The Celtic Social Club

Origins and formation (2013–2014)

In 2013, drummer and producer Manu Masko imagined a project mixing traditional Celtic music with contemporary influences, inspired by the concept of the Buena Vista Social Club.[citation needed] He brought together artists from different scenes — rock, folk, reggae, as well as Breton, Scottish and Irish music — with the aim of adapting traditional tunes into a modern format.[citation needed]

The project took shape with an initial performance, originally intended as a one-off, at the Vieilles Charrues Festival on 18 July 2014, before an audience of about 40,000 spectators.^[1]

The first line-up included Jimme O’Neill (The Silencers), Jean-Pierre Riou (Red Cardell), Ronán Le Bars, Pierre Stéphan, Mathieu Péquériau and Richard Puaud.^[5] Guest performers at this concert included Breton singer Louise Ebrel,^[6] New York rapper IC Will,[citation needed] and Breton folk singer Colline Hill.[citation needed]

The first single, "Celtic Social Club", entered the playlist of France Inter, which broadcast the concert in its entirety the same evening.^[7]

Prior to this concert, the group had recorded their debut album, The Celtic Social Club, produced by Manu Masko,[citation needed] at La Sirène (La Rochelle),[citation needed] mixed in New York by Ariel Borujow,^[8] and released on 18 June 2014 on the Breton label Keltia Musique.^[9] The album alternates between original compositions and re-interpretations of traditional themes from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and other Celtic regions.[citation needed]

First tours and affirmation of style (2015–2017)

Following positive reactions from audiences and the media,^[10] the band began touring in March 2015, with concerts in France, Switzerland, Germany, and the United States.^[11] A notable appearance in New York led to the recording of the live album Unplugged in NYC, released in October 2015 and mixed by Ariel Borujow.^[12]

Jean-Pierre Riou left the band after a concert at Moulin du Roc (Niort) in December 2015,^[13] and was replaced by Goulven Hamel, who had previously contributed to the group's communications (texts and visuals).[citation needed]

In January 2016, the band recorded three tracks (A New Kind of Freedom, The Birds, When You Need Someone) with producer John Reynolds at La Sirène (La Rochelle),^[14] before finalizing the album at Alhambra Colbert studio (Rochefort) and mixing it in New York with Ariel Borujow.^[15]

The second studio album, A New Kind of Freedom, was released in 2017.^[16] The band continued touring in China, Vietnam, Turkey, and Algeria.^[17]

In October 2016, the group played in Central Park (New York) as part of the 25th anniversary of the Vieilles Charrues Festival.^[18] A short U.S. tour followed in September 2017,^[19] although it did not fully meet expectations due to logistical and financial difficulties.[citation needed]

• Manu Masko (2013–present): drums, percussion, keyboard, samples, loops, backing vocals / art direction

• Ronan Le Bars (2013–present): Uilleann pipes, low whistle
• Pierre Stéphan (2013–present): fiddle
• Mathieu Péquériau (2013–present): harmonica, washboard, backing vocals
• Richard Puaud (2013–present): bass, backing vocals
• Goulven Hamel (2016–present): electric guitar, mandolin, banjo
• Taylor Byrne (2022-present): lead vocals, Acoustic guitar

Former member

• Jean-Pierre Riou (2013–2015): lead vocals, twelve-string guitar, mandolin, banjo, bombard
• Jimme O'Neill (2013–2018): lead vocals, Acoustic and electric guitar
• Martin Kelly (2018): lead vocals, Acoustic and electric guitar
• Dan Donnelly (2018–2022): lead vocals, Acoustic and electric guitar

Guests

• Winston McAnuff: lead vocals
• I.C. Will: lead vocals
• Faada Freddy: lead vocals
• Colline Hill: lead vocals, acoustic guitar
• Louise Ebrel: lead vocals
• Steven Bodénès: bombard
• Roy Harter: accordion

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

Singles