Goulven Hamel is a French guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist—a cornerstone of The Celtic Social Club since 2015.
Born in Paris in 1970 and raised in Brittany, he grew up obsessed with rock, guitars, and soundscapes that are as rough as they are tender. Known as a “six-string sharpshooter,” his style is precise, elegant, and deeply soulful. Before joining the Celtic Social Club, he sharpened his craft alongside Bruno Green, Miossec, Philippe Pascal (Blue Train Choir), Les Nus, and through his own projects Santa Cruz, Rockoko, and Holy Dust. Always chasing the right sound—somewhere between folk-rock grit and raw emotion—Goulven favors authenticity over flash, and it shows.
Based in Nantes, he switches with ease between acoustic and twelve-string guitar, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, and piano. He also composes for live shows (dance, illustrated concerts) while running a parallel career as both a children’s author and a music journalist.
In 2021, he dropped his solo project Halven, a heartfelt tribute to North American country-folk. Recorded DIY during lockdown, the album Country Code channels the spirit of Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty. It reveals another side of Goulven: a low-key but powerful singer with a warm voice and razor-sharp songwriting.
With The Celtic Social Club, Goulven embodies the band’s folk soul—rooted in Brittany but always reaching out toward the vast American landscapes. On stage, he weaves rich sonic textures that give the group’s sound its unique emotional depth.
Photo : Alex Giraud