The night is full of twists and turns for Glen's near three hour home visit!
The 46-year-old Irish musician's two-day run at Vicar Street may be completely different from one night to the next, but the Monday night leg of the gig sees a host of unannounced guests. Can you guess who?
Slyly mentioning the Czech woman Markéta Irglová early on in the show, as if she wasn't in the room or country, Glen shocks the crowd by welcoming his long-time friend to the piano.
As expected, the two play 'Falling Slowly' and a slew of songs they co-wrote. Marketa sticks around for the rest of the evening, making a final appearance for the group sing-along of Mic Christopher's 'Hey Day.'
Recalling an email he received about a guy who could "apparently sing Glen Hansard songs 'good'. Damien Rice 'good'. Mic Christopher 'good'," etc.., he beckons the man himself, John Byrne, to join him on stage for a song.
After much encouragement, he makes his way up front, only to be left alone with Glen's guitar. He starts to play 'Falling Slowly' but is cut short by Glen saying "Not that one!" The young man chooses 'Leave' only to forget the words for the second verse! Mr. Hansard provides no support as he seems to have forgotten as well. Thank goodness for the crowd, who tries to fill in as well.
Part way through the gig, Glen asks "Is Danny Sheehy anseo?"
Someone yells "Tá!" from the balcony. Coaxing his seafaring friend Danny to come to the stage with a whiskey, Glen explains how over the summer he joined the poet for a currach excursion from Ireland to Northern Spain.
Once on deck, the man holds up his glass (full of whiskey, perhaps), and recites this poem:
Danny Sheehy's poem to the Whiskey.. In Irish first, then English below.. pic.twitter.com/v2K4Y6kQ0y
— Glen Hansard (@Glen_Hansard) June 14, 2016
One highlight of the memorable show comes as part of the encore when Glen introduces the magnificent Spanish guitarist Javier Mas. Sitting down with the band the whole night, the man who played with Leonard Cohen's band for many years, enchants the audience with his magical bandurria solo that leads into 'Who By Fire.' They go on to cover 'The Partisan' and 'Famous Blue Raincoat,' capping it off with Glen's personal tribute to Len, 'Her Mercy.'
Among fan favourites like 'Star Star' and 'When Your Mind's Made Up,' the set warmly embraces a Van Morrison cover 'Astral Weeks' and an ever-relevant Woody Guthrie piece titled 'Vigilante Man.'
If the sold-out Monday show is any indicator of how tonight's event will play out, then fans have much to look forward to and should ready themselves for many treats.
Folk hero Glen Hansard has today announced he will join the Boomtown Rats and some of the nation’s biggest acts for a major concert, in response to the shameful, even shocking, homeless crisis in Ireland, which is taking place in the Olympia Theatre tomorrow, Friday 7th April.
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Honorees included Zachary Quinto, Ruth Negga, Glen Hansard, and Caitriona Balfe.
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One of the leading lights of Irish music for the past 25 years, Glen Hansard has been chosen as the recipient of the Oscar Wilde Award for 2017 – which will be presented during Oscar week in the Los Angeles. No one is more deserving...
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Music to raise spirits and money for the homeless
Read More Glen Hansard, Bronagh Gallagher and many more will perform on the night
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With his two forthcoming solo shows at Vicar Street next month selling out, Glen Hansard will return to the same venue in November with a full band in tow.
Read More The hometown hero returns to his familiar haunt in November
Read More Skibbereen shows will remember the Interference frontman and the artist known as Black
Read More The Oscar winning singer-songwriter performed a track for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Read More Fans will be counting down the days until September 5!
Read More The Oscar winner played a thirty minute set
Read More The Frames frontman gave a stellar performance of ‘Winning Streak’ on the show last night
Read More The Oscar-winner serenaded fans outside the late legend's New York home
Read More Five weeks of broadcast action will see a galaxy of stars strutting their stuff
Read More The pair have indulged in some seriously impressive burning of the midnight oil!
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The by-now traditional knees-up on Thomas St. has become the thing of legend; and, once again, Hot Press was on hand for another energetic, inspiring night with the charismatic troubadour
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It could be a very good night for the Irish in LA on February 15
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The Dubliner finished the US wing of his Didn't He Ramble tour last night at the Big Apple.
