Born in 2000, he first made his mark on the legendary Grafton Street, standing out among the buskers with a voice that was both clear and soul-stirring. Those impromptu street performances—filmed and shared online—changed everything. Spotted by drummer and bandleader Manu Masko, Taylor was invited to join The Celtic Social Club as their new frontman.

In just a few weeks, he went from the street to major festival stages. His very first gig with the band was in front of nearly 1,000 people, and only months later he was playing the main stage of Les Vieilles Charrues for 50,000 fans—a moment he calls “unreal but unforgettable.” At 23, his youth contrasted with the band’s experience, but his energy, sincerity, and unmistakable voice brought a new fire to the group.

The Beatles were Taylor’s musical awakening as a teenager, sparking a passion that would soon eclipse his studies in English and History at Dublin City University, and even a brief plan to become a teacher. Today, alongside his adventure with The Celtic Social Club, he’s also carving his own path with a solo project blending folk, rock, and introspective melodies.

On stage, Taylor embodies a new generation of Celtic artists—true to his Irish roots, yet wide open to modern sounds. His unlikely journey is a perfect reflection of what The Celtic Social Club is all about: a living mix of traditions, innovations, and cultures united by a love of music.

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He co-founded the band in 2014, shaping its sound from day one by blending Celtic traditions (Brittany, Ireland, Scotland…) with rock, pop, funk, and groove. What began as a one-off gig at Les Vieilles Charrues in front of 50,000 people turned into a musical adventure spanning more than a decade, with tours across France, Europe, and the US—and growing recognition from both audiences and industry.

He co-founded the band in 2014, shaping its sound from day one by blending Celtic traditions (Brittany, Ireland, Scotland…) with rock, pop, funk, and groove. What began as a one-off gig at Les Vieilles Charrues in front of 50,000 people turned into a musical adventure spanning more than a decade, with tours across France, Europe, and the US—and growing recognition from both audiences and industry.

A true multi-instrumentalist, Richard also runs his own studio in Montamisé, near Poitiers, where he records and produces artists year-round (Nicolas Moro, Vicious Steel, Dam Valet, Pascale Peroteau…). From arrangement to recording, bass to keyboards to drums, he’s the kind of musician who can do it all—and does it with style.

Off stage, he’s also the founder and president of Monta’Music Festival (since 2015), championing a broad and popular vision of live music: rock, swing, electro, world—everything under one roof, open to everyone.

On stage with The Celtic Social Club, Richard is the rhythmic backbone—the groove that grounds the songs and gives the arrangements their depth and flexibility. Precise yet warm, his playing is the anchor that holds it all together.

Sound craftsman, passionate teacher, and natural unifier, Richard Puaud moves seamlessly between the shadows of the studio and the spotlight of the big stage.

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Born in 1980, with the violin in his hands since childhood, Pierre grew up crossing musical borders: fest-noz to jazz, world music to electro. A tightrope musician, he can slip from a gypsy waltz to a Breton gavotte, from a rock riff to a soaring jazz line—always keeping the emotion alive.

A founding member of The Celtic Social Club, Pierre has been there from day one, embodying the living bridge between tradition and creation. On stage, his violin is more than an instrument—it’s a voice. Sometimes melodic, sometimes rhythmic, it colors the songs with subtle shades and fuels the band’s Celtic groove. His presence is magnetic, making him a cornerstone of the group’s live energy for over a decade.

Based in Brittany, Pierre also runs a busy life as a stage and studio musician, collaborating with acts like Hiks, Startijenn, Jacques Pellen, and Les Tambours du Bronx, while pushing his own solo projects. He’s also a passionate keeper and transmitter of folk traditions, blending respect for the past with the hunger to reinvent.

Curious, instinctive, and generous, Pierre Stéphan has become one of the most sought-after fiddlers on today’s folk scene. With The Celtic Social Club, he keeps forging a unique path between Celtic roots and modern soundscapes.

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From the start, Mathieu brought a unique spark to the band—a bluesy fire, an acoustic touch, and a groove steeped in jazz and rock’n’roll. His expressive harmonica, infectious washboard rhythms, and warm stage presence make him one of a kind, bridging American roots with reimagined Celtic sounds.

His journey has always been eclectic: reggae, drums, and alternative music in the ’90s, then countless collaborations with artists like Christine Authier, Laurent Girard (L’Oranger), Ben Ricour, Pierre Souchon, and the cross-cultural project UNI.K in Bamako, mixing African and European musicians. That path shaped an instinctive, free-spirited style—just as at home lighting up a street corner as igniting a festival crowd.

Within The Celtic Social Club, Mathieu slips perfectly into the band’s hybrid sound—raw yet refined—where acoustic rhythm collides with traditional instruments and electric guitars. On stage, he’s pure energy; off stage, he’s a sensitive creator, always ready to experiment.

He’s also lent his talent to projects like Fest-Rock (with Red Cardell and Bagad Kemper), the Gwenn ha Du show for stylist Pascal Jaouen, and even children’s albums and handmade studio productions. Beyond the band, he runs workshops, records, and keeps weaving ties between the music scenes of Nantes, Poitiers, and Brittany.

A nomadic artist, a musician of instinct and emotion, Mathieu Péquériau embodies the very spirit of The Celtic Social Club: an open road between folk, rock, groove, and tradition.

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Hailing from Deux-Sèvres, Manu cut his teeth both in the studio and on stage, notably with Red Cardell, before firing up this collective project with its eyes and ears wide open to the world. His mission: make Celtic tradition collide with modern sounds by bringing together musicians from every corner and style.

Beyond pounding the drums, Manu is often the spark behind the band’s artistic choices and collaborations. He was the one who spotted Taylor Byrne in a busking video and invited him to join as lead singer—injecting fresh energy into the band. With his creative vision, stage experience, and love of musical crossovers, Manu stands as the beating heart of the project.

Part producer, part groove-master, part ringmaster, he has driven the band across Europe, producing several acclaimed albums—most recently Inventory, celebrating the group’s 10th anniversary with daring musical flair and explosive arrangements.

Sound craftsman, artistic engine, and restless explorer, Manu Masko embodies a modern Celtic identity—always moving, always reinventing, always bridging roots and rebellion.

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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

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Trained in classical violin at the Fontenay-sous-Bois conservatory, she quickly fell under the spell of Irish music—first in Paris, then straight from the source in Ireland, learning from legends like Martin Hayes and Liz Carroll.

Fearless and versatile, Céline has played in countless line-ups mixing folk, world grooves, classical strings, and daring stage experiments. She’s performed with Inis, Faolan, Dirty Linen, the Monaghan String Quartet (alongside Gilles Servat), and the celto-berber project Mugar led by Nasrédine Dalil and Youenn Le Berre. She even brought her bow into the wild universe of Bartabas and his Irish Travellers show at Théâtre Équestre Zingaro.

As a long-time member of The Celtic Social Club, she teams up with Pierre Stéphan as the Twin Fiddles, creating a unique acoustic blend. Together, they spark a fiery Celtic vibe—half tradition, half rebellion—with onstage chemistry that electrifies the crowd.

Off stage with the band, Céline keeps pushing boundaries with more intimate projects like May Bugs, Lagan, or her Oba Duo with bassist Olivier Moret. From massive festivals like Vieilles Charrues and Cornouaille, to iconic venues like L’Olympia, she’s carried her fiddle across Europe and North Africa, always with passion, elegance, and a smile that wins over every audience.

Céline Rivaux: the grace of the violin, the ear of a true teacher, and the fire of an artist who bridges cultures with soul and style.

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