Louis Bockner/B次元官网网址 staff

The life of hotel bedrooms and in-flight breakfasts can be heard creeping into Ivonne HernandezB次元官网网址檚 voice, but more prominent is the vibrant love and passion that has driven her music her entire life. Tonight, in the midst of a flourishing career, the West Shore-raised fiddler is bringing her high-energy music home to VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Fairfield United Church.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 awesome to come back and play in front of friends and family,B次元官网网址� says Hernandez. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so nice to see everyone, say hello, and thank them for their support over the years.B次元官网网址�

With many acts in her musical repertoire, Hernandez will take the stage with her latest ensemble, The Fretless, which consists of three fiddles and a cello.

Since releasing its debut album, B次元官网网址淲aterbound,B次元官网网址� last spring, the group is on the rise. With three awards under the belt, including Group of the Year at the 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards and Instrumental Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, the band is set for another year of foot-stomping nights and connecting flights.

The groupB次元官网网址檚 upbeat blend of folk music draws inspiration from across the globe, including classical, Celtic and Scandinavian traditions, and provides a fitting soundtrack to the multi-cultural world we live in.

This uniting of cultures began early for Hernandez who would play her violin by ear to match everything from her motherB次元官网网址檚 Maritime reels to her fatherB次元官网网址檚 Chilean folk music. After picking up the guitar, cello, flute, piano and percussion she joined Daniel LappB次元官网网址檚 B.C. Fiddle Orchestra, which gave her much needed real-world musical experience.

B次元官网网址淚t was very interesting and very helpful for later in life,B次元官网网址� says Hernandez. B次元官网网址淲orking with adults who have done it before is great experience when youB次元官网网址檙e 10 or 11 years old.B次元官网网址�

Now, 20 years later, she has played with the likes of Alan Jackson, Natalie MacMaster, Earth Wind and Fire and Mark OB次元官网网址機onnor (one of her living idols) and in 2009 she graduated from BostonB次元官网网址檚 Berklee College of Music at the top of her class. After seven years of living in the U.S. she moved back to Victoria seven months ago.

B次元官网网址淚 missed Victoria and I missed my family and friends,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 decided that since IB次元官网网址檓 only home for short periods of time in between tours I wanted to spend that time here.B次元官网网址�

During her brief returns she tutors a fiddle group of advanced students, ranging from the ages of 11 to 17, who will open FridayB次元官网网址檚 show with a few songs of their own.

This return to her roots offers Hernandez a chance to give back to a community that nurtured her own prodigious talent.

B次元官网网址淚 try to give them opportunities like getting gigs and being in a band because once you get out of high school thatB次元官网网址檚 what itB次元官网网址檚 all about,B次元官网网址� says Hernandez. B次元官网网址淎bove all they are just great to work with.B次元官网网址�

In many ways Friday will be just another night on stage for the this well-travelled, West-Coast fiddler, but one way it is refreshingly different.

B次元官网网址淚 get to sleep in my own bed after,B次元官网网址� she says with a laugh.

Showtime is 8 p.m. at Fairfield United Church 1303 Fairfield Rd.

Get ticket info at www.thefretless.com.