Rock en Seine 2009: Oasis bust-up doesn’t stop the last party of the summer
One of the stages at Rock en Seine in Saint Cloud near Paris
After a fight, in which Liam Gallagher reportedly smashed his brother’s guitar, Oasis pulled out of the 2009 Rock en Seine festival. Noel then announced he was quitting the Mancunian band and Madness stepped into the breach to entertain the masses with their mix of British ska.
Rock en Seine 2009 – Preview: Last chance to party before the Rentrée
Main stage at Rock en Seine in 2008
As the sleepy French capital wakes its head from the quiet, humid days of summer, and Parisians return to the city for the so-called rentrée, when French wardrobes miraculously turn from summer to autumn overnight, and the free newspapers return to newsstands at the metro station, there is one last chance to party: the 7th Rock en Seine festival, just outside of Paris in Saint Cloud!
Glastonbury festival 2009 – more than just music
The ‘Other’ stage at the Glastonbury festival 2009
The Glastonbury festival has a hippy past stretching back to the 1970s when Michael Eavis decided to turn his farm in Pilton, Somerset into an enormous party. In 2009 it attracted some of the music industry’s hottest acts, but it is more than just music. Besides the anything goes ethos, there’s an agenda for change which embodies the philosophy of one of the world’s largest greenfield festivals.
Special Feature
France/Gabon – alleged stolen assets: Who will get Bongo’s cash?
Apartment buildings in the 16th arrondissement, Paris (Photo: Vincent de Groot / CC license)
PARIS, FRANCE – While the people of Gabon mourn the death of their President and await his funeral, others are asking themselves what will happen to the criminal case brought against Omar Bongo in relation to alleged stolen assets, and a string of luxurious apartments, bank accounts and cars. Last year Transparency International and the Sherpa association lodged a complaint against Omar Bongo and two other African leaders suspected of profiting from the proceeds of public assets. The complaint led to a criminal investigation into Omar Bongo and his relatives, which established ownership of 39 apartments, 70 bank accounts and nine cars in France. Bongo’s death puts a halt to the criminal case, however. Radio France Internationale
Graffiti gets into the Grand Palais
Outside the Tag graffiti exhibition, Grand Palais, Paris
Under the glass-panelled roof of the Grand Palais, the Tag exhibition marks an important moment for graffiti. It’s the first time such a collection of street art has been housed in a neoclassical building, which is more used to displaying collections of fine art.
custom-made radio 