Glen Hansard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glen Hansard
Hansard in 2015
Born	Glen James Hansard (1970-04-21) 21 April 1970 (age 55) Ballymun, Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	Singer-songwriter musician
Spouse(s)	Maire Saaritsa ​ (m. 2022)​
Partner(s)	Markéta Irglová (2006–2009)
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Folk rock folk rock alternative rock indie folk indie rock
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano mandolin
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Plateau Records Overcoat Island

Hansard and Markéta Irglová playing at a record store in Derry, Northern Ireland, April 2006

Glen James Hansard (born April 21, 1970) is a famous Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. Since 1990, he has been the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Frames. This band has released six studio albums, with four of them reaching the top ten in Ireland.

Glen Hansard was also part of the folk rock duo The Swell Season. He started his solo music career in 2012 with his first album, Rhythm and Repose. His second album, Didn't He Ramble (2015), was even nominated for a Grammy Award.

Besides music, Glen Hansard has also acted in movies. He appeared in the film The Commitments (1991). He also starred in the Irish music drama Once (2007). For Once, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly" with his co-star and co-writer Markéta Irglová. The movie was later turned into a successful musical.

Glen Hansard's Music Journey

Glen Hansard left school when he was 13 years old. He started playing music on the streets of Dublin, a practice called busking. In 1990, he formed his own band, The Frames. The band has been performing regularly in Ireland ever since.

Glen Hansard became known internationally for his role as guitar player Outspan Foster in the 1991 film The Commitments. He later said he wished he hadn't taken the role. He felt it took his focus away from his music. In 2003, he hosted a TV show called Other Voices: Songs from a Room. This show featured talented Irish musicians on RTÉ.

The Swell Season and Once

On April 22, 2006, Glen Hansard released his first album without The Frames. It was called The Swell Season. He made this album with Czech singer and musician Markéta Irglová. They also worked with Marja Tuhkanen on violin and Bertrand Galen on cello.

In 2006, Hansard also filmed the Irish movie Once. In the film, he plays a busker from Dublin, and Irglová plays an immigrant street vendor. The movie was first shown in the United States at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. It won an award there for being a favorite among the audience.

Glen Hansard recorded a song by Bob Dylan, "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", for the 2007 film I'm Not There. In 2009, Hansard shared that his romantic relationship with Markéta Irglová had ended, but they remained good friends.

Other Music Projects

Besides his work with The Frames and The Swell Season, Glen Hansard also joined a band for the 2006 Oxfam charity album, The Cake Sale. He has recorded several cover songs too. These include Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" and Britney Spears' "Everytime".

He even voiced a character on an episode of The Simpsons in 2009. He played an Irish busker in the episode "In the Name of the Grandfather". A new album of songs by The Swell Season called Strict Joy was released on October 27, 2009.

Glen Hansard performing live at Vicar Street, Dublin, December 31, 2006

In the summer of 2011, he toured with Eddie Vedder in America. He played a solo concert at the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Guitar Heroes exhibit in New York City. In September 2011, he performed at Pearl Jam's 20th Anniversary Festival. Glen Hansard plays several guitars, including a well-known old, worn-out acoustic guitar he calls "The Horse."

In November 2011, it was announced that Hansard was working on a solo album. This album was later named Rhythm and Repose. Another one of his songs, This Gift, was featured in the movie The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

Glen Hansard sang the song "Take the Heartland" for the 2012 film The Hunger Games. He also wrote "Come Away to the Water," which was covered by Maroon 5 for the same soundtrack. Hansard himself sings "Come Away to the Water" on the deluxe version of his solo album. He appeared as himself in an episode of the TV series Parenthood. In 2015, Hansard and Lisa Hannigan recorded "On Love" for the film Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet.

In 2022, he toured again with Eddie Vedder. In October 2022, he recorded "Take Heart" with Marketa Irglova, Bono, and Ukrainian refugees. This song was a response to the war in Ukraine. In December 2023, Hansard performed "Fairytale of New York" at Shane MacGowan's funeral service. He sang with Lisa O'Neill and The Pogues.

Musical Inspirations

Glen Hansard has talked about the musicians who inspired him. He said that in his home, there were three main artists: Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, and Bob Dylan. He said Bob Dylan was the most important. Hansard and The Frames even opened for Bob Dylan on his tour in Australia and New Zealand in 2007. Hansard often performs Van Morrison's songs in his concerts.

Glen Hansard is a follower of Krishna. He performed for the 80th birthday of Swami Prabhupada in London. He stayed at a manor given to the Hare Krishna movement by The Beatles' George Harrison. In July 2013, he sang with Bruce Springsteen in Ireland. In July 2015, he performed "Raglan Road" with Ed Sheeran in Dublin.

Personal Life

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová started dating during the promotional tour for Once. Their romantic relationship ended after two years.

In 2008, Hansard took a four-week filmmaking class in New York City. He used to live in New York City.

In 2016, Hansard was part of the Home Sweet Home Group. This group was made up of activists and people experiencing homelessness. They took over Apollo House in Dublin. They later had to leave the building because of a court order.

His partner, poet Maire Saaritsa, gave birth to their son, Christy, in October 2022. Hansard and Saaritsa got married at the end of 2022. The couple lives in both Ireland and Helsinki.

Awards and Nominations

Glen Hansard has received many awards and nominations for his work.

Discography

Solo Albums

The Frames Albums

• Another Love Song (1991)
• Fitzcarraldo (1995)
• Dance the Devil (1999)
• For the Birds (2001)
• Breadcrumb Trail (2002)
• Burn the Maps (2004)
• The Cost (2006)
• Longitude (2015)

The Swell Season Albums

• The Swell Season (2006)
• Once: Music from the Motion Picture (2007)
• Strict Joy (2009)

Films and Television Appearances

• The Commitments (1991)
• Once (2007)
• The Simpsons (2009 episode: "In the Name of the Grandfather")
• Ballymun Lullaby (2011; documentary)
• The Swell Season (2011)
• Parenthood (2010 TV series) (2012 episode: "Trouble in Candyland")
• In the Deep Shade (2013 documentary, with the Irish band The Frames)
• The Last Man on Earth (TV series) (2016 episode "Falling Slowly")
• Cyrano (2021, guard #1)
• Flag Day (2021)

See also

In Spanish: Glen Hansard para niños