The French-inspired festival celebrating music and culinary decadence returns for 2022.
There are those unspoken countries and icons you must visit when travelling, and inoubliable France is one of them. Known as one of the most romantic cities in the world, French culture is generally synonymous with croissants, coffee, kisses and art, and one-day music and culinary festival So Frenchy So Chic have managed to tap into that but draw out so much more.
Celebrating the music and culinary decadence of France for the last 10 years, the annual event is an unmissable staple of the summer cultural calendar and is set to return to the remarkable Werribee Park Mansion in 2022, the perfect setting for SFSC with the lawn speckled by flower crowns and navy striped parasols amongst the backdrop of 19th-century architecture.
Produced and catered by admirers of French culture, the garden party will wine and dine patrons through an eclectic array of European wines, showcasing all things fabulous and French at the lush grounds of Werribee Park on the outskirts of Melbourne on Sunday, February 13 before heading to Glebe’s Bicentennial Park in Sydney on Saturday, February 19.
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As always a highlight of the event is the chill and eclectic French soundtrack. Supplying the tunes for the French pop garden party next year will be the YÉ-YÉ 2.0 project, which features Australian female artists performing new interpretations iconic 60s French pop music – the music of the Yé-Yé. In a never-before-heard French-Australian collaboration, some of Australia’s finest artists including Montaigne, Ali Barter, Ainslie Wills, Tina Arena, Odette, Gretta Ray, Woode and Ngaiire have put their own spin on the Yé-Yé sound in a series of EPs produced by multi-ARIA nominated producer Alice Ivy and mixed by legendary sound engineer John Castle.
While out now via streaming services, the project culminates in an exceptional live showcase at the So Frenchy So Chic festival this February, where two of the project’s stars, Ali Barter and Nadeah, will perform these enchanting songs live on stage.
The SFSC 2022 lineup will also feature Mick Harvey and the Intoxicated Men — which includes JP Shilo, Dan Luscombe, Glenn Lewis, Hugo Cran and Xanthe Waite — who will play the songs of Serge Gainsbourg, French Nigerian singer-rapper Féfé supported by Melbourne’s Cookin’ on 3 Burners; French Australian singer, songwriter and producer Lili Alaska; and DJ sets by Mike Guerreri, DJ Frank Rodi and So Frenchy festival founder Jean-François Ponthieux.
As you dance the day away to the best of French music past and present, you’ll also be indulging in a menu featuring France’s holy food grail with food provided by some of Melbourne’s best French eateries. Expect the likes of Frederic Bistro, the latest gem in the Reymond family crown, famous fromagerie Milk The Cow, Michelin restaurant-trained and much-loved Melbourne chef Romu, and Prahran’s favourite French restaurant L’Hôtel Gitan.
Picnic hampers to please even the most demanding gourmand are available for pre-order while an ambiance de marché will be created by food stalls on site selling everything from oysters, lobster rolls, croque monsieur and pissaladiere through to crème brulee and crêpe.
There are also cocktail and beer pop-ups serving the French wine and cocktails, and stalls pouring flutes of Champagne Lanson, one of the oldest Champagne Houses.
Much like previous years, there’s plenty to do beyond feasting and dancing: lounge in a hammock in the resort zone, try your hand at pétanque (French lawn bowls), or join the kids making flower crowns and face painting.
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Embrace the joie de vivre at historic Werribee Park for a summer weekend that brings provincial France to you.
So Frenchy So Chic arrives at Werribee Park Mansion on Sunday, February 13 2022 from 11:15am. You can buy tickets here.
