An Evening with VÄSEN + THE FRETLESS

The Cedar Presents

Friday, October 24, 2025 / Doors: 7:30 PM / Show: 8:00 PM

All Ages

Seated

This is a seated show with general admission, first-come-first-served seating. The Cedar is happy to reserve seats for patrons who require special seating accommodations. To request access accommodations, please go to our

For Cedar presented shows, online ticket sales typically end one hour before the door time, and then, based on availability, tickets will be available at the door. Tickets purchased at the door will include a $1 Eventbrite fee.

Swedish folk from Upsala, Väsen return to The Cedar for a co-headlining show with Canadian folk quintet The Fretless.

Väsen-Duo, Mikael Marin and Olov Johansson have, after 37 years of interaction and touring, refined their sound and their stage presence to the extent that today they are unique in their kind. With their playful and perfect interplay, they seem to defy the laws of physics in what appears to be a telepathic communication.

The music is intense and full of humour. They create their very own musical language which in its appeal is as modern as it is ancient. With the foundation firmly rooted in the traditional music of Uppland, they have always looked curiously at new musical goals.

Olov & Micke have played together since 1983 when they met at Oktoberstämman in Uppsala and discovered that they had a large common repertoire and a similar way of playing. It turned out that Micke had learned from Ivar Tallroth in Uppsala and Olov had learned from Curt Tallroth in Harbo. They had been introduced to the rich Bohlin / Tallroth tradition by the two brothers. Olov & Micke started playing intensively together and released their first recording, "Det rister i Örat," in 1985. They have played an incredible amount together over the years in Väsen. Now they go on adventures among old fine musicians, stories and trad  tunes and at the same time they continue to break new ground. They perform on a variety of stringed instruments, including a silverbasharpa, oktavharpa, three-rowed Nyckelharpa, violoncello da spalla and a blue electric viola.

To learn more about Väsen :

• Visit their website here

The Fretless is taking roots music to new heights with their highly anticipated sixth album, Glasswing, a deep immersion into their musical minds, soaring through a decade-long journey of developing their singular sound.

"The music they're making, the ground that they're breaking, is quite remarkable."

- Terry David Mulligan (Mulligan Stew)

This award-winning Canadian foursome has firmly established itself on the international music scene with prolific playing, masterful compositions, iconic collaborations, and electrifying live shows. The Fretless has expanded the idea of what a string quartet can be, transforming fiddle tunes and folk melodies into intricate, high-energy arrangements. Their ensemble of two fiddles, a viola, and a cello produces a rich, multi-layered, and distinctive percussive sound that redefines contemporary folk music.

"You can feel the live audience leaning forward, reflecting the lilting energy of the modern-flavoured percussive chopping and the timeless jig and reel drive back to the Fretless, who give it directly back to their audience. It's almost as if they know they're transporting each listener to a back porch, dance hall, or barn party with every bow stroke."

— The Bluegrass Situation

Since forming in 2011, The Fretless has toured extensively across Canada and worldwide, including Australia, South and North America, and seven European tours—playing historic small halls to prestigious stages such as the Cologne Philharmonic, Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra Hall, Shetland Folk Festival, Festival Internacional Cervantino, and two sold-out shows at Celtic Connections. At home, they've captivated audiences at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Small Halls, Hillside Festival, and Mariposa Folk Festival. They also had the honour of sharing the bill with legendary Canadian fiddler Natalie MacMaster for Canada Scene at the National Arts Centre.

In 2012, The Fretless had a breakout year with their debut album, Waterbound, winning Instrumental Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and Instrumental Group of the Year and Ensemble of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA). Their follow-up, The Fretless, won Ensemble of the Year at the CFMAs and features "Waving To Ryan," one of their most streamed songs. In 2015, Bird's Nest solidified their place in the roots music scene, earning a 2016 Juno award for Instrumental Album of the Year. Recorded live in a historic barn in upstate New York, their 2018 release, Live from the Art Farm, won a CFMA for Best Ensemble and a second Juno nomination. In 2021, The Fretless released their most ambitious recording — Open House, a 10-track guest singer collaboration featuring an astounding list of powerhouse vocalists. This album solidified The Fretless as an ever-evolving, transcendent group, earning them a Juno nomination for Contemporary Album of the Year in 2022.

Live from the Art Farm taught The Fretless to find a deep traditional groove, while Open House pushed them to explore new sounds and techniques. Influenced by these previous concept records, which expanded their arranging toolkit, The Fretless is set to release Glasswing — an album filled with breath, space, intention, and life. Opening up their writing and arranging process for the first time, they welcomed accomplished singer/songwriter Madeleine Roger to co-write three songs.

Experimental in nature, Glasswing feels effortless—capturing magical performance moments, superb subtleties, and over a decade of playing together. The Fretless's sound has never been more cohesive. With expert musicianship and a one-of-a-kind musical experience, the Glasswing tour will invite audiences to connect deeply, sharing a profound passion for music on an entirely new level.

The Fretless is Trent Freeman (Fiddle/Viola), Karrnnel Sawitsky (Fiddle/Viola), Ben Plotnick(Fiddle/Viola), and Eric Wright (Cello).

To learn more about The Fretless:

• Visit their website here

Host or Publisher The Cedar Cultural Center