Read More There's a massive week of shows coming up in the Concert Hall
Read More Next month's Dingle bill is looking decidedly tasty!
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Having just released a powerful and emotionally direct second solo album, Didn’t He Ramble, Glen Hansard is a man with a lot on his mind. He talks to Olaf Tyaransen about teenage delinquency, his complicated relationship with his father, the tragic death of a man at a Swell Season gig, and why he’s grateful for the advice he’s received from Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder.
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New album Didn’t He Ramble supplied the perfect excuse for one of Dublin's favourite sons to take over a city centre building with an evening of stunning musical entertainment
Read More Their 'McCormack's Wall' collaboration is all sorts of gorgeous
Read More Wristbands are available now in return for buying a copy of his new album in Golden Discs on Stephen's Green
Read More KCRW listeners were spoiled rotten this week!
Read More Catch him before Christmas in Vicar St.!
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He was joined onstage by the Booka Brass Band and The Lost Brothers...
Read More Read the review in the new issue of Hot Press
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The visit of the hot feminist comedian to Ireland has turned into a highly entertaining event. Bill Hader and Judd Apatow are also in town for the Trainwreck premiere...
Read More Glen Hansard & Paul Williams perform at US Ambassadors Residence.
Read More What we've heard of Didn't He Ramble so far sounds pretty damn awesome!
Read More A new initiative to raise money for homeless people will see one lucky bidder collect one jumbo load of loot
Read More Glen Hansard is among those recalling My First Time In Hot Press as part of our bumper 900th Issue, which is in shops now with Ham Sandwich's Niamh Farrell on the cover.
Read More Colin Davidson's amazing piece will be auctioned for the US-Ireland Alliance
Read More SARI benefit gig will also feature Mundy, Lisa O'Neill and more this evening.
Read More Glen Hansard at Vicar Street on 15 December. Glen was joined on stage by August Wells, Declan O’Rourke, Lisa O’Neill, Mundy and Damien Demspsey. The show was held in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust.
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The now-traditional festive gig from the Frames frontman is long on time and even longer on joy
Read More Glen Hansard and Damien Dempsey teamed up on a version of 'The Auld Triangle', which warmed many a Right 2 Water protest cockle this afternoon in central Dublin.
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It was one of those special Dublin nights. The occasion was a fund-raiser for a new short film, entitled Descend, directed by Hedi Rose, and written by Irish-based Texan screenwriter Margaret Miller. The location was upstairs in The 51 Bar on Haddington Road.
Read More He's doing his bit for the Simon Community in Vicar St.
Read More Glen Hansard brings a full band including string and brass sections to Vicar St., Dublin on December 15 when he plays a special gig in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust, which tackles homelessness, drug misuse and social disadvantage.
Read More Glen Hansard is among the celebrity admirers contributing a cover – he opted for Saved’s ‘Pressing On’ – to Bob Dylan In The ‘80s: Volume One.
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Last Tuesday’s second Vicar St. show marked the end of an 18-month round the world jaunt for Glen Hansard and his talented musical entourage.
Read More Iron & Wine, Calexico and Kathleen Edwards joined the Dublin man to sing ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ last night on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Read More Glen Hansard's concert at Vicar St. on Tuesday, November 26th, 2013
Read More Vicar St gig is also in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust...
Read More Glen Hansard’s new EP is available now for your streaming pleasure at www.nytimes.com/interactive/arts/music/pressplay.html?_r=3&
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Glen Hansard and his old mucker Mark Geary have collaborated on a festive tune, ‘Christmas Biscuits’, which hits iTunes on November 29 to raise funds for St. Vincent de Paul.
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His favourite Bruce Springsteen tune provides the title for Glen Hansard’s new Drive All Night EP, which Anti-Records are releasing physically on November 29 with digital following on December 3. Photo Credit: Zoran Orlic
Read More Glen Hansard has announced a second Vicar Street concert this November 25.
Read More The Helix will play host to a Halloween night of music and conversation.
