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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 3, 2012at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceOld Labor Hall, Barre, VTwith ElixirMary Wesley (calling), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Julie Vallimont (piano)
Nov 9, 2012to Nov 11, 2012Big DanceDayton, VAwith ElixirThe Figments (Anna Patton, clarinet and Owen Morrison, guitar/feet)
Nov 11, 2012Greenwood Contra DanceShawn Brenniman (calling) and The Figments (Anna Patton, clarinet and Owen Morrison, guitar/feet)
Nov 16, 2012to Nov 18, 2012Fleur de Lis Fling Dance WeekendLouisville, KYwith Elixir
Nov 23, 2012to Nov 24, 2012Rochester Thanksgiving Dance WeekendSalem United Church of Christ, 60 Bittner Street, Rochester, NYwith Elixir
Dec 8, 2012at 11:00 amBrattleboro Winter Farmers' MarketRiver Garden, Main St., Brattleboro, VTwith Elixir
Dec 9, 2012at 7:30 pmBrattleboro Contra Dance - Rural Vermont Benefit DanceMain and Grove Streets, Brattleboro, VT 05301with ElixirRebecca Lay (calling), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Andy Davis (piano)
Dec 15, 2012at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra DanceGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield MAwith ElixirMarguerite Durant (calling) and The Figments (Anna Patton, clarinet and Owen Morrison, guitar/feet)
Dec 20, 2012at 7:30 pmConcord Contra DanceConcord Scout House, Concord, MAwith ElixirLisa Greenleaf (calling), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Peter Barnes (piano/guitar)
Jan 4, 2013at 8:00 pmConcord Challenging Contra DanceScout House, 74 Walden St, Concord, MAwith Elixir
Jan 5, 2013at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceCapitol City Grange, Montpelier, VTwith Elixir
Jan 11, 2013to Jan 12, 2013Phoenix Friends of Traditional Music Mini-Dance WeekendKenilworth School, Phoenix, AZwith Elixir
Jan 25, 2013at 8:00 pmClub Passim Concert (opening for Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem)47 Palmer St, Cambridge, MAwith ElixirWe LOVE Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, and are honored to be opening for them at Club Passim. This show is sure to sell out, so purchase your tickets in advance. Help us celebrate our Passim debut!

If you can't be there in person you can still watch online via Concert Window!
Jan 26, 2013at 12:00 pmPeterborough Snow BallTown Hall, Peterborough, NHwith ElixirWe play from 3 to 6 PM. Full schedule as follows:
12 PM - Moving Violations w/ Rebecca Lay
3 PM - Elixir
6 PM - Crowfoot w/ Steve Zakon-Anderson
9 PM - Latter Day Lizards w/ Lisa Greenleaf
WHAT A DAY!!
Jan 27, 2013at 7:30 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceThe Church, corner of Grove and Eliot St, Brattleboro, VTwith Elixir
Jan 31, 2013at 8:00 pmSeattle Contra DanceLake City Community Center, Seattle, WAwith Elixir
Feb 1, 2013to Feb 3, 2013Dancing FoolLeif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th St, Seattle, WAwith Elixirw/ The Sevens and caller Cis Hinkle
Feb 6, 2013at 7:30 pmAmherst contra danceAmherst, MAwith ElixirPeter Siegel (guitar), Garrett Sawyer (bass)
Feb 10, 2013at 7:00 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceMain and Grove Streets, Brattleboro, VTwith ElixirThe Gaslight Tinkers
Feb 15, 2013to Feb 17, 2013Corvallis Contra Dance WeekendCorvallis, ORwith Elixirw/ The Retrospectacles
Feb 21, 2013at 7:30 pmConcord Contra DanceScout House, Concord, MAwith ElixirThe Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet), Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Mar 4, 2013at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirGraham Christian (calling), Pat MacPherson (piano), and Susan Conger (fiddle)
Mar 10, 2013at 3:00 pmMostly Waltz for BostonConcord Scout House, Concord, MAwith ElixirThe Figments (Anna Patton, clarinet and Owen Morrison, guitar)
Mar 15, 2013to Mar 17, 2013Memfest Contra Dance WeekendIdlewild Church, 1750 Union Ave, Memphis, TNwith Elixir
Apr 6, 2013at 6:00 pmPlay BallPeterborough, NHwith ElixirSteve Zakon-Anderson and Will Mentor calling, with music by Nor'easter and The Figments (Anna Patton, clarinet and Owen Morrison, guitar/feet)
Apr 12, 2013to Apr 14, 2013Dandelion RompOberlin College - Hales Hall, Oberlin, OHwith Elixirw/ Ari and Mia Friedman, Jordon Tice, Gallimaufry, and caller Chrissy Fowler
Apr 18, 2013at 7:30 pmConcord Contra DanceConcord Scout House, Concord, MAwith ElixirNEFFA Callers' Showcase and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet) with guest Stefan Amidon (percussion)
Apr 20, 2013at 8:00 pmGreenfield 3rd Saturday Contra DanceGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith ElixirRebecca Lay (calling) and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar, feet)
Apr 28, 2013at 1:00 pmRoger Katz Memorial Extravaganza & Blood DriveGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St., Greenfield, MAwith ElixirPhoto exhibit of Roger's wonderful photos

