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 4, 2014at 8:00 pm | Fort Collins Contra DanceCity Park Center (Club Tico), Fort Collins, COwith Elixir |
Oct 5, 2014at 1:00 pm | Denver Contra DanceHighlands Masonic Center, 3550 Federal Blvd., Denver, COwith ElixirWaltzes and couples dancing at 1 PM, contras from 2 to 5 PM! |
Oct 17, 2014to Oct 18, 2014 | Contra ShockNew York Citywith Elixirw/ Maivish and Will Mentor Schedule (subject to change): 10/17 - Brooklyn Contra Dance, 7:30 pm beginner’s lesson, 8 to 11 pm contra dance for all 10/18 - CDNY contra for experienced dancers, 4 to 6 pm; 7:30 pm beginner’s lesson, 8 to 11 pm contra dance for all |
Oct 19, 2014at 1:00 pm | Contrastock IVSpanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MDwith Elixirw/ Perpetual e-Motion, The Coffee Zombies, and callers Will Mentor and Bev Bernbaum. Don't miss this...it's gonna be another great Contrastock party. |
Nov 3, 2014at 7:00 pm | Amherst English Country DanceWhately Dance Barn, Whately, MAwith ElixirRobin Hayden (calling), Karen Axelrod (piano), lydia ievins (violin), and Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (violin) |
Nov 7, 2014to Nov 9, 2014 | Atlanta Dance WeekendAtlanta, GAwith Elixirw/ Maivish and caller Luke Donforth |
Nov 22, 2014at 7:00 pm | Brattleboro Playford BallBrattleboro, VTwith Elixir |
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.