What’s on in Paris this August

1 August 2016

Watch International Music Acts & Admire Iconic 20th Century Design Pieces During a Summer Stay at Amarante Champs-Elysées

Alongside its awe-inspiring monuments, outstanding shopping destinations and delicious eateries, Paris can also boast an exciting events calendar. This August, there'll be the opportunity to see some of rock and indie’s biggest stars at the Rock en Seine music festival and admire some of the 20th century’s most iconic design pieces at the Centre Pompidou. Whether you’re a music or design fan, you can plan an unforgettable summer stay at hotel Amarante Champs-Elysées with our guide to what’s on in Paris this August.

Rock en Seine

Domaine National de Saint-Cloud

26th – 28th August 2016

Over 65 bands will be playing across five stages at Rock en Seine this August. This three day festival has become one of the largest in France since launching in 2003, welcoming acts such as Foo Fighters, Green Day, Radiohead and Muse… and this year’s line-up won’t disappoint either. From the iconic Iggy Pop, to trip-hop group Massive Attack and indie ‘supergroup’ The Last Shadow Puppets, this will be an unmissable event for music fans visiting Paris this summer.

Other acts set to entertain the 120,000 attendees include Glasgow’s electropop trio Chvrches, Oxford rock band Foals and indie pop group Bastille. It’ll be hard not to tap feet along to Two Door Cinema Club’s brand of catchy indie rock, while Icelandic group Sigur Rós will leave audiences utterly enchanted with their ethereal sound. Professionally-taught dance workshops will provide even more opportunities to pull shapes, including tips on ‘voguing’, while DJ sets will be hosted by the likes of French electronic artist and producer Chloé. There’ll also be the chance to browse a range of original artworks inspired by the line-up at onsite exhibition Rock’Art, while a children’s festival will offer family-friendly activities and workshops for 6-10 year olds.

Music fans and industry insiders may also be interested in visiting the ‘Disc Village’. Browse and learn more about rare and first editions at stalls hosted by Parisian record stores... or catch screenings of music films and documentaries, including a look at the life of The Police’s original guitarist Henri Padovani. However, the village’s main attraction will be talks hosted by indie labels, providing a unique opportunity to listen to records before they’re released and find out further details about the artists and their work. With exclusive industry insight and a line-up of world-renowned acts, it’s no wonder it’s become one of the most important musical events in Europe. The festival will be held in the beautiful surroundings of the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud gardens, just 20 minutes from hotel Amarante Champs-Elysées.

Pierre Paulin Exhibition

Centre Pompidou

Until 22nd August 2016

Design fans are in for a treat at the Pierre Paulin retrospective in the Centre Pompidou. This extensive display explores 50 years of the French furniture and interior designer’s career; featuring over 70 pieces alongside films, documents and 50 unpublished drawings. Many of his modernist chair designs are now classed as iconic 20th century design pieces and he is said to have ‘… transformed seating…’ and ‘… reinvented spatial design…’. Take the opportunity to see many of his most admired creations, alongside rare pieces, projects that were never realised, prototypes and scale models.

Vistors can look forward to both admiring reproductions of some of Paulin’s most renowned works – including the curved, mustard-coloured 1967 ‘Siège 577 dit "Langue”’- and enjoying their ergonomic attributes too. Specific seating including the ‘Ribbon’, ‘Tulip’, ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Mushroom’ chairs are available to sit in, adding an interactive twist to the exhibition. The displays themselves include the likes of ‘Autre (Siège) 560’, a large circular steel tube frame connected to a smaller circular base, and the 1986 white polypropylene ‘Boston’ armchair that features coloured panels. Away from seating, there’s also the chance to see desks, lamps and even a 1986 iron design that features a folding handle and travel cover.

Born in 1927, Paulin trained in French furniture design at the Centre d’Art et de Techniques in 1950. He went on to work with the likes of A. Polack Originals and Artifort, as well as take commissions from prestigious clients including President Georges Pompidou. His influences included Charles and Ray Eames, and he was deeply inspired by Scandinavian design, including works by Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto. He went on to be the first to patent the use of stretch materials on seating with Thonet France; creating washable, changeable covers and ‘… completely rejuvenated the idea of the chair…’. He also co-founded ADSA in 1975; France’s very first global design agency. This chronological display will you take you through this fascinating journey, offering the chance to both admire and utilise his many creations along the way, and providing the perfect day out for design fans this August.

From the chance to watch world-renowned music acts on stage, to admiring iconic 20th century design pieces, Paris can boast an outstanding events line-up this August.