The Swell Season
– Auditorium Theatre
Chicago, IL
by Mahrou Senobar
In an era of viral hits and disposable anthems, The Swell Season showed Chicago what timeless music sounds like. On a humid July night at the historic Auditorium Theatre, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová—better known together as The Swell Season—reunited onstage in support of their first new album in over 15 years. The result was a devastatingly beautiful performance that reminded longtime fans—and maybe even the artists themselves—why their music continues to resonate across generations. Their return was more than just a tour stop; it was a moment of emotional reconnection. Fans, many of whom first fell in love with their sound through the 2007 indie film Once, came ready to relive the heartbreak, the harmonies, and the haunting simplicity that made “Falling Slowly” an Academy Award-winning anthem—and a permanent fixture on playlists around the world.
A Reunion Rooted in Growth It’s been over a decade since the Irish-Czech duo last released music together, and even longer since their real-life romance quietly faded. But onstage in 2025, the chemistry remains electric—not romantic, perhaps, but rooted in mutual respect, shared history, and deep musical connection. Their new album, Forward, dropped in June 2025 to critical acclaim. With stripped-back arrangements, introspective lyrics, and a sense of quiet maturity, the project feels like the spiritual sequel to their earlier work—older, wiser, but no less emotionally potent. Songs like “Stuck in Reverse” and “People We Used to Be” carried the weight of time and distance. Yet, in the lush acoustics of the Auditorium Theatre, they felt immediate and raw—proving that the duo’s signature sound still has something powerful to say in today’s musical landscape.
A Setlist Built to Break and Heal The concert’s opening notes were met with a hush from the crowd—a reverent silence, as if everyone instinctively knew they were witnessing something rare. Hansard, with his rugged vocals and fiery guitar strums, set the tone early, while Irglová balanced the set with her soft-spoken elegance and soaring harmonies. They wove classic tracks like “If You Want Me,” “Gold,” and “When Your Mind’s Made Up” into a set that also spotlighted their new material. The transitions were seamless; the old and new speaking to one another like journal entries across time. Hansard’s stage presence remains magnetic—part troubadour, part preacher—while Irglová, seated behind the keys, brought a quiet gravitas that grounded the entire evening. The audience, a cross-generational mix of original fans and newcomers drawn in by social media buzz and playlist algorithms, hung on every note. Backing the duo was longtime Swell Season bassist Joe Doyle and new drummer Piero Perelli, whose sensitive touch on percussion elevated the songs without overpowering them. The result was a fuller sound that still felt intimately handmade.
Music That Lives in the Quiet Places There’s something singular about watching Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová share a stage. They don’t banter much. There’s no flash, no ego, no spectacle. Just two artists meeting one another again in a musical space that seems almost sacred. They may have gone their separate ways personally, but in performance, their connection is palpable—rooted in art, not artifice. Even after all these years, their music still whispers truths that most of us are too afraid to say out loud. That love is complicated. That time can both heal and haunt. That even if you move on, you don’t forget.
A Comeback That’s More Than Nostalgia While many reunion tours trade on sentimentality, The Swell Season’s 2025 comeback feels refreshingly forward-looking. The new album isn’t just a throwback—it’s a musical evolution, and their live performance reflects that. They’re not trying to be who they were in 2007. They’re embracing who they are now—seasoned, scarred, but still singing. And clearly, the world is listening. Their 2025 U.S. tour is generating buzz across streaming platforms, fan forums, and even TikTok, where younger audiences are discovering the power of acoustic storytelling all over again. If you get the chance to see The Swell Season live this year—don’t miss it. You may come for the nostalgia. But you’ll stay for the music that still cuts to the bone.
