Week 36: The Swell Season at the Royal Festival Hall

Anyone who has seen the Oscar winning film, Once, will already be smitten with Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová and their heart-wrenching relationship, played out in folk-rock duets throughout the film. The pair went on to form The Swell Season, bringing along Hansard’s bandmates from The Frames, and the troupe have been on a two year world tour following the film’s success.

This gig at the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank was their second to last, marking the end of the tour, and it felt like a very special occasion for all involved. Amidst performances from Once, a few new songs and some Van Morrison covers, Glen wooed the crowd, chatting away about his bandmates, telling us stories from the tour and the meanings behind the songs.

Markéta on the other hand seemed more shy when she took to the microphone - earnest and keen to show her appreciation, but more serious and softly spoken. But it’s the contrast between these two personalities that makes the music - and the film - so compelling. Here’s one of my favourites from the film for a wee taster.

Markéta’s gentle piano playing and piercing voice fills the hall with melancholy, while Glen’s rugged and raucous guitar injects the passion and angst and drama. The combination makes it impossible not to be moved by these beautiful songs about heartache and break-ups. 

During a couple of songs, Glen had the audience singing along, making the decent sized hall feel like it was his own living room, and he’d just invited a couple of mates round to play some songs. 

We were treated to three encores, much to the delight of the audience who were on their feet and down at the front of the stage. The band eventually gathered around the front to sing a pared down folk song with hand claps a-plenty, before singing and dancing themselves off stage to continue the party. 

(Here’s a wee interview with Glen, where he talks about playing with the Frames and how Once and The Swell Season developed out of his relationship with Mar.)