Born in Poitiers in 1975, Mathieu Péquériau is a French harmonica player, washboard wizard, and composer. A member of Red Cardell from 2011 to 2015, he’s been part of The Celtic Social Club adventure since day one in 2013, standing alongside heavyweights of the Breton and Scottish scenes.
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.