Glen Hansard has a long musical career, beginning with the Dublin band The Frames. Formed in 1990, Hansard was leading this band when he was selected as a cast member for the Ireland-based cult classic The Commitments. The Frames are a rowdy Irish rock band that in 1995 released what could be one of the best songs ever for late night playing in an Irish pub, Revelate from the Fitzcarraldo album.
Glen Hansard continues to perform with The Frames, while also forming the duo The Swell Season and recording numerous solo albums. As if he is not busy enough, he also tours occasionally in backing bands, including with Eddie Vedder on the tour supporting Vedder’s Ukelele Songs album, and won a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre album in 2013.
When asked about his musical influences, Hansard says that “In my house, when I was a kid, there was the holy trinity, which was Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, and Bob Dylan, with Bob sitting center.” This made it even more special when Hansard and The Frames toured as the support act for Bob Dylan in Australia and New Zealand in August 2007.
Hansard released his latest album in 2019, but since then has worked with Eddie Vedder on his new music. Hansard and Marketa Irglova have been touring recently in a reunion of their Swell Season, a group made popular through their Oscar-winning work on the music for the movie Once.
