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.
Jan 12, 2017at 7:30 pm | House ConcertPhoenix, AZ, United Stateswith ElixirFor details and reservations contact: or (602)791-1238 |
Jan 13, 2017to Jan 14, 2017 | Phoenix Winter FrolicPhoenix, AZ, United States with Elixirwith Brian Bender (trombone) |
Jan 23, 2017at 7:00 pm | Amherst English Country DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirMary Lea (violin), Pat McPherson (piano), and Brad Foster (calling) |
Feb 4, 2017at 9:00 am | Percussive Dance IntensiveGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith ElixirRebecca McGown, Gillian Stewart, and Meg Ryan teaching. Music by Graham DeZarn and Ethan Hazzard-Watkins. |
Feb 5, 2017at 7:00 pm | Percussive Dance House ConcertRebop Farm, 1320 Sunset Lake Rd. Brattleboro, VTwith Elixirwith dancing by Rebecca McGowan, Meg Ryan, and Gillian Stewart, plus music by Nicole Singer (vocals), Graham DeZarn (fiddle), and Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle) |
Feb 6, 2017at 7:00 pm | Amherst English Country DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith Elixirlydia ievins (violin), Karen Axelrod (piano), and Anna Rain (calling) |
Feb 17, 2017to Feb 19, 2017 | Ann Arbor Dawn Dance WeekendAnn Arbor, MIwith Elixirwith Adina Gordon (calling) and The Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) |
Mar 1, 2017at 7:30 pm | Downtown Amherst Contra Dance99 Main St Amherst, MA, United Stateswith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) |
Mar 2, 2017at 7:30 pm | Concord Contra Dance74 Walden St Concord MA 01742 United Stateswith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) |
Mar 23, 2017at 8:00 pm | The Rear DefrostersThe Rendezvous 78 3rd St, Turners Falls, MA 01376, United Stateswith ElixirBrattleboro's loudest Honky Tonk band returns to Turner's Falls! Kate Lorenz opens with a solo set. |
Apr 21, 2017to Apr 23, 2017 | Hands Four Spring DanceBerea, KYwith Elixirwith Wendy Graham (calling) and Brian Bender (trombone) |
Apr 27, 2017at 7:30 pm | Concord Contra Dance74 Walden St Concord MA 01742 United Stateswith Elixir |
Apr 28, 2017at 8:00 pm | Greenfield Experienced Contra Dance401 Chapman St Greenfield MA 01301with Elixir |
Apr 29, 2017at 8:00 pm | Montpelier Contra DanceCapitol City Grange, Montpelier, VTwith Elixir |
May 13, 2017at 8:00 pm | Norwich Contra DanceNorwich, VT, United States with Elixirwith Dave Eisenstadter (calling), Jeremiah McLane (accordion/piano) and Owen Marshall (guitar/banjo) |
Jun 8, 2017at 9:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ Thing in the SpringHarlow's Pub 3 School St, Peterborough, NH 03458, United Stateswith Elixir |
To order Elixir CDs please visit the Elixir store.
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.
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).
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.