Live Music with Anna Patton and friends

Blood Drive: Walk-ins are welcome, but people with appointments will be seen first. To make an appointment call Baystate Health at 877-612-5663 or email .
Apr 29, 2013at 7:00 pmAmherst English DanceWhately Dance Barn, Whately, MAwith ElixirRobin Hayden (calling), Karen Axelrod (piano), and Susan Conger (violin)
May 9, 2013at 8:00 pmAsheville Contra DanceBryson Gymnasium, Warren Wilson College, Black Mountain, NCwith Elixir
May 10, 2013to May 12, 2013Lake Eden Arts Festival377 Lake Eden Rd, Black Mountain, NCwith Elixir
May 15, 2013at 7:30 pmAmherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MAwith Elixir
May 16, 2013at 7:30 pmConcord Contra DanceConcord Scout House, 74 Walden St., Concord, MAwith Elixir
May 17, 2013at 8:00 pmProvidence Contra DanceCommunity Church of Providence, corner of Wayland and Lloyd Ave, Providence, RIwith Elixir
May 18, 2013at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra Dance401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith Elixir
May 24, 2013to May 27, 2013Almost HeavenTimber Ridge Camp, High View, WVwith Elixirw/ Swallowtail, and caller Gaye Fifer
Jun 4, 2013at 7:00 pmAnnual Summer Concert Serieson the lawn of the Old Medical Chapel, Castleton, VTwith Elixirw/ special guest Will Patton on mandolin and bass
Jun 7, 2013at 8:00 pmBelfast Contra DanceAmerican Legion Hall, 143 Church St, Belfast, MEwith Elixir
Jun 8, 2013at 8:00 pmN. Yarmouth Contra DanceWescustogo Grange, Walnut Hill Rd, N. Yarmouth, MEwith Elixir
Jun 9, 2013at 7:30 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceThe Church, Grove and Main Streets, Brattleboro, VTwith Elixir
Jul 5, 2013to Jul 7, 2013Ooh La LaRichmond, Quebecwith Elixirw/ Crowfoot, and callers Rick Mohr and Dana Parkinson
Jul 13, 2013at 7:00 pmWhately BallJoanna Reiner (calling) and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/foot percussion)
Jul 20, 2013at 8:00 pmGreenfield 3rd Saturday Contra DanceGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith ElixirSue Rosen (calling) with Firetruck: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Bruce Rosen (piano/guitar)
Aug 24, 2013to Aug 31, 2013American Dance and Music WeekPinewoods Camp, 80 Cornish Field Rd, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Aug 31, 2013at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceCapitol City Grange, Montpelier, VTwith Elixir
Sep 1, 2013at 12:00 pmNew World FestivalMain St, Randolph, VTwith ElixirWe had a great time at our first New World Festival in 2012, and are thrilled to have been invited back for 2013...an all-day festival that is well worth the trip to Northern VT! Don't miss it.
Sep 6, 2013at 8:00 pmConcord Experienced Contra DanceConcord Scout House, 74 Walden St, Concord, MAwith ElixirFirst dance of 2013-2014 season!
Sep 7, 2013at 8:00 pmPeterborough Contra DancePeterborough Town Hall, Peterborough, NHwith ElixirFirst dance of the 2013-2014 season!
Sep 8, 2013at 7:00 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceThe Stone Church, Main and Grove Streets, Brattleboro, VTwith ElixirNils won't be with us, but we WILL have special guest Peter Amidon (calling/trombone) joining the band!!

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: