Aoife O’Donovan, from Brooklyn, has a difficult task ahead of her. She is attempting to take on the large Chicago Theatre with just an acoustic guitar and her voice. As soon as she starts singing, it’s clear she is up to the challenge. Her voice is strong and confident as she sings “Oh, Mama” from her 2013 album, Fossils. Soon, she is joined by a piano player who also plays with Glen Hansard. Together they play beautiful melodies that warm up the audience coming in from Chicago’s first snow of the season. It’s a fantastic performance which surely gained her many new fans.
To the crowd’s delight, Aoife returns to the stage for Glen Hansard’s encore. She sings one of the verses of “The Auld Triangle” beautifully and fits right in with the band. Later on, she and Glen sing the duet which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2008, “Falling Slowly”, from the film Once. It’s a truly magical moment as all the couples embrace and sing along: “Take this sinking boat and point it home; we’ve still got time!” O’Donovan often collaborates with the best such as Sarah Jarosz, Yo-Yo Ma, Chrile Thile, and Sara Watkins. She can now add Glen Hansard to this impressive list!
See Glen Hansard’s encore set here.
Quinn Delaney
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