The Fretless is the Canadian ensemble playing an essential part in the emerging movement mainstreaming traditional music. The band connects traditional styles, sharing their music with diverse audiences around the world. Starting with their debut album in 2012, the band has steadily pushed further into the public eye and won Instrumental Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and Instrumental Group of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. The 2014 tune “Waving To Ryan” topped one million Spotify plays, and, in 2016, The Fretless took home a JUNO Award for Instrumental Album of The Year for their album Bird’s Nest. 2018 saw the release of the band’s newest record, Live from the Art Farm, in which the band recorded ten all-new intricate arrangements in front of three microphones and an audience, straight to tape. Other accolades and awards include: 2018 CFMA - 3 nominations (takes place in Dec 2018) 2017 JUNO - Instrumental Album of the Year 2014 CFMA - Ensemble of the Year 2014 WCMA - Instrumental Album of the Year 2012 CFMA - Ensemble of the Year 2012 CFMA - Instrumental Group of the Year 2012 WCMA - Instrumental Album of the Year “Transforming string music into intricate, beautiful, high-energy arrangements, Canada’s The Fretless have become flawless musical acrobats and JUNO Award winners.” - Martin Hutchinson, Progradar “That experience (a Fretless show) provided a genuine turning point in my musical thinking and ongoing musical education.” - David Morrison, FRUK “It isn’t often that you come across instrumental music so beautiful that each track feels like brush strokes in a piece of artwork.” - Ben Ray, Cherwell