… Perhaps more visuals would help, although this minimalism has become their trademark.
And to top it all off, it was Fred agains turn… He started his set 5 minutes earlier, on a platform in front of the Big scenewho faced a huge crowd. Together with his partner, the Englishman simply brought the Domaine National de St Cloud to life. One hit after another was played and the features were shown on screens. The sincerity of this master of electronic music was touching, his mastery of his instruments was masterful and the connection with the audience was unique.
Incidentally, the great set of Thomas de Pourqueryaccompanied by an integrative choir of singers from the Choir of Radio France and five amateur choirs composed of people with disabilities, including residents and staff of medical facilities and specialized institutes (Association Simon de Cyrène, HOVIA Paris 16th, ISA 13, Villa du Parc, Le Cèdre Bleu). A highly talented but underrated French artist.
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