During those ten years, they have succeeded in asserting a sound, a style, and a name. With four studio albums and three live albums on the counter; travelling across stages, festivals, and continents, the seven Franco-Irish musicians continue to refine their elegant and daring re-reading of the Celtic music tradition, shaken with great blows of rock energy, pop melody and folk magic… Quite a journey for a band that was only to be a « one-shot » creation at the « Vieilles Charrues festival », in July 2014…

The energy, the desire and the freshness will therefore have been the strongest for this gathering of adventurers, rallied around the name « THE CELTIC SOCIAL CLUB » and a simple artistic program: propelling traditional Celtic music (Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Asturia) by mixing it with rock, pop, folk and groove. Organized like a stage commando, the «CELTIC » plays a lot in Europe, flies to Asia, and then the United States, (including an emblematic show in Central Park, New York). They then set out to conquer the United Kingdom, even though they knew that the English were not inclined to indulge in “French” groups, with their fourth album, DANCING OR DYING? (2021). Discovered by the emblematic Janice Long from BBC, the singles « Home » and « Over The Line » were then regularly played on BBC 2, the biggest radio station in Europe. The « CELTIC » obtained a fullpage interview in the culture section of THE TIMES newspaper, a rare event for a French group in England, and also appeared on the cover of ROLLING STONE magazine in France !

If The Pogues and The Clash have often been cited in an attempt to summarize this energetic and ambitious musical “mash-up”, the « CELTIC » has little by little found its marks and its stability, to the point of making references and comparisons obsolete today. The BAND continues the DANCING ON DYING TOUR, culminating in an appearance on the main stage of the « Vieilles Charrues festival » on July 14, 2023, and is preparing new material with its new singer from Dublin, the talented Taylor Byrne, who has already proven himself on several singles (The Auld Triangle, Far Away From Here, Suddenly…). Releases which prove that Manu Masko, Goulven Hamel, Pierre Stephan, Céline Rivaud, Mathieu Péqueriau and Richard Puaud have ambition to spare and a formidable stage commitment to assert their position as a challenger!

Whelan’s Main Venue • Wed 4th February 2026

€18 available online from Whelan’s – €1 per ticket service charge applies. Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required

AFTER THE GIG

Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best (€5 cover charge), plus Late Bar

The post Whelan’s Main Venue • Wed 4th February 2026 appeared first on The Celtic Social Club | UK.

In an interview published by The Irish Post, the best-selling Irish newspaper in Great Britain and worldwide, Taylor Byrne looks back on his unlikely journey — from busking on the streets of Dublin to becoming the lead singer of The Celtic Social Club. A story shaped by intuition, encounters, and a shared Celtic soul. When Taylor Byrne first received a message on Instagram from a French band he had never heard of, he thought it was a scam. He ignored it for two weeks. Not long after, he found himself standing on a festival stage in western France, singing in front of 2,000 people. At just 24 years old, Byrne is now the Irish lead singer of The Celtic Social Club, joining the band in 2022 and becoming its only non-French member. Formed in 2013 by drummer and founder Manu Masko, the group already had more than a decade of history and an impressive international touring résumé when Byrne stepped in. “I literally went from playing to no one on Grafton Street to playing festivals,” he says. “It all happened very fast.” Originally from Finglas, on Dublin’s north side, Byrne had only been busking for six months before music became his full-time profession. Once street performances paid the bills, he left his job at IKEA without hesitation. Busking, he says, was his real training ground. “People aren’t there to listen to you — you have to stop them, make them engage.”

“That’s the guy”

