The name is a pun, based on exactly the same pronunciation in French of the words scène meaning 'stage' and Seine (the river separating Saint-Cloud from Central Paris after which the Hauts-de-Seine département is called).
History
2003: Birth of Rock en Seine on 27 August, with two stages and ten bands.
2004: The festival extends over two days. It welcomes new artistic forms with Rockfolio, Rock en Strophes and Rock en Clips.
2005: The festival site gets bigger: the third stage appears, as well as a campsite.
2007: The festival extends over three days.
2010: 105 000 people attending to this edition.
2011: The fourth stage is emerging.
2014: 120 000 people attending to this edition. The new stage named "Ile-de-France" hosts the Avant-Seine's bands.
2017: Sarah Schmitt becomes the new director of the festival. The festival welcomes a "Firestone" stage.
COVID-19 pandemic: 2020 and 2021 editions
On 12 May 2020, it was announced that the 2020 edition of the festival would be cancelled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The 2021 edition was also cancelled due to the same reason.[2]
2004: 2nd year, extended to Two days, 22 artists, 48,000 spectators
2005: 3rd year, Three stages, 30 artists, 46,000 spectators
2006: 4th year, Three stages, 30 artists, 57,000 spectators
2007: 5th year, extended to Three days, 45 artists, 68,000 spectators
2008: Three stages, 34 artists, 76,000 spectators
2009: Three stages, 47 artists, 97,000 spectators
2010: Three stages, 47 artists, 105,000 spectators
2011: Four stages, 63 bands, 105,000 spectators
2012: Four stages, 62 artists, 108,000 spectators
2013: Four stages, 56 artists, 110,000 spectators
2014: Five stages, 65 artists, 120,000 spectators
2015: Five stages, 66 artists, 110,000 spectators
2016: Five stages, 65 artists, 110,000 spectators
2017: Six stages, 78 artists, 110,000 spectators
2018: Six stages, 78 artists, 90,000 spectators (to confirm)
2019: Five stages, 62 artists, 100,000 spectators
2022: Five stages, 58 artists, 150,000 spectators
The venue
The festival takes place in the down of the Park of "Domaine national de Saint-Cloud", a historical place at the gates of Paris, and five minutes from the nearest subway station, métroBoulogne - Pont de Saint-Cloud.
The park and the garden were designed by Le Nôtre in the 17th century, and it is the first park to be classed as a Monument historique in 1994. It is a 4.6 km2 park, and there are gardens and forest with basins, thickets, cascades, and statues.
Avant-Seine
In 2005, for its third edition, and with the support of Ile-de-France, Rock en Seine inaugurated "Avant-Seine", a selection of bands from Ile-de-France which join the official programming of the festival. Every year, six selected groups are playing on a stage, and one of their tracks is published on a compilation spread for free.
2005: Stuck in the Sound, Flying Pooh, HushPuppies, Herman Düne, Sayag Jazz Machine, Hopper.
2006: Rhesus, Dead Pop Club, Daddy Longlegs, Neïmo, French Paradoxe, Fancy.
2007: Housse de Racket, Hey Hey My My, Nelson, Pravda, Rodeo Massacre, I Love UFO.
2008: Narrow Terence, Brooklyn, The Latitudz, Molecule, Da Brasilians, Fortune.
2009: Lilly Wood & The Prick, Hindi Zahra, Cheveu, Gush, Jil Is Lucky, The Tatianas.
2010: Success, King of Conspiracy, I Am Un Chien, Quadricolor, Viva & the Diva, Roken is Dodelijk.
2011: Frànçois and The Atlas Mountains, Concrete Knives, The Feeling of Love, Myra Lee, Beat Mark, Birdy Hunt.
2012: Granville, Owlle, Yeti Lane, The Lanskies, Versus, Hyphen Hyphen.
2013: FAUVE, Team Ghost, FI/SHE/S, J.C. Satàn, St. Lô, Wall Of Death.
2014: ALB, Dorian Pimpernel, Feu! Chatterton, Jessica93, PEGASE, Petit fantôme.
2015: DBFC, VKNG, Forever Pavot, We Are Match, Jeanne Added, Last Train.
2016: KillASon, O, Adrien Soleiman, Kaviar Special, Maestro, Théo Lawrence & The Hearts.
A Were meant to play on the Scene de l'Industrie but were added to the Grande Scene when Amy Winehouse cancelled at the last minute for unknown reasons. She never arrived to the festival site, despite her support musicians being there.[3][4]
