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So Frenchy So Chic 2024: bolder, brighter, and even better

13 September 202313 September 2023Matilda MarseillaiseLeave a comment

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Calling all lovers of French culture, music, gastronomy, and style: tickets are now on sale for the So Frenchy So Chic 2024, which promises to be its biggest and most vibrant program to date.

For over a decade, SFSC (as it’s affectionately known) has been connecting France and Australia through an annual day-long celebration of the joie de vie, featuring contemporary French music, culinary delights, fashion, conviviality, and, of course, plenty of champagne. For everything you need to know about this must-attend event, read on.

So Frenchy So Chic 2024: a celebration of French culture

So Frenchy So Chic is more than just a music festival; it’s a full immersion into the French way of life. In 2024, the festival returns to the historic Werribee Park Mansion in Melbourne, and welcomes a new venue at Centennial Park, Sydney where the party continues. It’s a chance to be your chicest self in a relaxed and convivial setting suitable for all ages (kids under 12 get in for free!) Here, you can immerse yourself in the best of French culture without the need for a plane ticket.

So Frenchy So Chic 2024’s stellar lineup

The beating heart of So Frenchy So Chic 2024 lies in its extraordinary lineup of artists, a diverse ensemble poised to offer a captivating musical experience that will resonate with every festival-goer. These are the artists announced today:

La Femme: Captivating French psych-rock sensation, La Femme has spent over a decade mesmerizing global audiences with their cinematic soundscapes. Under the creative leadership of Marlon Magnée and Sacha Got, they’ve amassed numerous gold records, including the French equivalent of a Grammy for their 2013 debut album, “Psycho Tropical Berlin“.

Having embarked on extensive tours, including sharing the stage with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2016, they are currently concluding a nearly sold-out tour spanning more than 140 dates across 25 countries. At SFSC 2024, they will present a “best of” repertoire guaranteed to leave the audience in awe.
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Kill The Pain: Combining the formidable talents of two remarkable chanteuses, Kill The Pain is the dynamic duo of Australian singer-songwriter Phoebe Killdeer and French vocalist Mélanie Pain, known for her work with Nouvelle Vague.

Their 2023 self-titled debut album is a thrilling showcase of their diverse abilities, encompassing indie rock with swagger, jangly psych-pop, and soulful electropop with a steely edge. With infectious guitar riffs and seductive percussion, Killdeer and Pain’s smoky voices and delightful chemistry promise to set the stage ablaze with their sonic brilliance.
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Laure Briard: Enigmatic Gallic singer-songwriter, Laure Briard has recently released her most optimistic album. Entitled “Ne pas trop rester bleue“, it was inspired by her sojourns in California’s Joshua Tree. Her interpretation of country music is gentle, idiosyncratic, and romantic, infused with touches of psychedelia and soul.

Drawing comparisons to iconic artists such as Françoise Hardy, Cate Le Bon, and Aldous Harding, Briard’s music offers a sun-soaked, dreamy soundscape, invoking a sense of wanderlust and nostalgia. You may remember her song “Sur la piste de danse” from the 2017 SFSC compilation.
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Malo’: Born to a French musician father, the effervescent singer-songwriter Malo’ brings a vibrant blend of influences to the SFSC stage. A fan of French legends like Serge Gainsbourg, he visited Australia as a teenager and fell in love with Australian indie sensation Angus and Julia Stone. Malo’ embodies a harmonious fusion of musical worlds. A full-circle moment occurred when Julia Stone featured on Malo’s “Pause” EP last year, which showcases elements of gospel, Motown, rock, soul, and pop.

His recent track, “Laisse-toi tranquille“, enjoyed significant airplay on French radio, and his sunny energy promises to be a delightful addition to SFSC 2024.

The 2024 lineup promises to be the festival’s biggest yet with more exciting artist announcements in the pipeline for 1 December.

Gastronomic Delights at So Frenchy So Chic 2024

Prepare your taste buds for a gastronomic journey like no other. So Frenchy So Chic 2024 will feature Melbourne and Sydney’s finest dining establishments, including Frédéric, Hotel Gitan, Loulou, and Bouillon Entrecôte.

