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Ethan Hazzard-Watkins fiddler

Fiddler Ethan Hazzard-Watkins performs traditional and original music with infectious energy, passion, and grace.

Ethan's fiddling combines expressive subtlety, playfulness, and compelling rhythmic power born out of more than two decades of experience as a dance musician. A versatile and inspiring performer, Ethan is equally at home digging into an Irish, Quebecois, or New England fiddle tune, improvising on a classic blues, swing, or honky-tonk song, or interpreting a lyrical waltz or English Country Dance melody.

Based in Brattleboro, Vermont, Ethan tours extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, playing for dances, festivals, camps, concerts, weddings, and other events with his bands Elixir and The Figments. He performs closer to home with honky-tonk band The Rear Defrosters. Ethan is also an avid composer of tunes in traditional styles, and his compositions and arrangements have been played and recorded widely.

gig calendar

Jun 8, 2017at 9:00 pmRear Defrosters @ Thing in the SpringHarlow's Pub
3 School St, Peterborough, NH 03458, United Stateswith Elixir
Jun 26, 2017at 7:00 pmAmherst English Country DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirBrad Foster (calling), Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Karen Axelrod (piano)
Jun 29, 2017to Jul 3, 2017Boston Centre July 4th WeekendPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Jul 3, 2017to Jul 7, 2017ESCape (English, Scottish, Contra) week at PinewoodsPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Jul 15, 2017at 6:00 pmRear Defrosters @ Bunker FarmThe Bunker Farm, 857 Bunker Rd, Dummerston, VTwith ElixirPizza available for purchase starting at 6pm, with music to follow. BYOB.
Opening Act: New Barnyard Seranaders
$10 suggested donation for the bands
Jul 22, 2017to Jul 29, 2017CDSS Harmony of Song & Dance WeekPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Aug 17, 2017at 7:30 pmConcord Contra Dance74 Walden St
Concord MA 01742
United Stateswith Elixir
The Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Sep 23, 2017at 2:15 pmRear Defrosters @ Garlic and Arts FestivalOrange, MA, United States
with Elixir
Honky tonk and garlic!
Oct 6, 2017at 8:00 pmConcord Experienced DanceConcord Scout House
74 Walden St, Concord, MA 01742, United Stateswith Elixir
Oct 7, 2017at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceCapital City Grange, Montpelier, VTwith Elixir
Oct 26, 2017at 8:00 pmRear Defrosters @ The WhetstoneWhetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery
36 Bridge St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, United Stateswith Elixir
Nov 19, 2017at 2:00 pmMostly WaltzWhately, MAwith Elixirwith Anna Patton (clarinet) and Karen Axelrod (piano)
Dec 18, 2017at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith Elixirwith Brad Foster (calling), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Karen Axelrod (piano)
Jan 10, 2018at 7:30 pmRear Defrosters @ EchoEcho Restaurant and Lounge
73 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, United Stateswith Elixir
Jan 26, 2018to Jan 28, 2018Florida Snow BallThe Gulfport Casino Ballroom
5500 Shore Blvd S, Gulfport, FL 33707, United Stateswith Elixir
Feb 23, 2018to Feb 25, 2018Dancing with the GODSGainesville, FLwith Elixirwith The Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Apr 6, 2018to Apr 8, 2018Epicenter Dance WeekendStrawberry Recreation Center, Mill Valley, CAwith ElixirWith Naomi Morse on Fiddle and Brian Bender on Trombone
Apr 6, 2018at 7:00 pmRear Defrosters @ Root CellarRoot Cellar
10 Fiske Ave, Greenfield, MA 01301with Elixir
Apr 13, 2018to Apr 15, 2018Call of the Loon Contra Dance WeekendMinneapolis, MNwith Elixir
Apr 26, 2018at 8:00 pmRear Defrosters @ The WhetstoneWhetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery
36 Bridge St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, United Stateswith Elixir
May 5, 2018at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceCapital City Grange, Montpelier, VTwith Elixirwith Sue Rosen (calling), Peter Siegel (mandolin/guitar) and Bruce Rosen (piano/guitar)
May 25, 2018at 8:00 pmRear Defrosters @ The HiveKeene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir
May 26, 2018at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra Dance401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith Elixirwith the Gaslight Tinkers
May 31, 2018at 7:30 pmConcord Contra DanceConcord Scout House, 74 Walden St
Concord MA 01742with Elixir
Jun 3, 2018at 6:00 pmRear Defrosters @ Twilight on the Tavern LawnPutney, VTwith Elixir
Jun 7, 2018at 10:00 pmRear Defrosters @ Thing in the SpringHarlow's Pub
3 School St, Peterborough, NH 03458, United Stateswith Elixir
Jun 13, 2018at 7:30 pmRear Defrosters @ EchoEcho Restaurant and Lounge
73 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, United Stateswith Elixir
Jun 28, 2018to Jul 2, 2018Pinewoods 4th of JulyPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Jul 21, 2018to Jul 28, 2018Harmony of Song and Dance WekPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Sep 7, 2018at 8:00 pmRear Defrosters @ The Stone ChurchThe Stone Church
210 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, United Stateswith Elixir
www.facebook.com/events/1355870321223769
Sep 8, 2018at 6:00 pmRear Defrosters @ Glendale Ridge WineryGlendale Ridge Winery, Southampton, MAwith Elixir
Sep 21, 2018to Sep 22, 2018Contrashock 2018Brooklyn Waldorf School
11 Jefferson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238with Elixir
With Nils Fredland and Will Mentor calling, music by Elixir and Wake Up Robin!

