Fiddler's Green

Erlanger gave rise to Fiddler's Green in 1990, placing the group at the forefront of Germany's folk-rock resurgence through the opening and middle portions of the 1990s. Their sets mix longstanding Irish numbers with self-written pieces, evoking the Pogues and Oysterband while weaving in ska inflections and references to Johnny Cash and Tom Waits. This presence helped generate a wave of parallel German acts, among them Tapsi Turtles, Paddy Whack, and In Search of a Rose.

The opening three albums—Fiddler's Green (1992), Black Sheep (1993), and King Shepherd (1995)—maintained a steady Celtic-rock identity built on standout work from fiddler Tobias Rempe and accordionist Stefan Klug, together with Peter Pathos's inventive songs and the ensemble's layered vocal arrangements. On and On (1997) served as the band's first major-label outing and simultaneously revealed an initial turn toward a more rock-centered approach. Jim Crichton of Saga handled production for Spin Around (1998), locking in that stylistic shift even though three traditional songs were retained.

Another Sky, issued successfully in 2000, coincided with further personnel changes as fiddler Tobias Heindl and drummer Frank Jooss were added. The first DVD, Celebrate!, appeared in 2005 to mark the thousandth concert, followed by the second release Jubilate! marking the fifteenth anniversary. Pat Prziwara entered as singer and guitarist in 2006 for the sessions that produced Drive Me Mad!, after which Sports Day at Killaloe arrived in 2007. Continued touring filled the years leading to the 2013 album Winners & Boozers, which reached number seven on the German charts.