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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

Aug 1, 2015to Aug 8, 2015English WeekPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Aug 8, 2015to Aug 15, 2015American Dance and Music WeekPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Sep 18, 2015to Sep 20, 2015Echo Summit Dance Weekend18880 US Highway 50
Twin Bridges CA 95721
United Stateswith Elixir
Sep 25, 2015at 8:00 pmGreenfield Challenging Contra Dance401 Chapman St
Greenfield MA 01301
United Stateswith Elixir
Sep 26, 2015at 4:00 pmPrivate EventCraftsbury, VTwith Elixir
Oct 9, 2015to Oct 11, 2015Mountain Madness Dance WeekendJonesborough Visitor's Center, Jonesborough, TNwith Elixir
Oct 16, 2015to Oct 18, 2015LCFD Fall Dance CampCamp Chimney Corners
Becket MAwith Elixirwith The Figments, Will Mentor, and
Robin Hayden
Nov 6, 2015at 8:00 pmConcord Challenging Contra DanceScout House, 74 Walden St, Concord, MAwith Elixir
Nov 7, 2015at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra DanceCapitol City Grange, Montpelier, VTwith Elixir
Nov 8, 2015at 2:00 pmGreenfield Fall Frolic Fundraiser Contra Dance401 Chapman St
Greenfield MA 01301with ElixirA fundraiser for the Friends of the Grange. Elixir will kick things off, playing from 2:00 to 4:30 pm.
Dec 10, 2015at 8:00 pmRear Defrosters at Whetstone
Dec 12, 2015at 8:00 pmMontpelier Contra ExchangeMontpelier, VTwith ElixirAdina Gordon (calling), with The Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Jan 30, 2016at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra DanceSteve Zakon-Anderson (calling) with The Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Feb 5, 2016to Feb 7, 2016Dancing FoolLeif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th St, Seattle, WAwith ElixirNils will not be performing with Elixir this weekend. With this appearance at Fool, Elixir is launching it's new touring lineup - Brian Bender will be playing trombone!

