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The Celtic Social Club

The Celtic Social Club
The Celtic Social Club, 2015
The Celtic Social Club, 2015
Background information
OriginBrittany, Scotland
GenresRock, Celtic music, world music
Years active2013–present
LabelsSony Music, Keltia Musique
MembersTaylor Byrne
Manu Masko
Dan Donnelly
Ronan La Bars
Pierre Stéphan
Mathieu Péquériau
Richard Puaud
Goulven Hamel
Websitecelticsocialclub.com

The Celtic Social Club is a Franco-Irish band formed in 2013, blending Celtic music with rock, folk, reggae, and punk.[1]


Originally created for a one-off concert at the Vieilles Charrues Festival in 2014,[2] the project quickly turned into a permanent band and began touring internationally (United Kingdom, United States, Asia, Europe).[3]

To date, the band has released four studio albums, one best-of album (Inventory, 2024),[4] and is preparing a fifth album scheduled for release in October 2025.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Robin, Olivier (20 July 2014). "The Celtic Social Club au festival des Vieilles Charrues". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  2. ^ Robin, Olivier (20 July 2014). "The Celtic Social Club au festival des Vieilles Charrues". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  3. ^ "The Celtic Social Club – A Celtic Supergroup?". London Celtic Punks. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  4. ^ "The Celtic Social Club – Inventory". Qobuz. Keltia Musique. October 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  5. ^ "The Celtic Social Club announce new album You Should Know". Music in Bones. July 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.



History

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Origins and formation (2013–2014)

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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.[2] Guest performers at this concert included Breton singer Louise Ebrel,[3] 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.[4]

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,[5] and released on 18 June 2014 on the Breton label Keltia Musique.[6] 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)

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Following positive reactions from audiences and the media,[7] the band began touring in March 2015, with concerts in France, Switzerland, Germany, and the United States.[8] 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.[9]

Jean-Pierre Riou left the band after a concert at Moulin du Roc (Niort) in December 2015,[10] 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),[11] before finalizing the album at Alhambra Colbert studio (Rochefort) and mixing it in New York with Ariel Borujow.[12]

The second studio album, A New Kind of Freedom, was released in 2017.[13] The band continued touring in China, Vietnam, Turkey, and Algeria.[14]

In October 2016, the group played in Central Park (New York) as part of the 25th anniversary of the Vieilles Charrues Festival.[15] A short U.S. tour followed in September 2017,[16] although it did not fully meet expectations due to logistical and financial difficulties.[citation needed]


Former member

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Guests

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Winston McAnuff

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Title Notes
2014 The Celtic Social Club Debut studio album
2017 A New Kind of Freedom Studio album
2019 From Babylon to Avalon Studio album (France release)
2020 From Babylon to Avalon (UK version) UK reissue including additional live tracks
2021 Dancing or Dying ? Studio album
2025 You Should Know (planned, October 2025) Upcoming studio album

Live albums

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Year Title Notes
2014 Live Vieilles Charrues 2014 Recorded at the Vieilles Charrues Festival, Carhaix
2015 Unplugged in NYC Acoustic live album, recorded in New York
2018 Summer Tour 2018 (Live) Recorded during the band’s European summer tour
2021 Live Vieilles Charrues Digital release, performance from the 2014 festival
2022 Made in Brittany (Live) Recorded in Brittany
2023 Live aux Vieilles Charrues Recorded at the Vieilles Charrues Festival

Compilations

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Year Title Notes
2024 Inventory Best-of / Compilation

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2014 The Celtic Social Club Debut studio album[17]
2017 A New Kind of Freedom Studio album[18]
2019 From Babylon to Avalon Studio album (France release)[19]
2020 From Babylon to Avalon (UK version) UK reissue including additional live tracks[20]
2021 Dancing or Dying ? Studio album[21]
2025 You Should Know (planned, October 2025) Upcoming studio album[22]

Live albums

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2014 Live Vieilles Charrues 2014 Recorded at the Vieilles Charrues Festival, Carhaix[23]
2015 Unplugged in NYC Acoustic live album, recorded in New York[24]
2018 Summer Tour 2018 (Live) Recorded during the band’s European summer tour[25]
2021 Live Vieilles Charrues Digital release, performance from the 2014 festival[26]
2022 Made in Brittany (Live) Recorded in Brittany[27]
2023 Live aux Vieilles Charrues Recorded at the Vieilles Charrues Festival[28]

