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| Ethan
Hazzard-Watkins: Bio |
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Fiddler Ethan
Hazzard-Watkins performs traditional and original music
with infectious energy, passion and grace. His fiery, lyrical fiddling
fuses elements of Irish, French Canadian and New England styles,
along with influences from swing, blues and classical music. Based
in Brattleboro, VT, Ethan tours extensively, playing for Contra
and English dances; as an accompanist with singer-songwriters; and
in festivals, concerts, and sessions throughout the US and Europe. |
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Ethan says: "I'm glad
we got that over with. Have you noticed how regularly web sites
inhabit some fuzzy space between first and third person? Here in
cyber-land we can praise ourselves and pretend that someone else
said it! Well, enough of that, let's talk about me, and my fiddle.
Here is a little bit of a story about my life up to this point..." |
I
grew up living in small New England towns, most notably in Amherst,
MA. My parents were teachers, musicians, farmers, artists, educational
consultants and agricultural extensions representatives. I was exposed
to traditional music from an early age, listening as I slept to
the sounds of my parents' contra dance band rehearsals, and getting
carried along as an infant to dance gigs around Vermont and Massachusetts. |
In
elementary school I started playing classical violin; under the
expert tutelage of Van Kaynor I made the jump to fiddle in 10th
grade. Shortly thereafter I began to play for Contra and English
dances around Amherst, and at age seventeen I composed my first
fiddle tune (which, believe it or not, is here,
on this very web site!). |
When
I finished high school I made a quick escape from New England and
headed off to Macalester College
in St. Paul, MN. There I embarked on a course of study in Political
Science and Biology, becoming interested in international development,
race and racism, post-colonial theory, the politics and biology
of sustainable agriculture, computer technical support, Ultimate
Frisbee, coffee, and a whole host of other things. At the same time
I became a member of Flying Fingers, the college's traditional music
ensemble. I continued to perform for contra dances and compose tunes,
and started playing and listening to a lot more Irish music. This
combination of styles is still evident in my playing today. |
After
graduating from Macalester in 2001 I headed off for a two month
tour with my good friends Megan, Lia and Sara. We performed as "The
Barefoot Four" in schools, pubs, Camphill
communities, and on random street corners in Ireland, the U.K. and
continental Europe. I enjoyed the trip so much that I decided to
shun gainful employment in a field related to my educational experience
and focus instead on life as a musician. |
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Since then,
I made my way from St. Paul to Boston, and eventually to Vermont.
I now live with my partner Anna Patton in Brattleboro. This crunchy
little town sports a thriving artistic and musical community, a
great food Coop, a zillion little cafes and is a darn good place
to live. You should move here! When not fiddling the night away
at a local (or not-so-local) dance, I spend my time teaching fiddle
lessons, tromping through the Green Mountains, gardening, cooking
and eating. |
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| I also organize
a new contra dance
in Brattleboro, VT, co-organize the monthly contra
dance in Walpole, N.H. and I am a member of the committee that
organizes the Brattleboro Dawn
Dances.
I hope to see you at a dance soon! |
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