The programming, the venue, and even the weather, all came together to make the Festival Les Enfants du Rock, organized by Ivoire Music and Patrice Bouchon, a success. The price (20€) was supposed to allow the largest number of people to attend quality concerts. However, the audience was not there, and many missed a great rock event in Nice.
We discovered three young bands: Human ET, Esperanza (now Mutine), and In Vitraux. Their worlds are different even though they remain rock. The female singers of Mutine and In Vitraux bring a touch of gentleness, and Human ET shines because of its lead singer’s personality.
Pascal Mono. Everyone knows him. You either appreciated him or hated him during his time on Star Ac. These judgments are hardly musical. On Saturday, at the Théâtre de Verdure, it was an opportunity for many to meet the real Pascal Mono, the one who performs his own songs, who belts his voice while perfectly mastering his instrument. A brief appearance on stage, but it makes you want to see him again. (Editor’s note: he is scheduled to perform on June 6 at the Théâtre National de Nice).
For the four headliners (Blankass, Kaolin, Axel Bauer, Mademoiselle K), there are four styles of rock.
Blankass, known for their hit “La Croisée,” is appreciated for the variety of their sounds: accordion, flute, guitar. It creates a festive atmosphere without any pejorative connotations. It makes you want to come together. A constant anthem to brotherhood. The band is comfortable on its stage. It shows.
Kaolin shares with Blankass the fact they are known for just one song. For them, it’s “Partons vite.” This track is but a tiny part of what they can do. A wide gap between the softness of melodies barely whispered with melancholy and tenderness, and very electric pieces where the guitars roar… Kaolin is somewhat the summary of this edition of Les Enfants du Rock. A message for pure rock fans who say: “What? Kaolin? Rock?” To them we say: go see them live!
Axel Bauer is happy with a microphone and a guitar, and it’s evident! He plays. His songs are listened to. His lyrics are pronounced. Here again, a message for all those who criticize: “Rock? It’s just screams!” Axel Bauer delivered the Moment of this festival. By inviting a spectator on stage to sing “A Ma Place,” which he usually performs with Zazie, he brought thousands of smiles on stage and in the audience. The regulars of Les Enfants du Rock then recall that Louis Bertignac did the same thing last year on “Les Frôleuses,” originally shared with Carla Bruni.
To conclude, and not respecting the chronology, let’s talk about Mademoiselle K. Two words: insolent gentleness. She provokes. She stings then flutters like a wasp. And the audience lets itself be captivated like a prey wanting to be easy.
The sixth edition of Les Enfants du Rock was a musical success if not a popular one. This is regrettable. But what matters is that due to the quality of the artists, we quickly forgot what will only remain an anecdote.
