Band

After having met coincidently for the first time at an open mic session in an Irish pub spontaneously the two-piece band "The Plästik Päddies" was founded in 1997 and they were soon promoted as an insider turn out to become one of the best booked Irish Folk bands in Western Germany.

In 2000 the line-up was Marc Hoper (vocals, guitar, bass), Ole Peters (vocals, bass, guitar) and they were soo joined by Thorsten Kahlert (Uilleann pipes, whistles), a previous member of the well-acclaimed German Ska band "The Frits" joined them and the band was renamed to An Spiorad. From this time (2000-2006) their musical style turned into a more traditional Irish direction which made them play numberous gigs at folk music festivals and as supporting act for a couple of well-known bands in the scene.

As a three-piece An Spiorad started playing several tours throughout Ireland and made their mark in the local traditional music scene. Amongst others, they made friends with the popular trad. band Dervish. The Irish daily newspaper "The Meath Chronicle" once even stated

"An Spiorad - Germans but Irish like the Irish".

Henning Nugel (fiddle, whistles, flutes) joined in 2007, Pascal Junker (vocals, Irish bouzouki, banjo) and Jens Okrent (drums, percussions, vocals) in 2013. In June 2023 the band got boosted with another musician. Dennis Roßmann has since been responsible for the deep tones. Playing the upright bass the virtuoso adds this edgy kind of sound and is a new eye-cacther on stage, plus additional backing vocals, too.

In September 2018 An Spiorad released another full-length album called "Dord na Mara", a concept album dealing with the topics sea-faring, wanderlust and piracy. For the first time, the band almost exclusively presents originals now. The album eventually appears to adhere more elements of rock music than its prequels, but retains the band's famous all-acoustic sound.

2025 marked a new era in An Spiorad's time-line. Not too long before, in December 2024 the new album "An Turas Mór" had been released. This album finally finishes what Dord na Mara began. Whereas Dord na Mara dealt with the topics leaving home, piracy and seafearing An Turas Mór closes the circle "talking" about coming home and starting new. 

In August 2025 Ole decided to leave the band. The remaining members are now aiming to set a new direction and position for An Spiorad in the future. 

An Spiorad is well-established for their enormous scope of musical styles spreading from Irish/Celtic songs including emotional folk ballads to folk rock. The likable lads display a congenial delight of playing their music that is instantly transferred to their audience. They thrill with vocal and instrumental harmonies that bring goose bumps to every particular listener. Their interpretation of Celtic music is unbelievably authentic and delivers the Irish spirit into each and every concert hall.