The Swell Season

The Swell Season, the Oscar-winning duo of Frames frontman Glen Hansard and Czech ingénue Marketa Irglova, will release their new album 'Strict Joy' through Anti- Records on 28 September. The album features twelve new songs and is the follow-up to their surprise hit film and gold-certified soundtrack 'Once.' The Swell Season have also confirmed a European headlining tour in November 2009.

‘Strict Joy,' which borrows its name from a work by Irish poet James Stephens, was co-produced by Hansard and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol), and recorded mostly at Katis' Tarquin Studios in Connecticut, USA. In addition to Hansard and Irglova, the album features Frames members Colm M...

The Swell Season, the Oscar-winning duo of Frames frontman Glen Hansard and Czech ingénue Marketa Irglova, will release their new album 'Strict Joy' through Anti- Records on 28 September. The album features twelve new songs and is the follow-up to their surprise hit film and gold-certified soundtrack 'Once.' The Swell Season have also confirmed a European headlining tour in November 2009.

‘Strict Joy,' which borrows its name from a work by Irish poet James Stephens, was co-produced by Hansard and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol), and recorded mostly at Katis' Tarquin Studios in Connecticut, USA. In addition to Hansard and Irglova, the album features Frames members Colm Mac Iomaire (violin), Joe Doyle (bass), Rob Bochnik (guitar) and guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen), pianist Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), percussionist Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground Duo), horn players Steven Bernstein and Clark Gayton from Levon Helm's band and others.

The Swell Season generated a wave of acclaim during the 2008 awards season picking up two Grammy nominations and an Oscar win for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly." The duo performed the song at the Oscars ceremony and Irglova provided one of the most memorable and poignant moments of the evening when host Jon Stewart called her back to the stage after an ad break to give her acceptance speech. The success of ‘Once' also led to a sold out world tour for The Swell Season, which was captured for an upcoming documentary.