Femmes de Marins

Femmes de Marins (“Sailors’ wives.”)

Sailors’ songs sung by a female trio with a special and distinct sound. You can hear them in one of the western ports of France, between St Nazaire and Fécamp, via Saint-Vaast. Otherwise listen to excerpts of their songs on their website.

In love with the Cotentin where they met more than 20 years ago, the “Femmes de Marins” made Granville their home port. And since 1992, they have been visiting the ports and festivals of the sea…. but also crews and old rigs such as the Lys Noir, O’Abandonado, Le Martroger, Fleur des Ondes, Fleur de Mai, Grand Beau Temps, Le Marité, the Bora Bora, Lulu… without forgetting the bistros: the Rafale de Granville, the Navigator de l’Ile d’Yeu, Le Carnet de Routes d’Alençon, Le Bar des Peintres de Saint Céneri, La Renaissance d’Alençon, Le Bistrot du Port de Binic, the café de La Rade in Douarnenez, the Sardine Café in the Coutançais…

Created by Annic and Bernadette, the group toured for more than 10 years with Françoise on the accordion, then welcomed Yolande on the cello in 2003. In 2007, Évelyne joined the group with her guitar and brought her love of the sea: 10 years spent aboard the Margat, Trisbal 36 based in Fécamp…

They sing of the hard life of sailors, sailors’s wives and women but also sailor women, (such as “Ellen” dedicated to Ellen Mac Arthur), along with more humourous songs (including “Les Merlans”, cover of Georgius, or La Godille).

Françoise Milliard is on diatonic accordion, Évelyne d’Ollier on guitar and percussion, Yolande d’Ollier on cello and arpeggina.

She may also be found performing solo and has her own specific entry in the Directory.