1
Nov
2026
2026
The Paps
Irish and Celtic folk rock & punk from the north of the Netherlands. Stomping, jumping, and now and then a quiet sing-along.
Set 1: Warm-up
This is what a night with The Paps sounds like
Banjo and mandolin up front, a bodhrán that shakes the floor and punk in the legs. Three songs in, the whole pub is jumping.
Rider
What you're booking
Four seasoned musicians who bring their own kit. You sort the venue, we sort the rest.
- Line-up
- Vocals, banjo and mandolin, guitar, bass, drums and bodhrán.
- Set length
- Two 45-minute sets. We warm up first, then raise the roof. Every set is tailored to the crowd.
- Sound
- Our own PA, and our guitarist is a sound engineer. No sound system on site? Not a problem.
- Space
- Roughly 4 by 3 metres and two power sockets. A stage is nice, but not essential.
- Area
- From the north of the Netherlands across the whole country, and over the border.
- Between songs
- Dutch, English or German. Whatever the room understands.
Where we play
Marquee & barn party
Straw bales, a packed marquee and the doors flung open. That is where Irish punk belongs.
EnquireSt. Patrick's Day
17 March 2027 falls on a Wednesday. Organisers are booking already, so best not leave it too late.
Book for 17 March
Interval
At the bar with the band
Four musicians from the north. Three had played together for years; the fourth brought Kerry with him.
Johan
Vocals, banjo & mandolinA beard from Dublin, a passport from the north.
Theo
BassThe best-looking man in the band. We're the ones saying so.
Gijs
Guitar & backing vocalsFrom behind the mixing desk to the front of the stage.
Daan
Drums & bodhránThe engine room, and the man who gave the band its name.
Set 2: Full tilt
Two hills in County Kerry
The name comes from the Paps of Anu, two rounded hills in County Kerry with a stone cairn on each summit. Daan lived there for years and learnt that a night isn’t over until someone starts singing.
Back in the north he found three musicians who felt the same. Johan, Theo and Gijs were already playing together in Krekedaon. We’ve been The Paps since late 2024: Irish and Celtic folk rock with a punk edge, and in between the stomping, the ballads that make a room go quiet.
On the road
More info
Where to catch us
Played before
All previous gigs-
Celtic Folk Festival Eelde
April 2026
-
Cafe Calluna in Ommen
March 2026
-
Cafe ‘t Zumpke in Enter
March 2026
-
Irish Pub Festival Deventer
February 2026
No encore
No encore. But there's always a next time.
Tell us what you have in mind. You'll hear from us soon, with a proposal and a price.