w/ Riptide and caller Cis Hinkle
Mar 6, 2016at 7:30 pmBIDA Open Band Dance1950 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MAwith ElixirAnglea DeCarlis (calling) and open band with anchor musicians Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle) and Debby Knight (piano).
Mar 14, 2016at 7:00 pmAmherst English Country DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirMary Jones (calling), Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (violin), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Pat MacPherson (piano)
Apr 1, 2016to Apr 3, 2016Epicenter Dance WeekendStrawberry Recreation Center, Mill Valley, CAwith Elixir
Apr 8, 2016to Apr 10, 2016Springforth BallLewis Ginter Rec Center, Richmond VAwith Elixir
Apr 18, 2016at 7:00 pmAmherst English Country DanceMunson Library, Amherst, MAwith ElixirRobin Hayden (calling), Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (violin), lydia ievins (violin), and Karen Axelrod (piano)
May 6, 2016at 8:00 pmConcord Experienced DanceConcord Scout House, Concord, MAwith ElixirWith Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Jeremiah McLane (accordion, piano) and Owen Marshall (guitar)
May 29, 2016at 3:30 amBrattleboro Dawn DanceGibson Aiken Center, Main St, Brattleboro, VTwith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), Owen Morrison (guitar/foot percussion)
Jun 3, 2016at 8:30 pmGlen Echo Contra DanceGlen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MDwith Elixir
Jun 4, 2016at 4:00 pmPrivate eventAnnapolis, MDwith Elixir
Jun 5, 2016at 7:30 pmGlen Echo Contra DanceGlen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MDwith Elixir
Jun 18, 2016at 8:00 pmSpokane Contra DanceSpokane, WAwith Elixirwith The Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Jun 19, 2016to Jun 25, 2016Lady of the Lake Dance Weekwith The Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Jun 29, 2016at 7:30 pmAmherst Contra Dance99 Main St
Amherst MA 01002
United Stateswith Elixir
Jun 30, 2016at 7:30 pmConcord Contra Dance74 Walden St
Concord MA 01742
United Stateswith Elixir
Jul 1, 2016at 8:00 pmMostly Waltz Greenfield401 Chapman St
Greenfield, MA, United Stateswith ElixirWaltz workshop at 7:00pm
Jul 2, 2016Private EventMontague MAwith Elixir
Jul 30, 2016to Aug 6, 2016CDSS English WeekPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Aug 4, 2016at 7:30 pmConcord Contra Dance74 Walden St
Concord MA 01742
United Stateswith ElixirSue Rosen (calling), Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Bruce Rosen (piano/guitar)
Aug 6, 2016to Aug 13, 2016CDSS American Dance and Music WeekPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir
Aug 26, 2016at 8:00 pmGreenfield Experienced Contra Dance401 Chapman St
Greenfield MA 01301with ElixirNils Fredland, calling/trombone
with Brian Bender, sousaphone/melodica/trombone
Aug 27, 2016Private EventBristol, RIwith Elixir
Sep 9, 2016at 8:00 pmConcord Experienced DanceConcord Scout House, Concord, MAwith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Owen Morrison (guitar, feet)
Sep 10, 2016Private EventGreensboro Bend, VTwith Elixir
Sep 19, 2016at 7:00 pmAmherst English Country DanceWhately, MAwith ElixirRobin Hayden (calling), Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (violin), Anna Patton (clarinet), and Karen Axelrod (piano)
Sep 28, 2016at 8:00 pmWaltz, etc.The Avalon Ballroom, Boulder, COwith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet, vocals), and Owen Morrison (guitar)
Sep 29, 2016at 7:00 pmHouse ConcertLongmont, CO, United Stateswith ElixirThe Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet, vocals), and Owen Morrison (guitar, foot percussion)
Sep 30, 2016at 8:00 pmBoulder Contra DanceAvalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Rd, Boulder, COwith Elixirwith Nils Fredland (calling, trombone)
Oct 1, 2016at 8:00 pmFort Collins Contra DanceCity Park Center (Club Tico), 1599 City Park Dr, Fort Collins, COwith Elixirwith Nils Fredland (calling, trombone)
Oct 2, 2016at 1:00 pmDenver Contra DanceHighlands Masonic Center, 3550 Federal Blvd., Denver, COwith Elixirwith Nils Fredland (calling, trombone)

Waltzes and couples dancing at 1 PM, contras from 2 to 5 PM!
Oct 20, 2016at 8:00 pmOld Farmer's BallWarren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC, United Stateswith Elixirwith Beth Molaro (calling) and Brian Bender (trombone)
Oct 21, 2016to Oct 23, 2016Lake Eden Arts Festival377 Lake Eden Rd, Black Mountain, NCwith Elixirwith Brian Bender (trombone)
Oct 30, 2016at 3:00 pmRear Defrosters @ Vintage Steele Four Year Anniversary PartyThe Bunker Farm, Dummerston, VTwith ElixirFree Admission, Free BBQ, BYOB
Nov 4, 2016to Nov 6, 2016Foggy Moon Dance WeekendMonterey, CA
United Stateswith Elixirwith Brian Bender (trombone) plus George Marshall and Warren Blier (calling), Barefoot, BLAM, and the Crabapples.
Nov 19, 2016at 8:00 pmRear DefrostersThe Rendezvous
78 3rd St, Turners Falls, MA 01376, United Stateswith Elixir
Dec 2, 2016at 8:00 pmMostly Waltz GreenfieldGuiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith Elixirwith Larry Unger (guitar) and Karen Axelrod (piano)
Waltz lesson at 7pm
Dec 3, 2016at 7:30 pmConcord Experienced English DanceConcord Scout House
74 Walden St, Concord, MA 01742, United Stateswith Elixirwith Robin Hayden (calling) and Karen Axelrod (piano)

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: