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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

Nov 5, 2011to Nov 13, 2011Denmark tourDenmarkwith Elixir
Nov 18, 2011at 8:00 pmWesleyan Contra DanceAnna Patton (clarinet) and friends
Nov 28, 2011at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirRobin Hayden & Rebecca Lay (calling), Karen Axelrod (piano), and Mary Lea (fiddle)
Nov 30, 2011at 7:30 pmAmherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MA 01002with ElixirThe Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Dec 3, 2011at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceMontpelier, VTwith ElixirNils Fredland (calling) and the Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Dec 8, 2011at 7:30 pmConcord Contra DanceScout House, Concord, MAwith ElixirAnna Patton (clarinet) and Julie Vallimont (piano)
Dec 11, 2011at 7:30 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceMain and Grove Streets, Brattleboro, VT 05301with ElixirRebecca Lay (calling), Owen Marshall (guitar), and Jeremiah McLane (piano/accordion)
Dec 12, 2011at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirRebecca Lay & Robin Hayden (calling), Ken Allen (piano) and Peter Barnes (winds)
Dec 17, 2011at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra DanceGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield MAwith ElixirNils Fredland (calling), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Peter Barnes (piano, guitar)
Dec 31, 2011at 3:00 pmMiddnight on MainMiddletown, CTwith ElixirRebecca Lay (calling), Anna Patton (clarinet) and Andy Davis (piano).

Middletown's first ever New Year's Eve celebration features a wide range of styles of music, dancing, and other activities.
Jan 6, 2012at 8:00 pmConcord Experienced Contra DanceConcord Scout House, 74 Walden St, Concord, MAwith Elixir
Jan 7, 2012at 7:30 pmConcert at Hooker Dunham TheaterBrattleboro, VTwith Elixir
Jan 8, 2012at 7:30 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceThe Church, corner of Grove and Main, Brattleboro, VTwith Elixir
Jan 9, 2012at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirGraham Christian and Dan Popowich (calling), Karen Axelrod (piano), and Anna Patton (clarinet)
Jan 13, 2012to Jan 15, 2012Contra CarnivaleSan Luis Obispo, CAwith Elixirw/ Great Bear Trio, Tidal Wave, Susan Michaels, and George Marshall
Jan 16, 2012at 7:30 pmPalo Alto Contra DanceSpecial post-Contra Carnivale event!
Jan 28, 2012Northern Roots FestivalNew England Youth Theater, Brattleboro, VTwith Elixir
Feb 2, 2012at 8:00 pmSeattle Contra DanceLake City Community Center, 12531 28th Ave NE, Seattle, WAwith Elixir
Feb 3, 2012to Feb 5, 2012Dancing Fool Contra Dance WeekendLeif Erickson Hall, 2245 NW 57th St, Seattle, WAwith Elixirw/ Latter Day Lizards and Cis Hinkle
Feb 17, 2012to Feb 19, 2012Knoxville Dance WeekendKnoxville, TNwith ElixirElixir, Great Bear Trio, and Mark Hellenberg (aka "Pokey")
Mar 1, 2012at 7:30 pmConcord Contra DanceConcord Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, MAwith ElixirRebecca Lay (calling), Emily troll (accordion/fiddle), and Josh Van Vliet (guitar)
Mar 2, 2012at 8:00 pmConcord Experienced DanceConcord Scout House, Concord, MAwith Elixir
Mar 3, 2012at 11:00 amBrattleboro Winter Farmers MarketThe River Garden, Main Street, Brattleboro, VTwith Elixir
Mar 5, 2012at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceWhately Dance Barn, Whately, MAwith ElixirGraham Christian (calling), Joyce Crouch (piano), and Peter Barnes (winds)
Mar 10, 2012at 5:45 pmCDNY Special EventChinatown YMCA, 273 Bowery, New York, NYwith ElixirExperienced Contra Dance from 5:45 - 7:45, Regular Contra Dance from 9:00 - Midnight
Mar 15, 2012at 7:30 pmConcord Contra DanceConcord Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, MAwith Elixir
Mar 16, 2012at 8:00 pmCollege Hill Contra Dance372 Wayland Ave, Providence, RIwith Elixir
Mar 17, 2012at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra DanceGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St., Greenfield, MAwith Elixir
Mar 23, 2012at 8:00 pmTinmouth contra danceTinmouth, VTwith ElixirRoger Kahle (guitar)
Mar 26, 2012at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirRobin Hayden and Adina Gordon (calling), Karen Axelrod (piano), and Anna Patton (clarinet)
Mar 31, 2012at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceMontpelier, VTwith ElixirRebecca Lay (calling), Roger Kahle (guitar) and Mary Cay Brass (piano/accordion)
Apr 12, 2012at 8:00 pmRochester Contra DanceCovenant United Methodist Church, 1124 Culver Road, Rochester, NY 14609with ElixirRebecca Lay (calling) and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Apr 13, 2012to Apr 15, 2012Spring Thaw Dance WeekendToronto, Ontario, Canadawith ElixirRebecca Lay (calling) and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Apr 20, 2012to Apr 22, 2012When in Doubt, Swing!Dallas, TXwith Elixir
Apr 25, 2012at 7:30 pmAmherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MA 01002with ElixirThe Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
May 4, 2012to May 6, 2012May Madness Dance WeekendClarkdale, AZwith Elixirw/ The Groovemongers, The Great Bear Trio, and Will Mentor
May 11, 2012at 8:00 pmBurlington Contra DanceEdmunds Middle School, 299 Main St, Burlington, VTwith ElixirThe Interns: Mary Wesley (calling) and Max Newman (guitar). Max, Mary, and I have all worked as Youth Intern for CDSS.
May 12, 2012at 3:00 pmSpecial Burlington Contra DanceSt Michael's Collegewith ElixirJeremiah Mclane (piano/accordion), Owen Marshall (guitar/tenor banjo), and Will Mentor (calling)
May 13, 2012at 7:30 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceMain and Grove Streets, Brattleboro, VTwith ElixirJeremiah Mclane (piano/accordion), Owen Marshall (guitar/tenor banjo), and Will Mentor (calling)
May 16, 2012at 7:30 pmAmherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MAwith Elixir
May 19, 2012at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra Dance401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith Elixir
May 20, 2012at 7:30 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceThe Church, corner of Grove and Main, Brattleboro, VTwith Elixir
May 24, 2012at 8:00 pmConcord Contra DanceConcord Scout Housewith ElixirOwen Morrison (guitar/feet) and Corey DiMario (bass/tenor guitar)
May 28, 2012at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirRobin Hayden and Adina Gordon (calling), Joyce Crouch (piano), and Peter Barnes (winds)
May 30, 2012at 8:00 pmPrinceton Contra DanceSuzanne Patterson Community Center, Princeton, NJwith Elixir
May 31, 2012at 8:00 pmGlenside Contra DanceGlenside, PAwith Elixir
Jun 1, 2012at 8:30 pmGlen Echo Contra DanceGlen Echo Park, MDwith Elixir
Jun 2, 2012at 4:00 pmHouse ConcertAnnapolis, MDwith ElixirPrivate event
Jun 3, 2012at 7:30 pmGlen Echo Contra DanceGlen Echo Park, MDwith Elixir
Jun 23, 2012at 8:00 pmSpokane Contra DanceSpokane, WAwith Elixir

store

Elixir CDs

To order Elixir CDs please visit the Elixir store.

In the Window

Download on Bandcamp

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: