Sabord’Ille

Created in 2016 through the Association Arts & Voix d’Ille, the maritime song group called “Sabord’Ille” is based in Saint-Germain-sur-Ille, Brittany.

The Association:

The Association develops musical activities through:

– instrument workshops (accordion, mandolin guitar).

– concerts of all styles of music

– and since 2016, with the creation of a group of marine, sea and harbour songs, called Sabord’Ille, which rehearses at the headquarters of the Association and which provides a number of performances and concerts. It is training about twenty students on instruments and twenty-five women and men as singers for the group.

The Group:

Sabord’Ille is made up of 25 men and women, singers and musicians on guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin or accordion.” The group remains open to new members,” says its Director, Lucien Roffidal. Even for people who have never sung or do not know the music. ”

“Among the rich repertoire of Sabord’Ille, you can find some pearls such as Le gabier de Terre-neuve, Nous irons à Valparaiso, Le capitaine de la Barrique, La Marie-Joseph or Du rhum, des femmes … !”

Supervision and training are provided by the association. “For your simple curiosity, come and see us as a spectator during a rehearsal,” suggests the Director. 

In 2023 Sabord’Ille created their own maritime song festival by inviting three other groups with different singing styles, with “something for everyone.”

“This is, in fact, the first festival of this kind in Saint-Germain-sur-Ille,” invites the cheerful singing troupe. Apart from Les Bordées de Cancale, there were no others until now in the department. ”

“It’s a huge success for us,” says its initiatorM. Roffidal, a few days later. We welcomed nearly 800 people. This first festival of the genre in the municipality has indeed received the skills of Vent d’Bout de Saint-Brieuc, Cent Z’Escales de Paimpol, and Fins de Siècles de Caen.

“I only had compliments on the organisation and content of the festival,” says Lucien Roffidal. “We were lucky enough to be able to organise this event, here, on the castle lawn,” appreciates Lucien Roffidal. We also have this privilege of having been able to set up a photographic exhibition on the theme of Sea and nature, within the castle chapel. ”

The public of the region was joined by unconditional fans from Evreux, the Rhuys Peninsula, Pontchâteau, Lorient and from throughout Cotentin.

Free entrance to the event made it possible to give access to all to a piece of musical heritage, “to people who would not have taken such a the step in other circumstances”. Sabord’Ille was proud of their success. “I have been asked many times to arrange this festival again for next year, or in two years,” says Lucien Roffidal who, with the members of Sabord’Ille, is already working on this second edition.

The Association is proud of its multi-cultural support and readers may wish to view Sabord’Ille’s anti-slavery song & video below untitled, “Le bois d’ébène” written by Jean-Christophe Jehanne.

The group’s first CD may be purchased directly or via the Director, Lucien Roffidal.