Death of singer Erik Marchand

Stage artist, educator, and tireless collector (notably with Dastum), he leaves behind an abundant discography (solo, with Gwerz, and within the projects of the KBA) and a lasting impact on the musical life in Kreiz Breizh as well as far beyond. Tributes are pouring in today from the Breton cultural world and beyond.

Erik Marchand, an iconic singer of gwerzioù and a major figure in kan ha diskan, passed away on October 30, 2025, in Romania, at the age of 70. Born in Paris on October 2, 1955, to a family of Breton (from Redon) and Alsatian descent, he dedicated his life to the collection, transmission, and promotion of traditional music from Brittany.

Trained by Manuel Kerjean, Marcel Guilloux, and Yann-Fañch Kemener, he was also a clarinetist. His timbre, diction, and sense of modality made him a reference for several generations of artists.

A Bridge Builder and a Creator

In 2003, Erik Marchand founded the Kreiz Breizh Akademi (KBA), an unprecedented training program for Breton modal music, open to exchanges with other traditions (Balkans, Arab world, Indian Ocean, jazz, contemporary music). He served as its artistic director for nearly eighteen years before handing over to Krismenn in 2021. With KBA, he trained and brought together several cohorts of young musicians, contributing to a profound renewal of the aesthetics of Breton music.

Long-Lasting Dialogues

Curious and a traveler, Marchand engaged in numerous crossovers: Taraf de Caransebeș in Romania, a country he loved as much as Brittany. Notable are also his electric adventures with Rodolphe Burger, and his encounters with Jacques Pellen, Ibrahim Maalouf, Hélène Labarrière… While not renouncing his roots, he claimed a popular music.