Juno Award-winners The Fretless kick off tour in Judique

The Juno Awards honour the best in Canadian music, and in April 2017, multi-award winning Western Canadian quartet The Fretless joined that club with their third album, Bird’s Nest, being named Instrumental Album of the Year. It is a rare opportunity to catch The Fretless live on the East Coast of Canada, a part of the country responsible for so much of the band’s traditional influences, but that’s where you’ll find them come spring. They will kick off their tour March 22 at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique, followed by dates in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

The Fretless takes a new approach to folk music, one that has been gaining high acclaim around the world. This unique band is taking string music to fascinating places as it transforms fiddle tunes and folk melodies into intricate, beautiful, high-energy arrangements. Released in 2016, at the renowned Kölner Philharmonie (Colgne, Germany), Bird’s Nest, has quickly risen to become their most successful offering to date. Continuing The Fretless’ trajectory into the creative stratosphere, this completely instrumental release was composed and inspired by events, people and places connected to the band.

Waterbound, their 2012 debut album, immediately attracted the attention of critics and fans across continents and genres. The recording earned them Instrumental Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMAs), and both Ensemble of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMAs). Their 2014 self-titled sophomore album further solidified their status as an innovation in music that must be heard, and garnered another CFMA and WCMA.

The band met and cut its teeth attending, performing and teaching, at music schools and festivals across Canada, and from there evolved to create their vision, a complex yet digestible melding of intricate classical arrangements and folk melodies. The Fretless have toured extensively across Canada, the United States and Europe, playing some of the most sought after festivals and venues in the world.

On this East Coast tour, they will also be introducing material from their upcoming album, Live from the Art Farm, set for release in April. In the band’s words, Live from the Art Farm is The Fretless’ exploration of traditional Irish tunes. Drawing inspiration from the weaving, intricate melodies of the style, the band arranged some of their favourite tunes with the creative approach of The Fretless sound. The album was recorded in front of a small live audience at The Art Farm Studios, a beautifully converted barn, with only three microphones, straight to tape. Harnessing the energy of their dynamic live show, and using traditional recording styles, the group’s unique live album melds the old with the new.