Overview
The Hissez Oh Association, presided by Jean-Claude Baret and Alain Loret organised a one-day sailors and sea song festival in Pornichet, Loire-Atlantique from 2009 until 2014. The stated aims of the association were, “to promote the culture and life of Breton sailors through its music and songs.”
Each year, a “hard-core” of groups, including Ar Vag, Les Receneurs and les Brouilleurs d’Ecoute would attend, along with invites such as Olivier Rech, writer of the song, “des Matelots de la Vie,” who participated in 2014
The performances would take place on Saturday evenings at the marina, around the restaurants on a podium that would be decorated like a trawler.
Note regarding the French name of the festival: In the marine world, the verb “hisser” (or “hoist” in English) was used in particular to load goods. The expression dictates a rhythm for effort. The “oh” thus prepares the effort, made at the time of the “hoist”.