Eddie Vedder has paid a heartfelt tribute to Glen Hansard by busking on Dublin’s Grafton Street, the exact location where the deceased Irish artist began his illustrious career. Following Hansard’s funeral last week, the Pearl Jam’s lead singer performed alongside fellow musicians in an spontaneous performance that featured both “Black” from Pearl Jam’s repertoire and Bruce Springsteen’s “Drive All Night.” The emotional tribute took place in the early morning hours, with video of the session posted by Scottish musician Murdo Mitchell, who had kept a long friendship with Hansard after the Dublin native discovered him busking at just 14 years old. Hansard, who died on 29 July aged 56 following a motorcycle accident, has sparked an wave of mourning from musicians and fans worldwide.
A Night-Time Memorial on Holy Ground
The unplanned busking session occurred at 3am on Grafton Street, the Dublin avenue where Hansard had devoted many hours perfecting his craft as a aspiring musician. Murdo Mitchell, who coordinated the tribute, described the importance of going back to this sacred location. “After Glen’s funeral, I asked Dylan, Tom & Felix if they would be keen on a busk at Glen’s spot on Grafton St,” he shared on Instagram. “They were extremely enthusiastic so we assembled a group of some friends & we made our way even though it was like 3am, it appeared to be the right thing to do. His spirit was there.”
The session embodied the spirit of grassroots musicianship that defined Hansard’s formative years. Working with basic gear—just Mitchell’s guitar and a damaged string between them—the musicians produced something profoundly significant. Photographs taken by celebrated photographer Danny Clinch documented the moment, capturing the raw emotion of the tribute. Despite the ungodly hour and sparse resources, the performance connected with those present, serving as a apt tribute to a man who built his legacy one street performance at a time.
- Pearl Jam’s “Black” featured in the Grafton Street session
- Bruce Springsteen’s “Drive All Night” included in the tribute set
- Murdo Mitchell coordinated the early morning busking performance
- Danny Clinch captured the poignant 3-hour session
Hansard’s Enduring Legacy in Musical Arts and Friendship
The Frames Founder International Reach
Glen Hansard’s influence went much further than Dublin’s streets into the international music scene, where he gained acclaim as both a co-founder of The Frames and a celebrated solo artist. His joint project with Once actress Markéta Irglová demonstrated his ability to transcend genres and connect with audiences globally. The flood of tributes following his death at age 56 illustrated the profound impact he had on musicians and fans around the globe, establishing his status as a transformative figure in modern music.
Hansard displayed a rare gift for creating meaningful bonds with those around him, a characteristic that Bono emphasised during the funeral proceedings. The U2 vocalist marvelled at Hansard’s talent for converting strangers into lifelong friends, whether they encountered him on Dublin’s parks or by way of his recordings. This remarkable gift for meaningful engagement went beyond the typical artist-audience relationship, building a circle connected through shared musical experience and genuine human warmth that shaped his outstanding life’s work.
- The Frames founder and celebrated collaborator with Markéta Irglová
- Built his reputation through street performances and independent music-making
- Created authentic connections with musicians and audiences worldwide
- Died 29 July aged 56 after a motorbike crash
A Funeral Ceremony Filled with Musical Performances
Glen Hansard’s memorial service became a tribute to his life through music, bringing together some of the most acclaimed artists in the music scene to honour his memory. Eddie Vedder performed a deeply moving rendition of Hansard’s own composition “The Song of Good Hope,” joined by Markéta Irglová, with whom Hansard had collaborated on the celebrated film Once. The participation of members from The Frames, Hansard’s pioneering ensemble, emphasised the deep bonds forged through decades of artistic collaboration and shared artistic vision. Each musical tribute functioned as a embodiment of the significant impact Hansard held throughout his career.
Beyond the formal proceedings, the funeral demonstrated the breadth of Hansard’s relationships throughout the music world. Bono’s attendance proved especially significant, as the U2 frontman gave a touching tribute that celebrated Hansard’s extraordinary gift for friendship and human connection. Rather than delivering a traditional eulogy, Bono performed a reimagined version of U2’s “Beautiful Day,” transforming the familiar anthem into a personal reflection on Hansard’s character. The service ended with a collective performance of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young,” bringing together mourners in a last shared musical moment that captured the spirit of communal celebration Hansard had fostered during his life.
Remarkable Performances and Highlights
The most striking moment came when Bono performed a musical voicemail from iconic musician Patti Smith, bringing another dimension of emotional depth to the proceedings. This unexpected tribute underscored the esteem Hansard enjoyed among musicians of all generations. The blend of personal performances and celebrity guests fostered an atmosphere that transcended conventional funeral formality, instead reflecting Hansard’s view of music as a vehicle for connection and collective human connection. Every performance strengthened the notion that Hansard’s lasting impact lay not merely in his body of recordings, but in the relationships and memories he cultivated with those around him.
The Influence of Street Performance and Community
In the period following Hansard’s funeral, Eddie Vedder and several fellow musicians came together at 3 a.m. on Dublin’s Grafton Street—the precise place where Hansard had launched his career in music as a street performer. This spontaneous tribute performance reflected the character of street-level musicianship that had defined Hansard’s career and legacy. Vedder played Pearl Jam’s “Black” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Drive All Night,” embodying the raw authenticity that marked busking culture. The determination to perform at such an unusual time, with minimal equipment and preparation, demonstrated how deeply Hansard’s approach to music—devoid of pretension and grounded in genuine human connection—had affected his peers.
Scottish musician Murdo Mitchell, who arranged the session, reflected on the spontaneity and significance of the moment. “His spirit was there,” Mitchell shared on Instagram, capturing the ineffable feeling of connection that appeared to suffuse the experience. The group operated with constrained means—Mitchell’s guitar and a broken string—yet produced something profoundly meaningful. Photographer Danny Clinch recorded the session, keeping fragments of a memorial that prioritised genuine feeling over production value. This method respected Hansard’s belief that music’s true power lay not in complex production or flawless execution, but in the authentic dialogue between musician and listener, a principle he had embodied throughout his career.
- Vedder played at Grafton Street, where Hansard began his busking career many years ago
- The tribute session occurred at 3am with minimal equipment and a broken guitar string
- Murdo Mitchell stressed that Hansard’s presence was evident during the spontaneous set