Ceili Moss
Band Story
You could say we’re a bit of an oddity—Ceilí Moss, that is. We call it acoustic Northern European folk-rock with guts and melodies, and that about sums it up. But we’re not afraid to go a little rogue, to color outside the lines. Genevieve Williams from Widdershins once said we’re “not as punk as The Pogues, but we’ve got a bit of that attitude,” and honestly, that’s one of the best compliments we’ve ever received. That edge—that bite—is something many folk bands are missing, and we hold on to it like a badge of honor.
Over the years, we’ve been compared to everyone from Ambrozijn and Tri Yann to The Waterboys and even the old Clannad. We’re honored by those comparisons, of course, but after 14 years of touring and recording, we’ve brewed up a sound that’s entirely our own. Sure, we started like many folk bands—belting out the usual pub favorites like “The Spanish Drunken Danny Rover of the County Down in the Jar.” But that was just the beginning.
These days, you’ll hear Celtic, Flemish, Scandinavian, klezmer, medieval tunes, French chanson, Eastern European vibes, Balkanbeat, ska, blues, and even a bit of singer-songwriter storytelling in our sets. We don’t care much for rules. If it resonates, it goes into the pot. We’ll twist it, turn it, mix it up, and serve it hot. And if anyone tells us it’s not “orthodox” or it’s “not how it should be,” well, they can expect a metaphorical smack on the bottom.
Our name tells a story, too. “Ceilí” is an Irish word for a party—a gathering with music and dance. “Moss” was the nickname of Alain Mossiat, who ran “L’Eblouissant,” a pub in Namur. That’s where it all started for us in the early '90s, learning to play through stage fright and find our feet as performers. Alain gave us a stage, and in a way, our name is our tribute to him and that time.
In 2010, we released our fourth album, La vie sent quoi? It’s raw, real, and full of everything we’ve picked up along the road. We’ve been hitting the road hard since its release, playing across the Benelux and northern France—wherever the music calls us.
Here’s just a taste of where we’ve been playing:
Jan 15: Jodoigne, Espace Brassages
Jan 27: Brussels, Radio Panik
Feb 5: Tubize, Moulin Fantôme
Feb 12: Bouchain (France), Salle des Fêtes
Mar 19: Anthisnes, St. Patrick’s Day Bash
And that’s only the beginning.
We’re Ceilí Moss. We’re folk, but with a wild heart. We’re tradition, but we’re also the rebel song that tradition forgot. Come find us at a gig sometime. We’ll be the ones on stage, grinning, sweating, and playing like our lives depend on it.
Over the years, we’ve been compared to everyone from Ambrozijn and Tri Yann to The Waterboys and even the old Clannad. We’re honored by those comparisons, of course, but after 14 years of touring and recording, we’ve brewed up a sound that’s entirely our own. Sure, we started like many folk bands—belting out the usual pub favorites like “The Spanish Drunken Danny Rover of the County Down in the Jar.” But that was just the beginning.
These days, you’ll hear Celtic, Flemish, Scandinavian, klezmer, medieval tunes, French chanson, Eastern European vibes, Balkanbeat, ska, blues, and even a bit of singer-songwriter storytelling in our sets. We don’t care much for rules. If it resonates, it goes into the pot. We’ll twist it, turn it, mix it up, and serve it hot. And if anyone tells us it’s not “orthodox” or it’s “not how it should be,” well, they can expect a metaphorical smack on the bottom.
Our name tells a story, too. “Ceilí” is an Irish word for a party—a gathering with music and dance. “Moss” was the nickname of Alain Mossiat, who ran “L’Eblouissant,” a pub in Namur. That’s where it all started for us in the early '90s, learning to play through stage fright and find our feet as performers. Alain gave us a stage, and in a way, our name is our tribute to him and that time.
In 2010, we released our fourth album, La vie sent quoi? It’s raw, real, and full of everything we’ve picked up along the road. We’ve been hitting the road hard since its release, playing across the Benelux and northern France—wherever the music calls us.
Here’s just a taste of where we’ve been playing:
Jan 15: Jodoigne, Espace Brassages
Jan 27: Brussels, Radio Panik
Feb 5: Tubize, Moulin Fantôme
Feb 12: Bouchain (France), Salle des Fêtes
Mar 19: Anthisnes, St. Patrick’s Day Bash
And that’s only the beginning.
We’re Ceilí Moss. We’re folk, but with a wild heart. We’re tradition, but we’re also the rebel song that tradition forgot. Come find us at a gig sometime. We’ll be the ones on stage, grinning, sweating, and playing like our lives depend on it.
Band Members
Matthieu Collard (fiddle) - Stephane Jalhay (guitars) - Laurent Leemans (lead vocals, guitars) - Thibaud Misson (double bass) - Jeremy Pinera (drums) - Yves Van Elst (transverse flute, pipes, vocals)
Matthieu Collard (fiddle) - Stephane Jalhay (guitars) - Laurent Leemans (lead vocals, guitars) - Thibaud Misson (double bass) - Jeremy Pinera (drums) - Yves Van Elst (transverse flute, pipes, vocals)
Location: EUROPE: Belgium
Genre: Folk-Rock