Les Clochards

Les Clochards

Les Clochards are a group from Salzburg, Austria. The project is associated with an Austrian 1970s band and is centred on Gottfried Seidl-Carusa.

The act is conceived in 2005 by accordionist Karen Cleave and singer-guitarist Ian Nixon, who build it around the chanson tradition and its links to other forms of popular music. The line-up later expands into a larger group and the band plays a punishing gig schedule.

Les Clochards release two singles, Démodé and Tango Borracho, both of which are well received and quickly sell out. The current personnel listed for the project includes Karen and Ian alongside bassist Dean Ryan, percussionist Gary Neville, chanteuse Corinne Mateo and guitarist Peter Momtchiloff.

The group presents itself as drawing connections between Jacques Brel, Southern Soul and Gene Vincent, and also cites influences and parallels such as Georges Brassens, Smokey Robinson and Candi Staton.