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.
Oct 21, 2011to Oct 23, 2011 | Charlottesville Fall FestivalCharlottesville, VAwith Elixir |
Oct 23, 2011at 6:30 pm | Greenwood Contra DanceGreenwood Community Center, 865 Greenwood Rd, Greenwood, VAwith Elixir |
Oct 31, 2011at 7:00 pm | Amherst English Country Dance: CANCELED DUE TO WEATHERMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirAnna Patton (clarinet), Karen Axelrod (piano), and Robin Hayden (calling) |
Nov 5, 2011to Nov 13, 2011 | Denmark tourDenmarkwith Elixir |
Nov 18, 2011at 8:00 pm | Wesleyan Contra DanceAnna Patton (clarinet) and friends |
Nov 28, 2011at 7:00 pm | Amherst English DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirRobin Hayden & Rebecca Lay (calling), Karen Axelrod (piano), and Mary Lea (fiddle) |
Nov 30, 2011at 7:30 pm | Amherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MA 01002with ElixirThe Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) |
Dec 3, 2011at 8:00 pm | Montpelier Contra DanceMontpelier, VTwith ElixirNils Fredland (calling) and the Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) |
Dec 8, 2011at 7:30 pm | Concord Contra DanceScout House, Concord, MAwith ElixirAnna Patton (clarinet) and Julie Vallimont (piano) |
Dec 11, 2011at 7:30 pm | Brattleboro Contra DanceMain and Grove Streets, Brattleboro, VT 05301with ElixirRebecca Lay (calling), Owen Marshall (guitar), and Jeremiah McLane (piano/accordion) |
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.