Since 2015, The Curious Bards has brought together five musicians passionate about the popular music of Northern Europe in the 18th century, but with a unique approach: a fusion of in-depth musicological research and overflowing energy. Trained at the conservatories of Lyon, Paris, and Basel, they have immersed themselves fully in the world of Irish, Scottish, English, Swedish, and Norwegian music, striving to rediscover and reinterpret ancient repertoires while infusing them with their own modern and creative touch.
The group is much more than just a band of musicians: they are a bunch of slightly mad researchers embarking on sonic explorations, deciphering forgotten instrumental techniques, and reviving old pieces with a refreshing vibrancy. Their sound? A perfect blend of authenticity, research, and raw energy that both makes you dance and makes you think. Each concert is a journey where tradition and innovation intersect and embrace, and where music becomes a living, thrilling adventure.
The Curious Bards has been supported from the outset by the Cité de la Voix in Vézelay, then joined the EEEmerging program at the Ambronay Festival in 2016, and since 2020 has been sponsored by Caisse des Dépôts as its main patron.
With over 250 concerts and three albums released on Harmonia Mundi (Extradition, 2017, Indiscretion, 2023, and Sublimation, 2025), they embody their dual approach: a masterful blend of serious musicological research and boundless creativity. It’s tradition, but reimagined with a touch of madness, resulting in something both profound and completely joyful!
