The Celtic Social Club mark a decade of music with their BEST OF album Inventory and an upcoming UK & Ireland tour. Their 10th Anniversary Tour will bring their electrifying live show to five cities, offering fans a chance to celebrate the band’s journey in person. The tour follows the release of Inventory, a 20-track collection highlighting the band’s evolution, featuring new recordings of 18 fan favorites and two brand-new originals (Suddenly and Far Away From Here).

What does it feel like to return to the stage in such a milestone format, and what meaning do you place on this “10-year” tour? 

Manu MASKO: To begin with, you should know that from the very start, THE CELTIC SOCIAL CLUB was created for the French festival Les Vieilles Charrues – the French Glastonbury. The idea was to do a one-off performance in front of 45,000 people centered on Celtic music and a farewell. After the success of this concert in July 2014, stopping was no longer an option. Ten years later, we are releasing our first Best Of after hundreds of concerts around the world.  What is astonishing – and you probably cannot understand it – is that for a French musician, the Irish and English territories are like untouchable lands. There are so many great bands over there who have shaped our musical culture that the grail is inevitably found on your side! So playing for the first time in Dublin (the city of our singer Taylor Byrne) and then returning to England for a new tour is, in itself, a form of consecration for us. So we are going to do what we know best: perform to create an intense moment of sharing. 

Your latest release, Inventory, goes beyond a simple compilation: twenty tracks, including two brand-new ones, reflect different periods of your creativity and your current take on your own music. At the same time, many tracks have been re-recorded. Why did it feel important to revisit these familiar songs now? 

Manu MASKO: We haven’t re-recorded any old tracks—just made some edits on a few. However, we wanted Taylor to put his mark on this best-of, so we decided to include three new tracks that aren’t part of our discography. One of the most intriguing events this year was the release of I Can’t Wait Anymore. What emotions did you want to evoke in listeners with this track, and how did you arrive at such a multi-layered sound? 

Taylor BYRNE: Lyrically, I Can’t Wait Anymore carries a certain melancholy, and we wanted the production to reflect that emotional weight. The song begins sparsely, with just Richard’s bass and Taylor’s voice, creating an intimate, almost confessional space. This minimalism draws the listener in, emphasizing vulnerability. As the track progresses, we gradually introduce more layers—textured violins, ambient guitars etc.—allowing the sound to expand naturally. By the climax, the song reaches a cathartic release, mirroring the lyrical shift from frustration to acceptance. Rather than forcing this build, we let it evolve organically, playing together until the arrangement felt right. Ultimately, the multi-layered sound isn’t just about complexity but emotional storytelling—guiding the listener from introspection to resolution in a way that feels immersive and deeply felt. 

Over the past 10 years, you’ve undeniably developed a distinct style. At the same time, listeners often note that your music remains unpredictable, thanks to its fusion of genres. Some describe it as “Irish traditions with a Pink Floyd twist”—an imaginative comparison. How do you manage to strike this balance? 

Taylor BYRNE: The fusion of genres in our music happens naturally due to the diverse influences we each bring to the band. It’s not something we plan; it evolves organically when we play together. Each of us has a different musical background—whether it’s traditional Irish folk, progressive rock, or classical—and these influences shape our sound. Sometimes, our instincts push us in different directions, creating moments of creative friction, where one person leans toward a more traditional sound and another introduces something more experimental. But that’s where the magic happens—when our styles clash, it leads to something new and unexpected. The unpredictability in our music comes from allowing space for spontaneity and surprise. Some songs may emphasize folk, while others venture into more atmospheric or experimental territory. Ultimately, our sound remains dynamic and ever-evolving, reflecting our collective instincts and the blending of diverse influences. 

Your new tour spans various locations in the UK and Ireland, including places where you’re already well-loved and, perhaps, venues where audiences will see your show for the first time. Each venue can bring its own atmosphere and influence the character of the concert. How do you adjust your setlist to match the mood of the audience in each city? 

