Glen Hansard’s journey began in Dublin in the early 1980s, when he left school at 13 to busk on the streets. In 1990, he formed the rock band The Frames, which released its debut album in 1991 and quickly became a powerhouse in Ireland. With albums like Fitzcarraldo (1996) and Burn the Maps (2004)—which topped the Irish charts and produced hits such as “Fake” and “Finally”—the band achieved national recognition. Along the way, The Frames opened for major acts like Bob Dylan (2007) and performed at prominent venues like the Hollywood Bowl and Lollapalooza (2004)
Hansard’s acting in the indie film Once (2006), alongside Markéta Irglová, catapulted him to international fame. The movie, featuring the song “Falling Slowly,” earned critical acclaim, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song (2008) . This success led to a musical adaptation, Once The Musical, which debuted Off-Broadway in 2011 and later on Broadway, winning eight Tony Awards.
In 2012 Hansard released his solo debut, Rhythm and Repose, and embarked on a global tour that spanned North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. He followed this with It Was Triumph We Once Proposed, a poignant EP tribute to Jason Molina in 2015, and in the same year released the Grammy‐nominated solo album Didn’t He Ramble. His fourth solo effort, This Wild Willing, arrived in 2019 on ANTI‐ Records, accompanied by a European tour and several music videos.
Throughout his career, Hansard has performed in esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall, Radio City, The Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. He has graced stages at major festivals including Newport Folk, Montreux Jazz, Cambridge Folk, and Lollapalooza. He’s also collaborated with celebrated artists, featuring on Robbie Robertson’s Sinematic in 2019, and sharing creations with Eddie Vedder, Joni Mitchell tributes, and the ‚Music of Van Morrison‘ and ‚The Music of Patti Smith‘ celebration In New York.
In later years, Hansard continued to give back—recording in Paris and spotlighting homelessness through his seasonal charity shows in Dublin. In March 2022, Glen and Markéta were honoured on an Irish An Post stamp celebrating Oscar winners.
Hansard continues to tour with Markéta Irglová as part of The Swell Season where they have recently released their critically acclaimed album Forward, which has been supported by tours throughout Europe and North America.
In 2026 Glen Hansard will release a new solo record and is announcing a full UK and European Union tour.