The Fretless

Canadian folk music group
The Fretless
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresFolk
Years active2011–present
Members
  • Karrnnel Sawitsky
  • Trent Freeman
  • Eric Wright
  • Ben Plotnick
Past membersIvonne Hernandez
Websitethefretless.com

The Fretless are a Canadian folk music group based in Toronto, Ontario.[1] The group, consisting of violinists Trent Freeman, Karrnnel Sawitsky and Ben Plotnick, and cellist Eric Wright,[1][2] won the Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2017.[3]

History

The group released its debut album Waterbound in 2012, and received Canadian Folk Music Awards for Instrumental Group of the Year and Ensemble of the Year at the 8th Canadian Folk Music Awards.[4] Their self-titled second album, released in 2014, again won the CFMA for Ensemble of the Year.[5]

Their third album, Bird's Nest, was released in 2016. The nine tracks are a mixture of original compositions and traditional tunes. Bird's Nest won a 2017 Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year.[3]

The band's fourth album, Live from the Art Farm, came out in 2018. In 2019, The Fretless were once again nominated for Instrumental Album of the Year at the Juno Awards for Live from the Art Farm.[6]

In 2021, the band began releasing singles from their album Open House, featuring guest vocalists including Taylor Ashton, Dan Mangan, Celeigh Cardinal, Ruth Moody, Rachel Sermanni, Nuela Charles and The Bros. Landreth.[7] Open House was a Juno nominee for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Mike Devlin, "Folk group the Fretless feeling ‘super lucky’". Victoria Times-Colonist, October 19, 2017.
  2. ^ Alexander Varty, "The Fretless plays fiddle tunes with hybrid vigour". The Georgia Straight, February 5, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Here Is the Full List of 2017 Juno Winners". Exclaim!, April 2, 2017.
  4. ^ "PRIX DE MUSIQUE FOLK CANADIENNE: MES AÏEUX, SAGAPOOL ET HENRI GODON RÉCOMPENSÉS". Voir, November 21, 2013.
  5. ^ "Stretching the boundaries of the fiddle". Sudbury Star, September 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Sarah Murphy, "See the Full List of 2019 Juno Awards Nominees". Exclaim!, January 29, 2019.
  7. ^ Chelsea Brimstin, "The Fretless share video for new The Bros. Landreth collaboration ‘Let It Lie’". CIND-FM, September 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Chelsea Brimstin, "Charlotte Cardin, The Weeknd, Charlotte Day Wilson, more nominated for 2022 Juno Awards". CIND-FM, March 1, 2022.

External links

  • Official website