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The Factory on Barrow Street has lined up a superlative list of leading Irish artists to act as mentors for a brand new songwriting and performance workshop.
Read More When Glen Hansard stormed the Iveagh Gardens last month, Arbutus Yarns, AKA music documentarian Myles O’Reilly, was there shooting the whole thing.
Read More Still waters run etc. etc. A glorious summer’s afternoon by a millpond Corrib was the setting for our man Olaf Tyaransen chatting to Glen Hansard last week ahead of his Galway Arts Festival appearance.
Read More It’ll be a dream come true on July 27 for Glen Hansard as he gets to open for one of his heroes, Bruce Springsteen, who in recent years has also become a close musical confidante. From a hotel room in North Carolina, he tells Olaf Tyaransen what makes The Boss so special...
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C! Le Cargo! Webzine Musical! marked their 500th session with a beautiful acoustic performance from the Irish pair...
Read More Glen Hansard adds his name to the already impressive summer schedule at the Dublin 2 park this summer...
Read More This year’s Jameson Dublin International Film Festival has a real rock 'n' roll flavour with The Frames, Ginger Baker and Marina Abramovic coming under the spotlight.
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The fantastic Frames frontman fingered his frets for the festive season at Vicar Street...
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It's a double whammy for the former Frame in December..
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In our new issue, Glen chats about his friendship with our cover star Bruce Springsteen...
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Since winning an Oscar for Once, Glen Hansard‘s life has swerved like an out of control rollercoaster. There was a whirlwind romance with, and painful separation from, Markéta Irglová; the suicide of a fan which left him with brains on his shoes and a chasm in his soul and the strange guilt he felt at being successful. With his first solo album about to be released, he pulls up a stool and explains how he learned to stop worrying and love his new life in New York.
Read More The likes of Glen Hansard, The Walkmen and Metallica are here to soundtrack your weekend.
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The singer opens up to Stuart Clark in our new issue, out tomorrow...
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An Irishman’s ‘New York Year’ yields musical gifts for the folks back home
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Glen Hansard is set to release his first solo album. As yet untitled, the record is slated for a June launch by Anti, and will be released on the Epitaph label.
Read More The star studded line-up for The Music Show became even stronger last night with the news that Glen Hansard had been added to the list of panellists.
Read More Ringleader of festivities, Glen Hansard, is in his usual fine form, joking and telling stories.
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Glen Hansard and Delorentos are among line-up
Read More Glen Hansard talks to Peter Murphy about the highs and lows of being in The Frames, and how musicians can help rescue Ireland from its current malaise
Read More Give it a few years and The Frames are going to have a lot of new competition!
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There are also more fundraisers coming up in February.
Read More The Dublin Simon Longest Night bash takes place next week.
Read More Popular RTÉ music show Other Voices is back for a sixth series, with a line-up including Glen Hansard, Sinead O'Connor and more.
Read More Things are going seriously well for Glen Hansard in the States with his soundtrack to the Sundance winning Once going top 10 on iTunes there.
Read More Aftering the news that The Frames are to support Bob Dylan down under, Glen Hansard's week has gotten even better as the film he co-stars in, Once, has made it into the American box-office top 20.
Read More Indie-hit Once director John Carney talks to Tara Brady about how to make an Irish musical, while star Glen Hansard confesses he was pleasantly surprised at the film’s success.
Read More Fresh from getting dickie-bowed up for the Irish premiere of Once, Glen Hansard has announced that he’ll be hosting the Songwriting Course at this year’s Listowel Writers Festival.
Read More We cornered Glen Hansard in a dark room and forced him to reveal details about the next Frames album. He happily obliged.
Read More Hot Press is delighted to bring you this first peek at the cover artwork for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova’s collaborative album.
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While the next Frames album is still a long way off, Glen Hansard has confirmed that he’s a collaborative solo project, The Swell Season, in the can.
Read More The Frames frontman and pipe-playing Duihnan release a limited number of live CDs next week
Read More Glen Hansard, along with Paddy Casey, Goodtime John and Ann Scott (among others) provide an acoustic cure for Christmas hangovers
Read More It won't be the full Frames experience but Hansard's wee gig will keep you going till the December tour
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