Friday 9/21:
7:30 PM Contra Dance Lesson
8-11:00 PM Contra Dance

Saturday 9/22:
2:15-5:30 PM Challenging Contras
7:00 PM Contra Dance Lesson
7:30-10:45 PM Contra Dance
Sep 23, 2018at 1:00 pmContrastock VIIISpanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MDwith ElixirAnother great Contrastock party! With Elixir, Maivish, Wake Up Robin, Nils Fredland, Will Mentor, and Susan Michaels
Oct 5, 2018at 8:00 pmMostly Waltz GreenfieldGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), Owen Morrison (guitar)
Oct 6, 2018at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceCapital City Grange, Montpelier, VTwith Elixir
Nov 2, 2018to Nov 4, 2018Foggy Moon Dance WeekendMonterey, CA
United Stateswith Elixir
Jan 18, 2019to Jan 20, 2019Contra CarnivaleSan Luis Obispo, CAwith Elixirwith Nils Fredland calling and playing trombone!
Jan 25, 2019at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra Dance401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith Elixir
Jan 26, 2019at 3:00 pmSnow BallPeterborough, NHwith Elixir
Feb 22, 2019at 8:00 pmRear Defrosters - Johnny Cash Birthday BashThe Stone Church
210 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, United Stateswith Elixir
Feb 23, 2019at 7:30 pmEmma and the Sweet Pea Pickers Benefit Concert and DanceRebop Farm, 1320 Sunset Lake Rd. Brattleboro, VTwith ElixirAn evening of swingy music and dancing on the hill, provided by the endlessly charming Emma Schneider, Arthur Davis, Anna Patton, Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, and Guillaume Sparrow Pepin.

All proceeds benefit the NOFA farm share program. Your contribution will help subsidize CSA shares for lower-income neighbors. See: nofavt.org/farmshare

Apr 6, 2019at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceCapital City Grange, Montpelier, VTwith Elixirwith Anna Patton (clarinet) and Julie Vallimont (piano)
May 24, 2019to May 27, 2019FolkMADnessSocorro, NMwith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Jun 9, 2019at 3:30 pmWaltz Time DancesGlen Echo Park, MDwith Elixirwaltz lesson 2:45-3:30
Jun 21, 2019to Jun 23, 2019Summer SoireeWarren Wilson Collegewith Elixirwith Brian Bender, trombone and Alexander Mitchell, fiddle
Jun 29, 2019at 7:30 pmPalo Alto Contra DanceFirst United Methodist Church
625 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United Stateswith Elixir
Jun 30, 2019to Jul 5, 2019BACDS American WeekLa Honda, CA, United Stateswith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Jul 18, 2019at 5:30 pmRear Defrosters @ Retreat Farm Food Truck Roundup

store

Elixir CDs

To order Elixir CDs please visit the Elixir store.

In the Window

Selected traditional and original material arranged to highlight the diverse musical ideas that grow out of the New England contra dance tradition. Ethan’s solo CD moves gracefully between high energy jigs and reels, contemplative airs, and lovely waltzes, flirting with musical ideas drawn from a wide range of styles. Recorded and Mixed by Bob Mills in Guilford, VT.

Guest Musicians

Anna Patton (clarinet), Bob Mills (guitar & bouzouki), Chuck Corman (bass), Erica Morse (cello & bass) Elvie Miller (piano & accordion), Jesse Hazzard-Watkins (trumpet), lydia ievins (fiddle), Marko Packard (guitar & sax), Naomi Morse (fiddle & viola), Peter Siegel (guitar, mandolin, banjo, & feet), Roger Kahle (guitar), Seth Houston (piano).

tunes

Tune Book: A is for Avocado

Ethan's collection of original tunes, published in 2007, is no longer available in print. You can download a complete PDF of the book or find some individual highlights and more recent compositions below.

Download A is for Avocado

A few of Ethan's compositions are available for download below.

contact

Get in touch with Ethan: