Photo Rights: The Fretless
A unique mix of folk, classical, and Celtic traditions will fill the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, as The Fretless takes the stage on Saturday, November 8th.
The Canadian string ensemble — featuring two fiddles, a viola, and a cello — has made a name for itself by reimagining traditional fiddle tunes and folk melodies with the sophistication of a string quartet and the energy of a roots band.
Fiddler Trent Freeman helped co-found the group over a decade ago, and says his love for music started on Vancouver Island, where local fiddlers first introduced him to the joy of community dances and traditional tunes.
While The Fretless may look like a classical quartet on stage, Freeman says their sound is anything but conventional.
Freeman explains that the band — whose members are based across Canada and the U.S. — first came together simply to record an album. But after the success of that debut, the chemistry and creativity kept growing. Their style blends centuries-old fiddle traditions with contemporary arrangements and original compositions.
Their most recent album, Glasswing, continues that evolution — and Freeman says fans in Port Stanley can expect to hear some of it.
For this stop on their fall tour, The Fretless will be joined by singer-songwriter Madeline Roger, whose folk-infused vocals add another layer to the group’s textured sound.
This will be the The Fretless’ first performance at Port Stanley Festival Theatre and Freeman says the group is looking forward to connecting with both new listeners and long-time fans of traditional music.
Formed in 2012, The Fretless has earned international acclaim and multiple awards, including a Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year, and several Canadian Folk Music Awards. The ensemble’s members include Trent Freeman (Fiddle/Viola), Karrnnel Sawitsky (Fiddle/Viola), Ben Plotnick (Fiddle/Viola), and Eric Wright (Cello).
Tickets for The Fretless with Madeline Roger are still available through the Port Stanley Festival Theatre box office or online at PSFT.ca.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