Taylor BYRNE: We don’t tailor our setlist to each city—we believe in delivering the same immersive, high-energy show no matter the venue or crowd size. Our motto has always been ‘it’s the same show,’ whether we’re playing an intimate club, a grand theater, or a festival stage. That said, no two shows ever feel the same. Each venue has its own atmosphere, and the audience’s energy shapes the experience in real-time. Some spaces create an intimate connection, while others encourage a more explosive response. Rather than adjusting our set, we let the natural flow of the night dictate the performance. We’ve carefully curated a setlist that takes audiences through the full spectrum of our sound—from deep-rooted tradition to more progressive elements. Whether fans have followed us for years or are seeing us for the first time, we want every show to feel like a true journey. The energy, connection, and spontaneous moments make each performance unique! 

Inventory brings together 18 fan favourites alongside two brand-new tracks—Suddenly and Far Away From Here. Interestingly, when bands celebrate a milestone anniversary, the focus often leans heavily on the past. However, you’ve introduced brand-new songs into the mix. What makes these new tracks special, and do they reflect the direction The Celtic Social Club will take in the future? 

Taylor BYRNE: Suddenly and Far Away From Here mark a key transitional moment for the band. With me and Celine joining the band in 2022, we found ourselves in an exciting phase of rediscovery—exploring how our sound could evolve while staying true to The Celtic Social Club’s essence. These tracks became a space to experiment with this fresh dynamic, blending our signature influences with their new energy and perspective. In many ways, they serve as a bridge between the past and the future. Inventory celebrates our 10-year journey with 18 fan favourites, but we also wanted to acknowledge where we are now—and where we might be headed. These new songs tie together our history while opening the door to new possibilities. As for whether they define our future direction, that remains to be seen! We’ve always embraced natural evolution rather than sticking to a set formula. While these tracks reflect where we are today, the next chapter of The Celtic Social Club will unfold wherever our instincts and creativity take us. 

You’ve performed at major festivals, earned recognition from prestigious publications and radio stations, yet the creative journey is full of variables. Musical trends evolve, and a band’s internal dynamics can shift. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken from these experiences, and what do you consider the key factor in keeping the band thriving? 

Manu MASKO: After many years in the music business, music is important, but I can assure you that assembling the right team is THE crucial issue. You’re embarking on an extraordinary human journey. A supportive team is essential. A rock band is like a soccer team: you don’t need the best players to become world champions—you need players who play together. Music is the same. 

Can fans who’ve followed you for years expect any unconventional elements or surprises on this Tour.

Manu MASKO: We are working on a new album that will be released in October, and we will perform two tracks for the first time that we have just finished recording. 

Seven people, each with their own personality and musical background, make for quite an “orchestra,” requiring mutual understanding and, of course, organisational synchronisation—especially with major tours and tight schedules. What helps you stay united as a team? 

Manu MASKO: The casting. As I mentioned earlier, you need to appreciate your fellow tour mates. There must be mutual respect, an interest in a collective project, and always keeping in mind the importance of compromise. A difficult equation, but very interesting! 

Your discography vividly illustrates how seamlessly you navigate between traditional and modern musical forms. Melodies inspired by Celtic culture continue to resonate with a wide range of audiences, while you bring something fresh to them—something that speaks to the 21st century. How do you see The Celtic Social Club evolving in the future, and do you have a vision of what the next chapter might look like after such a significant 10-year milestone? 

Taylor BYRNE: To paraphrase David Bowie, “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring!” That perfectly sums up The Celtic Social Club—we’ve always evolved naturally, letting curiosity and creativity lead the way. Right now, we’re working on a new album, and while it has a distinct flavor from anything we’ve done before, the band’s core essence remains. We’ve never been about simply preserving tradition—we aim to reinvent it, keeping it alive in a way that speaks to today. As for the future? It’s always evolving. Every phase of the band has brought something fresh, and this next chapter will be no different. Wherever we go, the adventure continues!

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