[Report] Rock en Seine: the unmissable event of the end of summer

Decried and deserted in the face of the eclectic programming of this new edition, Rock en Seine is always the best place to mark the end of the sunny days…

Last March, the announcement of the first names of the programming of Rock en Seine unleashed the crowds. PNL, Macklemore, Post Malone : many were quick to rename the festival "Rap en Seine". Kendrick Lamar now monopolized by the brand new Paris Summer Jam, the festival has entrenched itself towards artists subject to debate. With all due respect to Live Nation, Rock en Seine is always the unmissable event at the end of summer and it is in the park of Saint-Cloud that we decided to spend the weekend. Back on an unusual edition, which we hope only "transition".

On Friday, the first moments spent on the lawn of the festival seem sad: no queue at the toilets, no queue at the stands, few people in front of the stages. In short: no one, nowhere. It is therefore in front of a few hundred spectators at most that the two Swedish sisters of First Aid Kit begin their concert. From the feminist anthem "You Are The Problem Here" to a sublime of Kate Bush's "Runnin' Up That Hill", a dozen titles are enough for them to charm and illuminate the Grande Scène with their fairyland.

While the organizers announce having welcomed a total of 90,000 festival-goers for the three days, the feeling was much less. It was often possible to arrive in the middle of a concert and find yourself in the third row, especially on Fridays. Faced with a DJ-set of SOPHIE of the most empty and disappointing, with raw transitions and poorly managed rhythm, Parcels caught up and showed the full extent of his live talent on the excellent finale "Overnight", collaboration with Daft Punk. PNL, the headliner of the evening, late by about thirty minutes, shows a Grande Scène more deserted than ever. At the same time, at the Bosquet stage, Yelle offers a much better, glittery, sporty and fun "Final Bouquet". Perhaps most striking was the void on the screens broadcasting the IDLES concert on Sunday. A dozen rows stood in front of the English punk band, of an energy and fervor yet overflowing.

Good news: the world finally really landed right after, but was limited to the headliners. In front of thousands of festival-goers, Macklemore and Post Malone succeeded in their bet and conquered both seasoned and novices. In the same way as the South African duo Die Antwoord on Friday. Unsurprisingly – besides the appearance of his daughter Sixteen – but of unparalleled efficiency, the couple has cut most of its tubes without stopping for a single second. "Yes yes, my friend, yes yes!" Ninja chanted every three songs, and with such an energetic show, we would have wanted even more!

If the most disappointed will remember only the few failures and the incredibly low attendance, this did not prevent Rock en Seine to unite and federate, in its most beautiful moments. Far from Stefflon Don's messy concert on the Industry stage, Mike Shinoda, former member of Linkin Park who came to defend his solo album, paid a long tribute to his late teammate Chester Bennington. A speech full of anecdotes and fans crying on the screens, all accompanied by tearful piano notes: maybe a little " too much" but it was one of the most touching moments of the weekend.

The next day, still on the Main Stage, it was the "Rock'n'Roll Star" Liam Gallagher who created the surprise. The ex-Oasis arrived with its two usual favorite ingredients: parka and nonchalance. If he kept the first for 1h15, the second gradually subsided. Highlight of the show: before starting the old "Champagne Supernova", the Englishman recalls the events that led to the separation of Oasis a few meters ago nine years earlier. "My little finger told me that's where Oasis screwed it all up. It's THE festival, isn't it? I knew that behind the scenes seemed to me… familiar" says Liam before dedicating the song to his brother, "Mister Noel Gallagher", causing many smirks. Well aware of the craze, the youngest chains the titles of the group before a majestic double finale on "Wonderwall" and "Live Forever". As a way to make up for the missed time in 2009…

Between disappointments and major events, Rock en Seine has shown as usual its ability to find great talents in the small names of the poster. In front of a Nick Murphy, formerly Chet Faker, soft knee, Fang The Great dazzled the Ile-de-France stage, at the crossroads of Sampha and Drake. On Saturday, barely 21 years old, the Belgian Tamino captivated the Scene du Bosquet with his remarkable voice full of emotions. The next day, same place, same time, the American Ezra Furman embraced her queer side in the best way: skirt, pearl necklace, lipstick. Without preventing it from delivering a saturated, garish and brilliant punk-rock.

Finally, this year, two days after the release of her live album Woman Worldwide, Justice had the difficult task of closing the festival, at the same time as her own tour. In addition to the disappointment of a scenography unchanged compared to other festivals of the summer, the French electro group used its usual touch to bring together beautiful people on the lawn of the Grande Scène. Ah, if it could have been so full all weekend… The duo will eventually make a surprise appearance on an improvised stage next to the control room before returning to the stage through the audience. A grandiose and intimate show at the same time, ending on the expected "D.Has.N.C.E." and "Fire".

All we have to do is go home and collect the few euros remaining on our cashless bracelet… Waiting for the reformation of Oasis on the big stage in 2019, ten years after its separation at the same place. We have the right to dream, right?

Featured photo credit : Zelie Noreda