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The Fretless brings bluegrass to new heights

Rising in popularity across Canada since first coming together in 2011 The Fretless will be in concert in Williams Lake next week.
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The Cariboo Chilcotin Youth Fiddle Society is presenting a concert with the noted Canadian bluegrass band The Fretless on Saturday

Rising in popularity across Canada since first coming together in 2011 The Fretless takes a new approach to folk music that is quickly gaining high acclaim around the world.

In November 2011, Karrnnel Sawitsky (Fiddle), Ivonne Hernandez (Fiddle), Eric Wright (Cello) and Trent Freeman (Fiddle) got together for the first time on Vancouver Island. At the end of 10 days of writing, arranging, practicing The Fretless emerged as a band.

They released their debut album Waterbound in early 2012, which features their fresh styles and compositions, plus collaborations with singers Ruth Moody and Norah Rendell. The album grabbed the attention of critics and fans of many genres.

Waterfound with its intricate, beautiful, high energy fiddle tunes and folk melodies fueled a busy summer for the band of festivals across Canada, a month long tour of Germany, and world wide sales and radio play.

The year was capped with three awards: Instrumental Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards; and at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, both Ensemble of the Year, and Instrumental Group of the Year.

The individual biographies of this group are truly amazing.  By the age of three, Ivonne Hernandez was playing violin by ear, everything from her mother’s favourite Maritime reels to her father’s Chilean folk music roots.

A child prodigy, she is the reigning five-time Grand North American Fiddle Champion, and has performed around the world.

With several Canadian Folk Music award nominations and a Saskatchewan 30 Below Award nomination to his credit Karrnnel Sawitsky is quickly establishing himself as one of the most dynamic and original fiddle players in Canada.

In June 2010, Sawitsky and Juno nominated multi-instrumentalist Daniel Koulack released Fiddle and Banjo which garnered two  Canadian Folk Music Award Nominations for Instrumental Group of the Year and Pushing the Boundaries.

Trent Freeman on violin and viola is an innovative player, whose unique blend of deep groove, in depth harmony, captivating melodies and personal writing style set him apart from many others.

His 2012 Canadian Folk Music Award winning record Rock Paper Scissors is an all original, instrumental album that is artistic, inspired, edgy and beautiful as it blurs the lines between jazz and folk.

Eric Wright started playing classical cello at age seven and by age 13 was teaching group and private lessons in Vermont, while playing in numerous chamber groups and orchestras.

When not on tour, Wright teaches Celtic/Old Time cello, guitar, and banjo at many music camps, works as a composer/sound designer for film, and is a music consultant for EMI publishing in Los Angeles.