Indulge in a curated selection of French classics, from duck liver parfait to oysters and mussels, from steak frites sandwiches and croque monsieur to ratatouille. For the sweet tooths, choose from brioches, crepes, chocolate eclairs, and macarons. As always, you can pre-order cheese and charcuterie platters.

Don’t forget to pair your culinary adventure with a sommelier-curated collection of French and local wines, cocktails, and Champagne from Lanson, one of France’s oldest champagne houses.

Activities & workshops at So Frenchy So Chic 2024

So Frenchy So Chic 2024 sees the addition of new activities and workshops au programme for all attendees to enjoy. Explore the world of wines with Melbourne icon France-Soir’s ex-sommelier, discover the art of ceramics in a hands-on studio experience, or compete in a grand pétanque tournament with fantastique prizes. For les petits, there will be arts and crafts, face painting, magic and mime classes, and an introduction to music.

Even better, all of these workshops and activities are included in your general admission ticket. Plus, there are more surprises to be announced on 1 December 2023.

Celebrate fashion & style at So Frenchy So Chic 2024

So Frenchy So Chic isn’t just about music and food; it’s also about style. Embrace Parisian elegance and sophistication with your outfit, and you might just catch the eye of the roaming festival photographer. The top three best-dressed individuals will each win a Lanson Black Label Champagne Brut Magnum 1.5L!

Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of France right without leaving Australia. So Frenchy So Chic 2024 promises an unforgettable day filled with music, food, fashion, and culture that will transport you to the enchanting streets of France. Grab your tickets, put on your chicest outfit, and get ready for a day of joie de vivre!

KEY INFO FOR SO FRENCHY SO CHIC 2024

WHAT: A celebration of French music, food and culture

WHERE & WHEN:

Melbourne: Sunday, January 14, 2024, 11:15 AM to 8:00 PM at Werribee Park Mansion

Sydney: Saturday, January 20, 2024, 1:00 PM to 9:30 PM at Centennial Park

HOW: Purchase your tickets via the SFSC website

HOW MUCH: Ticket prices (exclusive of booking fee) are as follows:

Limited Early Bird Tickets: $75
Group Ticket (Buy 6 for the Price of 5): $62.50 per person
Kid’s Tickets: Free entry for kids under 12 years
Student Tickets: $65
Teenager Tickets: $25
Premiere Pique Nique – Group Tickets for 10: $199 per person (includes a table with picnic décor, champagne, charcuterie and cheese hampers, and prime location)

So Frenchy So Chic 2023 announces the line-up

6 September 20225 September 2022Matilda Marseillaise

Reading Time: 5 minutes

So Frenchy So Chic 2023 celebrates a 12th year of indulgent summer escapism. Bringing the best of French culture to Melbourne’s Werribee Mansion and Sydney’s Bicentennial Park, this is a French garden party full of fun and frivolity.

Billed as the poshest picnic in the Southern Hemisphere but while there is French class, So Frenchy So Chic is a festival for all lovers of French culture. It’s also family-friendly and children’s tickets are available.

Music at So Frenchy So Chic 2023

As always, the music line-up for So Frenchy So Chic 2023 is guaranteed to have you kicking off your shoes and dancing on the grass.

Pi Ja Ma

Known for “gentle exuberance” and a paradox in which she is both a “lone wolf and addicted to love,” Pi Ja Ma’s sound is that of French pop with a distinct 60s influence — echoing SFSC’s 2022 project Yè-Yè 2.0, which saw top Australian female artists reinterpreting songs from that era. Listen to her here.

Rover

Rover, real name Timothée Regnier, is a powerhouse of vocal creativity. His self-titled 2012 debut album won the Revelation award at the Victoires De La Musique (the French equivalent to the Grammys) and reached Gold Disc status with over 50,000 records sold. Listen to him here.

Kalika

Fresh from performing at France’s summer festival circuit, Kalika’s voice has been described as “an iron fist in a velvet glove” and her music fearlessly confronts patriarchal standards. A night owl, she composes in the little studio she has set up in her Paris apartment. Listen to her here.

