Ar Vag

Ar Vag — “The Boat” in Breton — is a group of friends brought together by two shared passions: sailing and the writing, composing, and performing songs.

Hailing from the Guérande Peninsula in Brittany, the members of Ar Vag express the deep emotions tied to a maritime life, one they had each lived separately before the group was formed. The sea, boats, and song are woven deeply into their passions. They’ve come to know the ocean well, whether by crossing it east to west and north to south aboard sturdy sailboats, serving on the decks of escort vessels or cargo ships, or simply by living year-round along the shore, letting the rhythm of the waves stir dreams of freedom and open horizons.

Their repertoire is rooted in original songs, many inspired by Marie-France’s personal experiences aboard her sailboat. The lyrics evoke the spinnaker, weighing anchor, lighthouses, winds, and groundings, the everyday poetry of life at sea. These are the songs of today’s sailors.

They also perform original works by other groups, as well as a rich collection of traditional maritime songs.

Sea songs are timeless. They know no boundaries, geographic or generational and no labels, except for one: to faithfully bear witness to the experience of life at sea. Whether you’re a sailor from Finistère with 14 generations of maritime heritage, or a weekend sailor on a brand-new Bénéteau, Ar Vag’s music offers every listener a chance to recognize themselves in the voices of sailors past and present.

Their website is a valuable resource, featuring lyrics and sheet music from their two most recent albums.

Thanks to CD sales, Ar Vag has donated €20,000 to the SNSM station in Le Croisic, and €4,000 more to SNSM stations in other towns where they’ve performed. 100% of their CD profits go directly to supporting the SNSM(France’s voluntary sea rescue service).