The Frames Celebrate 20 Years With Series Of Special Shows & Tickets
Friday, 08 October 2010
Written by Jon Stickler
Acknowledged as one of Ireland’s most successful domestic music acts of their generation, The Frames careers spans 3 decades as they celebrate 20 years as a band.
They released their first album in 1992 and, over nearly a decade bounced through various well-documented record deals and band line-ups releasing consistently successful records along the way in spite of it. Finally, as the new millennium appeared the band shook themselves free of outside influences, beginning work on 'For The Birds' which they released on their own Plateau label in March 2001.
Two years later after constant touring and an ever-rising fanbase the band released their live opus, 'Set List', which became the first of their albums to début in the Irish Album Charts at No 1 in May 2003 and has gone on to be their biggest-selling album to date. They continued with their relentless touring schedule around the world, inked an international record deal with the Anti record label (whilst retaining release rights for their own label at home and in Australia) and still found time to record and release their 5th studio album.
Following hot on the heels of a monumental sold-out open-air show in front of nearly 20,000 at Dublin’s Marlay Park, 'Burn The Maps' was released in September 2004. It went straight to No 1 at home in Ireland and became a long-term fixture in the Irish Charts in spite of the band having to spend most of their time away on tour supporting its release worldwide in 2005.
The Frames finished up 2005 with a sold out gig in Dublin’s Point Theatre and meanwhile in The States, 'Burn The Maps' finished at No 5 in the New York Times end of year Top 10 releases. 2006 began with Esquire magazine giving them the coveted Best Import award (which Coldplay had won the previous year).
Indulging in a spot of moonlighting in March 2006 frontman Glen Hansard released a universally acclaimed collaborative 'Swell Season' album (charting at No 5) and tour with Czech singer/pianist/composer Marketa Irglova.
The band released their 6th studio album, 'The Cost', in Ireland on their own Plateau label in Ireland September 2006 (the rest of Europe followed in October on the Anti label). It went straight into the album charts at No 2 and was the springboard for a solid year of international touring which culminated in a Christmas show in Ireland with Snow Patrol and a headline show to ring in the new year.
All of The Frames’ albums to date have achieved Double Platinum sales status in Ireland (with the band’s live album, 'Set List', and 'For The Birds' selling well in excess of Quadruple Platinum!)
Meanwhile frontman Glen’s return to acting (his first role since The Commitments) proved an unqualified success with the film 'Once' (written and directed by ex-Frames bass player John Carney), won the prestigious Sundance Audience International Award as well as the Dublin Film Festival Audience Award and a host of other International accolades.
The music from the film (written by Glen and film co-star Marketa Irglova was released under the name The Swell Season and, all part of the flurry of activity that surrounded the film’s success, the pair won an Oscar for “Best Original Song” for 'Falling Slowly'.
This elicited a swathe of appearances on all of the peak chat shows around the world on an ongoing basis and provided the foundation for an ongoing series of sold-out full band worldwide tours under the name The Swell Season (featuring The Frames as their band).
The Frames will be playing a series of special shows to celebrate their 20th Anniversary:
Wednesday 8 December – London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Saturday 11 December – Belfast, Mandela Hall
Sunday 12 December – Dublin, Olympia Theatre
Monday 13 December – Dublin, Vicar Street
Wednesday 15 December – Dublin, Whelans
Thursday 16 December – Dublin, Whelans
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