Live Review: So Frenchy So Chic

Scarlett-lipped ladies gliding by in floral dresses, heads lost in a sea of wide-brimmed hats, and acres of red chequered picnic rugs covering much of a lush green lawn on a very warm Sunday afternoon. This postcard perfect scene, together with the acoustic harmonies and earnest lyrics of youthful Parisienne band Revolver, greet the steady stream of visitors as they descend to Werribee Park for the annual So Frenchy So Chic In The Park festival, celebrating French culture.

Revolver's pared-back tracks – the stand out being Leave Me Alone with its familiar protagonist torn between bruised indignation and longing despair toward a former lover – blend variations of folk, classical and country deftly, and they are deliberately restrained on their double bass, electric guitar and percussion. Like one part Simon to two parts Garfunkel on a slightly faster beat with a mild streak of pop rock, the trio's completely English setlist provides a warm, friendly welcome.

They are followed by Melanie Pain, one of the lead singers of Nouvelle Vague, a popular cover band in France and a rising indie artist in her own right. Diminutive and bubbly, her honeyed voice carries an enigmatic undertone that adds depth to even her most innocent songs, like the bittersweet Bye Bye Manchester. 7 ou 8 fois, one of many French songs that she performs from her debut solo album, is a livelier offering that demonstrates her vocal flexibility. Expect French cafes Melbourne-wide to give Carla Bruni a rest and crank up Pain's album instead.

After a sleepy high noon interlude in which even the hardier of bushmen seek shade from the punishing sun, Carmen Maria Vega launches into her set unceremoniously, flanked by her all-male band mates. The dozy picnickers are immediately roused by the sudden change in energy and they surge to the stage front to watch the feline-like Vega prowling around in a nude corset and black stiletto heels. A cross between Lady Gaga, Eartha Kitt and Edith Piaf, Vega is a consummate performer with a wide ranging voice, fully at home in jazz cabaret or punk rock. Her bandmates – particularly the highly animated guitarist/composer Max Lavegie – regularly whip up the crowd, who by now are very much in the mood to cut loose and dance.

It is hard not to compare honey blonde Nadeah to Brigitte Bardot, but that is exactly what springs to mind on first impression. The Sandringham-originated singer who crafted her art in Europe is a stark contrast to Vega – her bright pop-rock songs addressing such dark subjects as consumerism, human nature and suicidal girls. The intentional juxtaposition works, however, and it ends the festival on a high note. By then, even the ankle biters are jigging.