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.
Apr 17, 2020to Apr 19, 2020 | CANCELLED: Desert SpringPhoenix, AZ, United Stateswith ElixirThe Figments |
Jun 21, 2020at 2:30 pm | Fathers Day Zoom Concert & Dance2:30 PM EDT / 11:30 AM PDT A program of waltzes and other selections– swing, fiddle tunes, and a singing square– for your dancing and listening pleasure. We miss playing together! We miss playing for you! So please join us for this event that is a dance party, a father’s day concert, a quixotic musical undertaking, and a reunion of friends from far and wide. With Anna Patton at the musical engineering helm, we are preparing recorded tracks for each other so that all of us can take turns playing live for you from our homes. We’re taking the opportunity to debut new tunes and songs, as well as playing and singing some old favorites. Join us on Zoom to watch, listen, dance along, and find out what we’ve been up to. Join on Zoom: www.proyl.com/jQ7fk9RX3 Follow the link above, enter the code that appears on the screen, and you will be forwarded to the Zoom link Stream on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/3133037080109542 Elixir will donate 10% of proceeds from this event to the Movement for Black Lives in support of organizing to end racist violence and to invest in Black communities. |
Nov 7, 2020at 5:00 pm | Concert for Foggy MoonLive on Zoomwith ElixirElixir will perform a live online concert in lieu of playing for the Foggy Moon dance weekend. Details here: www.facebook.com/events/261790015189072 |
Jun 17, 2021at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters at NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Jun 26, 2021at 5:00 pm | Rear Defrosters at Bunker FarmThe Bunker Farm 857 Bunker Rd, East Dummerston, VT 05346, United Stateswith Elixir |
Jul 16, 2021to Jul 18, 2021 | Swing into SummerPinewoods Camp 80 Cornish Field Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360, United Stateswith Elixir |
Aug 19, 2021at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters at NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Sep 16, 2021at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters at NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Sep 25, 2021at 5:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ Chesterfield, NH Lantern Supper535 Old Chesterfield Rd Chesterfield, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Oct 21, 2021at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters at NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Dec 16, 2021at 6:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Mar 24, 2022at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters at NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Apr 28, 2022at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters at NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
May 26, 2022at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Jun 16, 2022at 5:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ Retreat Farm Food Truck Roundup |
Jun 17, 2022to Jun 19, 2022 | Swing into SummerPinewoods Camp 80 Cornish Field Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360, United Stateswith Elixir |
Jun 23, 2022at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters at NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Jul 22, 2022at 7:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ Neon Rainbow Queer Honky Tonk & Gender Neutral Square DanceThe Bunker Farm 857 Bunker Rd, East Dummerston, VT 05346, United Stateswith Elixir |
Aug 6, 2022to Aug 13, 2022 | American Dance and Music WeekPinewoods Camp, Plymouth, MAwith Elixir |
Sep 15, 2022at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA Arts48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Oct 14, 2022at 8:00 pm | ContrashockChurch of St Paul & St Andrew United Methodist 263 W 86th St, New York, NY 10024, United Stateswith ElixirWill Mentor (calling) and The Figments |
Oct 15, 2022at 2:30 pm | ContrashockChurch of St Paul & St Andrew United Methodist 263 W 86th St, New York, NY 10024, United Stateswith ElixirWill Mentor and Maia McCormick (calling), music by Rover Road and The Figments 2:00-5:30 PM Afternoon Advanced Contra 7:30-10:45 PM Contra Dance for All |
Oct 16, 2022at 1:00 pm | ContrastockSpanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MDwith ElixirWill Mentor, Gaye Fifer, Perry Shafran, The Figments, River Road, Blue Moon |
Nov 17, 2022at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA Arts48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Dec 23, 2022at 7:30 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith ElixirOpening for Sarah Lee Guthrie |
Jan 6, 2023to Jan 8, 2023 | Florida dance weekendThe Dancing Fish of Lake Santa Fe, Melrose, FLwith ElixirMary Wesley (calling) and The Figments: Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Anna Patton (clarinet), Owen Morrison (guitar/foot percussion) Friday 7-10 PM, Saturday 7-10 PM and Sunday Noon to 3 PM |
Feb 17, 2023to Feb 19, 2023 | Corvallis Contra Dance WeekendCorvallis, ORwith Elixir |
Mar 9, 2023at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA Arts48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Mar 17, 2023to Mar 19, 2023 | Spring Breakdown Dance WeekendJefferson City, MOwith Elixir |
Mar 31, 2023to Apr 2, 2023 | Epicenter Dance WeekendThe Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet), Ethan Hazzard-Watkins (fiddle), Owen Morrison (guitar, foot percussion) |
Apr 12, 2023at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA Arts48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
May 5, 2023at 7:00 pm | Neon Rainbow at Brattleboro Gallery WalkElliot St, Brattleboro VTwith ElixirQueer honky tonk with the Rear Defrosters |
Jun 15, 2023at 7:00 pm | The Guthrie Girls w/ the Rear Defrosters @ NOVA Arts48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Jun 18, 2023to Jun 24, 2023 | Lady of the Lake Music and Dance Week |
Jul 29, 2023at 8:00 pm | Greenfield Contra Dance401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith Elixirwith Anna Patton (clarinet) and Kristen Planeaux (piano) |
Nov 3, 2023to Nov 5, 2023 | Foggy Moon Dance WeekendMonterey, CA United Stateswith Elixir |
Jan 12, 2024to Jan 14, 2024 | Contra CarnivaleSan Luis Obispo, CAwith Elixirwith THE SYNCOPATHS (Aslhey Hoyer, Christa Burch, Ryan McKasson, and Jeff Spero), ELOISE & CO. (Becy Tracy, Rachel Bell, and Bethany Waickman), Cis Hinkle and Susan Petrick |
Feb 29, 2024at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA Arts48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith Elixir |
Mar 15, 2024to Mar 17, 2024 | Beantown StompCambridge, MAwith ElixirThe Figments |
Mar 22, 2024to Mar 24, 2024 | Pigtown FlingMercer School, 2600 Bartels Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45244with Elixirwith Naomi Morse (fiddle) |
Apr 4, 2024at 8:00 pm | CANCELLED: Rear Defrosters @ NOVA Arts48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith ElixirCancelled due to the weather :-( |
Apr 19, 2024to Apr 21, 2024 | Dandelion RompOberlin, OH United Stateswith Elixir |
Jun 15, 2024at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ Mole HillMole Hill Theatre 789 Gilsum Mine Rd, Alstead, NH 03602, United Stateswith Elixir |
Jul 18, 2024at 8:00 pm | Rear Defrosters @ NOVA Arts Honky Tonk Night48 Emerald St Keene, NH, United Stateswith 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.