Suzane

Suzane’s fast, fiery, and profound music earned her a well-deserved award at the Victoires De La Musique (the French equivalent to the Grammys) for Best Live Performance in 2020. She’s enjoyed multiple appearances in some of Paris’s biggest venues, thanks to a spectacular stage presence informed by her background in dance. Listen to her here.

DJ Set

In both cities, So Frenchy So Chic festival founder Jean-Francois Ponthieux will make a rare appearance behind the decks alongside our star DJs for a special live radio set of French favourites new and old.

French food, wine and champagne at So Frenchy So Chic 2023

Of course, it’s not just about the music. After all, you can’t have a French festival without French food and wine. As always, So Frenchy So Chic 2023 has catered for all of your French food desires.

So Frenchy So Chic 2023 will be a wholly catered and licensed event, with feasts prepared by premiere French eateries in Sydney and Melbourne. Melbournians will enjoy offerings by Frederic Bistro, Prahran’s favourite French restaurant, L’Hôtel Gitan, and famous fromagerie Milk The Cow. The latter two will be the providers of the cheese and charcuterie hampers for Melbourne (which can be pre-ordered when you purchase your ticket (just look at the add-ons section of the ticketing website).

Sydneysiders can expect haute cuisine in a relaxed setting by Bellevue Cottage, headed up by Antoine Moscovitz, who trained under Alain Ducasse and was formerly private chef to House of Roederer Cristal Champagne. In addition, Rosebery French eatery, Frenchies, will be offering charcuterie hampers (which can be pre-ordered when you purchase your ticket (just look at the add-ons section of the ticketing website).

Food stalls will create an ambiance de marché will a wide selection of French food options including oysters, lobster rolls, croque monsieur, cassoulet, Basque paella, sweetcorn madeleines with blue swimmer crab and espelette, mussels, and pissaladière through to the ever-popular crêpes and crème brulée. As always charcuterie and cheese hampers will be available in both locations.

Champagne Lanson has been announced as the champagne partner for So Frenchy So Chic 2023 and will be poured alongside a curated selection of French wines and cocktails.

Premier pique-nique

Groups of 10 can treat themselves to an upgrade to the ultimate VIP experience with their own beautifully styled table with the best seats at the festival. These tickets include entry to the event, two bottles of Lanson champagne, two charcuterie hampers and two cheese hampers. These tickets cost $213.36 per person and can only be purchased as a group of 10.

Free Sun Umbrella

The first 500 tickets sold to So Frenchy So Chic 2023 will also receive a complementary SFSC sun umbrella/parasol which is perfect for adding some French flair to your outfit and shading yourself from the January Summer sun.

SFSC 2023 Charity Partner

When purchasing your ticket, you will also have the option to make a donation to So Frenchy So Chic 2023’s chosen charity: FareShare. It’s a charity that rescues food that would have otherwise gone to waste and turns it into nutritious meals for people in need.

KEY INFO FOR SO FRENCHY SO CHIC 2023

WHAT: So Frenchy So Chic, a French festival celebrating French music, food, wine and joie de vivre

WHERE & WHEN:

Werribee Park, Melbourne, Sunday 15 January 11:15am to 8:30pm
Bicentennial Park, Sydney, Saturday 21 January 1pm to 11pm

HOW: Purchase your tickets and pre-purchase your cheese and charcuterie hampers via the links below:

HOW MUCH: Early bird tickets are now on sale (and the first 500 adult tickets sold include a free SFSC sun umbrella) and are priced as follows:

Adult $85
Child 2-12 $14.07 (must be accompanied by a legal guardian at all times)
Teen 13-17 $54.95 (must be accompanied by a legal guardian at all times)
Students 18 and over $70.28

SFSC MELBOURNE TRANSPORT

You can purchase a return bus ticket for transport from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Werribee Park and back for $42.87. It leaves Southern Cross Station at 10:30am and departs So Frenchy So Chic 2023 between 8:30pm and 9pm.

What are you waiting for?!

Buy your ticket now at the early bird price and countdown ’til January for the ultimate French day out!

Matilda Marseillaise

All things French and francophone in Australia

So Frenchy So Chic