GLEN HANSARD with THE FRAMES Supported by LISA HANNIGAN

IRELAND

Wednesday 13 March, 2013

Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

ONE NIGHT ONLY

The Auckland Arts Festival 2013 welcomes two of Irish contemporary music's brightest stars, Glen Hansard and Lisa Hannigan, to Auckland Town Hall in a rare, one-night-only show as part of the Festival's diverse music programme.

The captivating Oscar-winning Frames front man and more recently one half of the Swell Season duo, Glen Hansard, will be performing songs from his debut solo release - the acclaimed Rhythm and Repose - which is his first album of new material since the 2009 release Strict Joy with The Swell Season. Long time fans will also be thrilled to know Hansard's main band, The Frames, will be his backing group for this tour. Hansard and The Frames last visited NZ in 2007 when they supported Bob Dylan on his international tour.

In the last year, Hansard has featured in the highly regarded new festival circuit documentary The Swell Season (about the making of Once), contributed two songs to the global blockbuster film soundtrack, The Hunger Games; a song titled The Gift for the upcoming Disney fantasy film The Odd Life of Timothy Green; and played a number of solo concerts alongside Eddie Vedder to rave reviews.

This tour's special guest is delightful Irish singer Lisa Hannigan. Hannigan gained her initial prominence through a six-year collaboration with Damien Rice. Her first solo album, Sea Sew, was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2008, while Passenger, her 2011 follow-up, has received four and five-star reviews across the UK.

Glen Hansard is revered as an intense and electric live performer - famous for digging deep and giving everything in concert to rapturous receptions. He is well known for his work across more than two decades with his influential band The Frames, but is perhaps now most recognised for The Swell Season - the duo he created with Czech songstress Markéta Irglová. In 2007, The Swell Season took home the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Falling Slowly from the Once film-sensation soundtrack.

Following this, the bittersweet romantic musical version of Once was the unexpectedly dominant winner at the 66th annual Tony Awards this year, winning the Tony for the Best Musical, plus seven other Tony Awards.

Now, Hansard's striking debut album Rhythm and Repose is a result of his last year and a half living and recording in New York City with some of the city's finest studio musicians including bass Brad Albetta  (Martha Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright), Spanish guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen), and pianist/producer, Thomas Bartlett (Doveman). The album has been impressing critics across the continents, with the New York Daily News describing the record as "Thrilling… tender… his most luscious melodies to date… the magic of Harry Nilsson (and) the manly scratch of Cat Stevens."

Glen Hansard with The Frames and Lisa Hannigan will raise the roof of the Town Hall for one night only on 13 March.

www.aaf.co.nz

Glen Hansard is a gifted, emotive frontman who sings as if he must, with a heart on his sleeve that is constantly throbbing. -The New York Times

The best thing Hansard has done in years and perhaps a signifier of a lengthy solo career. - The Times UK

Sensational...Expect Hannigan's star to keep on shining brightly -Independent

CONCERT DETAILS

Show Glen Hansard and The Frames - Supported by Lisa Hannigan

Where Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall

When Wednesday 13 March, 8pm

Duration Glen Hansard 1hr 30min approx

Lisa Hannigan 40min approx

Price Premium $77 / Friend/Conc/Group $71

A Res $65 / FriendConc//Group $59

B Res $53 / Friend/Conc/Group $48

C Res $35

Bookings Book at THE EDGE: www.buytickets.co.nz / 09 357 3355 / 0800 289 842

Group bookings: groups@the-edge.co.nz / 09 357 3354

Information www.aaf.co.nz

Social Media Facebook: facebook.com/Aklfestival

Twitter: @Aklfestival

Video http://youtu.be/hgG2rljJqH4

Media enquiries Siobhan Waterhouse, Publicist. P: +64 (0)9 374 0317 | M: +64 (0) 22 126  4149 | E: siobhan.waterhouse@aucklandfestival.co.nz