An engaging performance by French band Kid Francescoli had the audience captivated at the Bahrain National Museum.
The concert was presented by the French Embassy, Alliance Française and Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca), as part of the ongoing Spring of Culture celebrations.
It was staged in the outdoor area next to Darseen Café, a seaside venue, which, when combined with the three-piece ensemble’s ‘electro-chillwave French touch’ tunes, made for the perfect evening.
Kid Francescoli is a French pop act launched in 2002 by composer Mathieu Hocine, better known by his nickname ‘Kid Francescoli’.
Durand seranades the audience with Hocine aka Kid Francescoli in the background
Over the years, the band has featured different members and currently comprises Hocine, vocalist Andrea Durand on keyboard and guitar, with drummer Raphael Léger.
The concert highlighted Francescoli’s latest album, Sunset Blue, a collaborative musical exploration with famous Algerian mandolin and lute player Hakim Hamadouche. It featured popular singles such as You Are Everywhere, 1986 and Run, Run.
The trio also performed catchy hits from the band’s overall repertoire, like Blow Up – the track that initially shot the act to success – Take Time, You Love and the TikTok hit Moon (And It Went Like) that has received more than 90 million views online.
Fans at the concert
The al fresco ambience and Bahrain’s mild weather complemented the act, featuring synth sounds, which at times felt psychedelic, and were further elevated by Mediterranean touches on selected tracks.
By the end of the second song, everyone, including the stars of the evening, appeared to be in the groove.
The act was brilliantly curated. There were well-timed instrumental sets between the tracks. Durand’s high range especially on So Over was impressive and Léger’s energetic beats and strokes particularly on Run, Run were riveting.
Even though it was a concert, the optimally sized venue and intimate crowd made it feel like a private performance.
Drummer boy Léger
Observing fellow attendees, it was clear that they were enjoying the experience, but, of course, they were fans. I, on the other hand, had never heard of Kid Francescoli before and electro pop is not something you would find on my playlist either.
I did attend with an open mind and now I can confidently say I am a fan! Over the course of the performance, which lasted around 90 minutes, Kid Francescoli’s sound grew on me.
The music is versatile – the tracks could seamlessly shift from being party anthems to background scores for nights alone at home, or a great accompaniment for a long drive.
Overall, it was a great show, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Kid Francescoli is definitely going on my playlist and I cannot wait for their next appearance in Bahrain.
In the meantime, there is more to come. Spring of Culture is the kingdom’s much-awaited annual arts and culture festival, featuring Arab and international artists and acts held across the island, as well as lectures and traditional handicrafts workshops, all of which will run until the end of this month.
Melissa Nazareth
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