Glen Hansard, Irish Singer With Deep Chicago Ties, Dies at 56 After Dublin Motorcycle Crash

CHICAGO, IL — Glen Hansard, the Irish singer-songwriter whose career repeatedly intersected with Chicago music, died early Wednesday after a motorcycle crash in Dublin. He was 56.

The accident was a single-vehicle crash in his home city, according to Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ. His management said in a Facebook post that the musician died in the early hours of the morning and asked for privacy for his family, friends and colleagues.

A beloved presence in Chicago’s clubs and concert halls

Hansard was more than a visiting act in Chicago. He lived in North Center in the early 2000s and often described the city as a second home.

He told a March 31 audience at Space in Evanston, “Chicago became my home,” while reflecting on that period. Over the years, he played local rooms including Metro, Schubas, the old Abbey Pub and, more recently, the Salt Shed.

He also performed at Wrigley Field in 2024 as an opener for Pearl Jam and sometimes appeared as one of Eddie Vedder’s Earthlings, another sign of how closely he was woven into the city’s rock community.

How Hansard became part of the city’s music circle

Hansard’s Chicago story ran through studios, musicians and venue owners as much as it did through touring dates. In the early 2000s, he and The Frames worked with engineer Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Avondale, and Chicago guitarist Rob Bochnik became a longtime collaborator.

Michael Cameron, owner of Uncommon Ground, said Hansard first played there in the late 1990s to help introduce him to people in the local industry. Cameron said the small show drew a packed crowd and helped cement a friendship that lasted for years.

Bruce Finkelman of 16 on Center said Hansard had a naturally warm presence and was deeply respected in the local scene. Hansard was also an investor in Thalia Hall, the Pilsen venue that opened in 2013.

The legacy fans will remember after 'Once' and Swell Season

Hansard dropped out of school at 13 to busk on Dublin streets and formed The Frames in 1990, but his international breakthrough came with the 2007 film Once. The movie starred Hansard and Markéta Irglová as struggling musicians, and their song “Falling Slowly” won the 2008 Academy Award for best original song.

The film later became a Tony Award-winning stage musical, and Hansard and Irglová toured together as Swell Season, including stops in Chicago. They reunited for shows at Cadillac Palace Theatre in 2022 and the Auditorium Theatre in July 2025.

At the time of his death, Chicago clubs and artists were preparing to honor him at a show tied to Uncommon Ground’s 35th anniversary, a plan that is now on hold while friends and musicians absorb the news.

Chicago's music scene, one story at a time — Chicago Music Guide.