Rock en Seine 2023: Day 4 with The Strokes, Foals, Nova Twins... we were there, we tell you all about it

All good things must come to an end. After three wonderful days in the verdant setting of the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, Rock en Seine festival-goers were preparing for the final day of their 20th anniversary yesterday, Sunday August 27, 2023. But the Parisian festival offered them a wonderful closing gift in the form of The Strokes. Before witnessing the New Yorkers' eagerly-awaited show, let's take a look at a number of musical sensations.

Sunday August 27, 2023 got off to a gentle start with a concert by American Angel Olsen. On the Cascade stage, this talented artist - with a rather closed face that day - offered a bewitching and sincere set where folk-rock sounds mixed with dark and melancholic ballads. Surrounded for the occasion by 6 musicians (including a violinist and a cellist), Angel Olsen - dressed all in white - quickly seduced our ears with tracks such as " Dream Thing ", " Ghost On " and " Go Home ", all taken from her latest opus,"Big Time".

Change of scene and style with British band Nova Twins, made up of the two tornadoes discovered at Hellfest in 2019, namely singer/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South. For the first time ever, the two girls, surrounded by their drummer, take to the Rock en Seine Grand Scène to round off their European tour in style in Paris. And as we predicted, Nova Twins delivered an explosive and particularly playful set. With their short skirts, white bows in their hair, infallible complicity and contortionist talent, Amy and Georgia know how to put on a show and captivate the audience from the very first minutes.

But Nova Twins, beyond the charisma of their two musicians, are also powerful songs mixing alternative rock, nu metal and rap rock, in a style reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine or Prophets of Rage, for whom they opened at Olympia in August 2019.

The euphoria is at its peak when the girls rush to perform the excellent " Antagonist ", followed by the energetic " Choose Your Fighter "; a song the two artists end up playing right in front of the front-row audience. In short, a show that wakes you up and gives you a boost for the rest of the day!

Back on the Cascade stage at 4.35pm for The Murder Capital. Discovered at Rock en Seine in 2019 on the Firestone Stage, the Irish band are back on the second biggest stage of the Parisian festival. And they richly deserve it. With their post-punk style and the infectious energy of charismatic frontman James McGovern, the quintet turned up the heat with an intoxicating, over-the-top set! Slashing riffs, driving beats and powerful bass lines, all carried by James McGovern's deep voice... The Murder Capital concert had (almost) everyone in agreement, despite a rather disappointing sound.

• To be read
• Rock en Seine 2023: Day 3 with The Chemical Brothers, Cypress Hill... we were there, we tell you all about it
• Rock en Seine 2023: Day 2 with Placebo, Fever Ray, Viagra Boys... we were there, we tell you all about it
• Rock en Seine 2023: Day 1 with Billie Elish, Girl in Red, Tove Lo... we were there, we tell you all about it

We returned to the main stage to see the crazy, devastating show put on by Australia's Amyl and The Sniffers. Hailing from Melbourne, this quartet is a punk band, both musically and philosophically. Simply put, Amyl and the Sniffers don't care what anyone thinks, and invite everyone to be themselves. On stage, the result is a heavy, euphoric and offbeat performance, just the way we like it.

Composed of the exuberant and electric Amy Taylor, drummer Bryce Wilson, guitarist Declan Martens and bassist Gus Romer, the Australian band has fun on the Grande Scène while delivering powerful songs with catchy, energetic riffs. In short, a beautiful scenic discovery that puts a smile on your face and makes you jump like a teenager.

On this Sunday, August 27, 2023, we couldn't fail to lend an inquisitive ear to the concert by Wet Leg, the originators of the summer 2022 indie-rock hit " Chaise Longue ". Unfortunately for the girls in Wet Leg, made up of Hester Chambers and Rhian Teasdale, a stormy downpour invaded during their show, pushing some of the festival-goers off the lawn in front of the Cascade Stage to seek shelter.

By the time the members of Foals took to the stage, the heavy downpour had passed, and many festival-goers crowded round the main stage to watch the excellent British band perform. It has to be said that the quartet is one of those essential rock bands that must be seen live at least once. With their powerful, catchy tunes, driven by the seductive voice of their charismatic lead singer Yannis Philippakis, Foals sweep everything in their path like a tidal wave. This fourth Foals concert at Rock en Seine was no exception to the rule, delighting the many festival-goers.

We end this final evening of Rock en Seine 2023 with the long-awaited show by The Strokes. All too rare in France, the New York rock outfit were eagerly awaited by festival-goers for this exclusive opportunity. The proof was in the number of T-shirts the band was wearing that day. In fact, Sunday was sold out. Julian Casablancas and his bandmates arrived a few minutes late on the Grande Scène, to a thunderous applause. The band kicked things off with the excellent " What Ever Happened? ", quickly followed by " Alone, Together " and the hit " Last Nite ".

And several of the band's hits followed in quick succession for just under 1h30, including " Someday ", " The Adults Are Talking ", " You Only Live Once " and " Hard to Explain "... Unfortunately, the sound quality wasn't up to scratch, and sound problems clearly spoiled their performance and their reunion with the French public. It's a shame.

But that doesn't mean we can't leave with new memories in our heads(Girl in Red, Placebo, Brutus, Nova Twins, Amyl and the Sniffers...), and with a strong desire to see Rock en Seine again next year!