The Fretless is a new approach to folk music that is quickly gaining high a… Read Full Bio ↴The Fretless is a new approach to folk music that is quickly 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.
With the release of their debut album Waterbound in early 2012, which features their fresh styles, compositions, as well as collaborations with singers Ruth Moody and Norah Rendell, the quartet grabbed the attention of critics and fans across many genres. This recording fueled a busy summer of festivals across Canada, a month long tour of Germany in the fall, and world wide sales and radio play. The year was capped with 3 awards, bringing the album, and the band further into the public eye; Instrumental Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, and at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, The Fretless walked away with both Ensemble of the year, and Instrumental Group of the Year. Most recently, The Fretless' album 'Bird's Nest' won Canada's most prestigious music award; the 2017 JUNO Award for Instrumental album of the year.
In 2016, Ben Plotnick joined the group, replacing Ivonne Hernandez who had moved on to pursue other musical projects.
Musically, the goals of the group are to expand the rhythmic, harmonic and structured arrangement style of the many folk genres they play using only string instruments. There are countless fiddle styles across Canada and around the globe that have been stagnating over time, and The Fretless is working to incorporate a new approach and a new audience. As a band, all four members have come from very different traditional and contemporary backgrounds, and are influenced by a vast array of art. However they are unified in their goal to continually develop their amalgamated sound in order to push traditional music as far as possible.
The Fretless is an innovation in music that must be heard. They harbor all the energy of fiddle tunes, while shattering all expectations in writing, creativity and performance.
With the release of their debut album Waterbound in early 2012, which features their fresh styles, compositions, as well as collaborations with singers Ruth Moody and Norah Rendell, the quartet grabbed the attention of critics and fans across many genres. This recording fueled a busy summer of festivals across Canada, a month long tour of Germany in the fall, and world wide sales and radio play. The year was capped with 3 awards, bringing the album, and the band further into the public eye; Instrumental Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, and at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, The Fretless walked away with both Ensemble of the year, and Instrumental Group of the Year. Most recently, The Fretless' album 'Bird's Nest' won Canada's most prestigious music award; the 2017 JUNO Award for Instrumental album of the year.
In 2016, Ben Plotnick joined the group, replacing Ivonne Hernandez who had moved on to pursue other musical projects.
Musically, the goals of the group are to expand the rhythmic, harmonic and structured arrangement style of the many folk genres they play using only string instruments. There are countless fiddle styles across Canada and around the globe that have been stagnating over time, and The Fretless is working to incorporate a new approach and a new audience. As a band, all four members have come from very different traditional and contemporary backgrounds, and are influenced by a vast array of art. However they are unified in their goal to continually develop their amalgamated sound in order to push traditional music as far as possible.
The Fretless is an innovation in music that must be heard. They harbor all the energy of fiddle tunes, while shattering all expectations in writing, creativity and performance.
MacLeod’s Farewell / Palmer’s Gate
The Fretless Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Fretless:
Alaska I was walking through icy streams That took my breath away,…
Dirty Work Times are hard You're afraid to pay the fee So you find…
My Moon My Man My moon, my man, so changeable and Such a lovable lamb…
Retrograde (mmm) You're on your own In a world you've grown Few more y…
Stay Waiting for the time to pass you by Hope the winds…
Troubled Mind I can't take the heat, guess I got a troubled…
Waterbound I went late one night The moon and stars were shining…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Elena Vantrel
first time I hear this band - you're great!!! I'd love to see you live
Catpiper & Drumkitten
So much SOUL! Brilliant stuff, feel like dancing. I play this on the banjo as well, is the fingering very different from the fiddle?
Off The Grid Productions
So easy to listen to and marvel at how easy they make it look. Talent everywhere here!
Elizabeth Buchanan
Spirited and inspiring
Invisible Inkling
My favorite music!
Birken Tree
Lovely playing and arrangement, although the first tune is Scottish!
be8nice
Composed by Donald Shaw of Capercaille as a farewell to bandmate Martin MacLeod. Great stuff!
Eric Wright
It sure is! There are a few sneaky non-irish tunes on the album...
Orion
Awesome
Casa Tranquila
nice tunes.. but not whats being played live here...well acted .. added percussion ?