A first performance in Temple Bar marked a turning point. Guitar in hand, something clicked. The flow, the connection, the feeling — it was undeniable. One of those moments would soon change everything. Manu Masko had come across a YouTube video of Byrne performing Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out. At the time, The Celtic Social Club had just lost its previous singer and needed to move fast to honour upcoming tours. “Manu saw the video and immediately said, ‘That’s the guy,’” Byrne recalls. Trusting his instinct, Masko reached out. After finally replying, Byrne met him for coffee in Dublin. The connection was immediate. Two weeks later, he was in France for rehearsals. Soon after, he was on stage in Saint-Palais, near La Rochelle, for his first show with the band. The excitement, however, came with doubts. For a long time, Byrne struggled with imposter syndrome, joining a group with years of experience and tours across Europe, the US and China. “It took me time to understand what they saw in me.” Today, that doubt has faded. Byrne describes the experience as life-changing, crediting his bandmates for teaching him what it truly means to be a professional musician. Sharing the stage with them, he says, is “an immense privilege”. Though largely French, The Celtic Social Club has deep Celtic roots. Most members come from Brittany, a region that proudly embraces its Celtic identity. “There’s a romantic view of Ireland in France,” Byrne says, “but more than that, there’s real respect — for the culture, the music, the history.” Ironically, it was after moving to France that Byrne truly discovered traditional Irish music, having not grown up in a household where it was part of daily life.

“But I did — and I’m glad I did. Why not?”

His earliest musical influences came instead from across the Irish Sea. “The Beatles were my first love,” he remembers — a radio moment that led him to pick up a guitar and start writing songs of his own. Songwriting now takes centre stage on You Should Know, the band’s latest album, released in October. Byrne was deeply involved in the writing process, eager to prove himself creatively. “I wanted to show that I could bring something to the table.” Recorded collectively by all seven members in the bassist’s studio, the album captures that shared energy — friends making music together. Produced by Nick Davis (Genesis, The Pogues, XTC), You Should Know marks a new chapter for the band. As the tour continues across Ireland, England and France, Byrne looks back with perspective. “If I hadn’t been so young and naïve, I probably wouldn’t have said yes,” he reflects. “But I did — and I’m glad I did. Why not?”

Link : https://www.irishpost.com/entertainment/how-a-dublin-busker-became-the-voice-of-the-celtic-social-club-302485

The post From Grafton Street to International Stages appeared first on The Celtic Social Club | UK.

A signature sound from the very first track

Throughout his review, Seuras Og goes through the album track by track :

Overall, he feels the album marks “a new chapter” for the band, brighter and more pop-leaning, without abandoning our Celtic folk roots.

“Love Madness”, the opening track, is described as an “insufferably catchy burst” — driven by a sparkling 12-string guitar, strong percussion and our trademark twin fiddles that bring the unmistakable Celtic touch.

The title track “You Should Know” carries a lively jugband-blues energy, with a bouncing bassline and fiddle lines reminiscent of Dexys.

He also highlights Taylor Byrne’s voice and shares the story of how he joined the band after being spotted performing in the streets of Dublin — a detail he recounts with humour and admiration.

Genre-blending done right

One of the surprises for him is “I Know Who You Are”, built on a clearly hip-hop-influenced drum pattern and a near-sprechgesang vocal line. A bold move — but one that, he says, works “curiously well” thanks to the fluid guitars and the Gallic-folk textures added by the fiddles. The instrumental “Imbloc” reminds him of the atmospheric soundscapes of Clannad, which he considers a beautiful compliment.

A nod to 1960s British rock

Seuras Og also drops a series of delightful rock references throughout his review:

• Speaking of “I Will Go”, he wonders: “What would the Stones or the Pretty Things of 1964 sound like with fiddles?” — before answering: “Delicious.”
• “Never Get Enough” evokes The Kinks, with even a hint of “Ticket To Ride” in the guitar work.

These echoes help anchor the album in a shared musical heritage between France, Ireland… and Britain.

An intimate and emotional ending

The reviewer admits that “Winter’s Nearly Done” initially surprised him — a stripped-back, fragile, intimate closing track.
But he soon realises that its sincerity and slow rise, carried by the fiddles, make it one of the album’s highlights.

“A really rather special experience”

In conclusion, At The Barrier describes the album as “a really rather special experience” and encourages readers not to keep the band a secret any longer. He ends with a sentence that sums up the spirit of the entire review: “If I see their name on any lineup in ’26, me and my tent, we’ll be heading thataway.” A promise that means a lot to us.

The post The Celtic Social Club – “You Should Know” as seen by At The Barrier appeared first on The Celtic Social Club | UK.

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.

The post Taylor Byrne – The Celtic Social Club’s singer and guitarist appeared first on The Celtic Social Club | UK.