Compilations

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2024 Inventory Best-of / Compilation[29]

Singles

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Year Title
2014 "Celtic Social Club"[30]
2016 "Christmas 1914"[31]
2019 "Remember Joe Strummer"[32]
2019 "From Babylon to Avalon"[33]
2019 "Sunshine"[34]
2020 "I'm Free (Radio Edit)"[35]
2021 "For Real"[36]
2021 "Home"[37]
2022 "For Real (Rise Up)"[38]
2022 "The Auld Triangle"[39]
2023 "Far Away from Here"[40]
2023 "Suddenly"[41]
2024 "I Can't Wait Anymore"[42]
2025 "Love Is a Madness"[43]
2025 "You Should Know"[44]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Robin, Olivier (20 July 2014). "The Celtic Social Club au festival des Vieilles Charrues". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  2. ^ "The Celtic Social Club – Line-up 2014". London Celtic Punks. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Louise Ebrel au Celtic Social Club". Le Télégramme (in French). 19 July 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  4. ^ "France Inter – Vieilles Charrues 2014 : diffusion du concert du Celtic Social Club". France Inter (in French). 18 July 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  5. ^ "The Celtic Social Club – Album credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  6. ^ "The Celtic Social Club – Self-titled album". Discogs. Keltia Musique. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Le Celtic Social Club, un pari réussi". Le Télégramme (in French). 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  8. ^ "The Celtic Social Club – Concerts 2015". Songkick. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Unplugged in NYC – Celtic Social Club". Discogs. 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Jean-Pierre Riou quitte le Celtic Social Club". Le Télégramme (in French). December 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  11. ^ "The Celtic Social Club enregistre avec John Reynolds". Le Télégramme (in French). January 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  12. ^ "A New Kind of Freedom – Album credits". AllMusic. 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  13. ^ "A New Kind of Freedom – Release info". Discogs. 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Le Celtic Social Club en tournée internationale". Le Télégramme (in French). 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Les Vieilles Charrues fêtent leurs 25 ans à New York". Ouest-France (in French). October 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  16. ^ "The Celtic Social Club – US Tour 2017". Songkick. 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  17. ^ "The Celtic Social Club – Album". Discogs. Keltia Musique. 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  18. ^ "A New Kind of Freedom – Album". AllMusic. 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  19. ^ "From Babylon to Avalon – Album". Qobuz. Keltia Musique. 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  20. ^ "From Babylon to Avalon (UK Edition)". Discogs. 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Dancing or Dying ? – Album". Qobuz. Keltia Musique. 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  22. ^ "The Celtic Social Club announce new album You Should Know". Music in Bones. July 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Live Vieilles Charrues 2014". Qobuz. 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Unplugged in NYC – Live album". Discogs. 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Summer Tour 2018 – Live album". Qobuz. 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Live Vieilles Charrues (Digital)". Qobuz. 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  27. ^ "Made in Brittany (Live)". Qobuz. 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Live aux Vieilles Charrues". Qobuz. 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  29. ^ "Inventory – Best of album". Qobuz. Keltia Musique. October 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Celtic Social Club – Single". Qobuz. 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  31. ^ "Christmas 1914 – Single". Qobuz. 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Remember Joe Strummer – Single". Qobuz. 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  33. ^ "From Babylon to Avalon – Single". Qobuz. 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  34. ^ "Sunshine – Single". Qobuz. 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  35. ^ "I'm Free – Single". Qobuz. 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  36. ^ "For Real – Single". Qobuz. 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  37. ^ "Home – Single". Qobuz. 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  38. ^ "For Real (Rise Up) – Single". Qobuz. 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  39. ^ "The Auld Triangle – Single". Qobuz. 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  40. ^ "Far Away from Here – Single". Qobuz. 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  41. ^ "Suddenly – Single". Qobuz. 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  42. ^ "I Can't Wait Anymore – Single". Qobuz. 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  43. ^ "Love Is a Madness – Single". Qobuz. 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  44. ^ "You Should Know – Single". Qobuz. 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
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