The Fretless

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The Fretless is the Canadian fiddle foursome playing an essential part in the emerging movement mainstreaming traditional irish folk music.

Starting with its debut album in 2012, the band has steadily pushed further into the public eye, winning Instrumental Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and Instrumental Group of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Its 2014 tune “Waving To Ryan” has topped a million Spotify plays, and in 2016, The Fretless took home a Juno™ award for Instrumental Album of The Year for its most recent full-length Bird’s Nest.

Through its deconstruction and transformation of the usual rhythmic, harmonic and structured arrangements of fiddle styles around the world, The Fretless is pushing traditional music to a new place, and has now issued itself an atypical challenge in the mission to find and convert fans unfamiliar with “progressive” traditional music.

With its latest recording, The Fretless is taking advantage of the recent recognition by releasing an instrumental album of tunes representing the player’s traditional roots. Recorded live in a barn in upstate New York before a handful-sized audience assembled only a few feet away from the players, Live From The Artfarm is the raw result of this performance.

For this special CD release concert, The Fretless will be joined by the popular Vancouver folk duo Twin Bandit for a few numbers during their performance.

"Here’s the confession of a music writer who travelled from Belfast to the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh with the intention of interviewing Canadian folk four-piece The Fretless as they worked their way through their first UK tour. I was looking forward to this. Their recently released album of Irish fiddle tunes, Live From The Art Farm, had been a gorgeous breath of fresh air. Whether it was the intricate layered arrangements or a simple deftness of touch that had caught me, I wasn’t sure, but either way, MacLeod's Farewell had carried me over to press play again, and then again." - Cara Gibney, fRoots.

Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Rachel Beck is already making her mark on the national scene with a hit debut release. Beck’s self-titled album came out on March 2, 2018. On March 8, its first single, Reckless Heart, hit #1 on the CBC Music Top 20 after having the most online votes for 6 weeks straight. Beck’s hook-driven, emotive piano pop melodies captivate. And whether you see her live, hear her on the radio, or press play on one of her songs, the experience is just as impactful: you are not only brought under her vocal spell, but are an instant fan.

"A big sound from a little island."  - Raina Douris, Mornings on CBC Music 

"But even in heartbreak, Beck’s voice is strong, reassuring. It’s what ties together her piano-pop melodies, a call in the dark that provides a safe place to land." - Holly Gordon, CBC Music

"Beck clearly establishes herself here as a force to be reckoned with, both as a songwriter and as a performer ... There is a lovely sense of balance to this record. The instrumental tracks are top-drawer, but they never overpower or take the focus away from Beck’s vocals. And those vocals are superb." - Doug Gallant,The Guardian

The Rogue Folk Club is pleased to provide great Sponsorship Opportunities for all our shows. For a nominal cost, individuals or businesses can sponsor any of our shows and reap a number of benefits - free tickets, reserved table, recognition on literature, our web site and at the concerts. For more information simply contact our Sponsorship Director Morris Biddle at mobiddley@me.com