Bluesfest sideshows: The Swell Season

The Swell Season, the Oscar-winning duo of Frames front man Glen Hansard and Czech pianist and vocalist Marketa Irglova, are returning to Australia for a highly-anticipated March/April 2010 tour following their mesmerising Australian performances in early 2009, including multiple sold out Sydney Opera House concerts for the Sydney Festival in January.

The tour will begin in Melbourne on Thursday 25 March at the Palais Theatre before heading to Adelaide for the first time with a show at the Thebarton Theatre on Wednesday 31 March.  They then make the jump to Byron Bay for appearances at Bluesfest over the Easter long weekend.  The tour will conclude with a return to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on Monday 5 April.

Glen and Marketa both starred in ONCE, which was of course the independent 2007 Irish film, a low-budget romantic musical portraying struggling artists, which slowly won the hearts of audiences worldwide. Following the movie, Glen and Marketa generated a wave of acclaim worldwide during the 2008 awards season garnering two Grammy nominations and an Oscar win for Best Original Song for the hit single Falling Slowly.  The duo famously performed the song on the Oscars telecast (and a host of key TV shows around the world). Later, they were even characterised in animation for an episode of The Simpsons!

In concert – The Swell Season are nothing short of remarkable. Don't miss this opportunity to see an organic and heart-warming live performance, the likes of which has had critics and audiences raving the world over.

Billboard.com said of a Radio City Music Hall show, “It may have been one of the biggest gigs (literally and figuratively) of their career, but the duo succeeded at bringing a palpable humility to the grandiose venue, which only served to amplify the sincerity of their tender tunes.”

A Chicago Tribune live review said, “Hansard and Irglova maintained a natural chemistry, harmonizing … and trading hushed secrets like longtime lovers between songs.”

This tour news also coincides with the duo's new album STRICT JOY being released locally on October 23 through Spunk / EMI.  Strict Joy is the beautiful follow-up album to The Swell Season's self-titled debut, which expanded into the gold-certified soundtrack for the hit film Once.

The twelve uplifting new, original songs on Strict Joy were recorded last year and document a time of great change, tumult and progression. The album was co-produced by Hansard and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol), and features Frames members, plus guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen) among other guests.

When The Swell Season bring their new album and favourites from the debut to Australian audiences in 2010, it is certain to be one of the major musical highlights of the calendar year.

Make sure you experience one of these very special concerts and leave feel rejuvenated, inspired and elated by some of the most genuine and moving music being made today.

Thursday 25 March
Palais Theatre, Melbourne

Wednesday 31 March
Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide

Easter long weekend
Bluesfest, Byron Bay

Monday 5 April
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney