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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

Apr 12, 2012at 8:00 pmRochester Contra DanceCovenant United Methodist Church, 1124 Culver Road, Rochester, NY 14609with ElixirRebecca Lay (calling) and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Apr 13, 2012to Apr 15, 2012Spring Thaw Dance WeekendToronto, Ontario, Canadawith ElixirRebecca Lay (calling) and The Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
Apr 20, 2012to Apr 22, 2012When in Doubt, Swing!Dallas, TXwith Elixir
Apr 25, 2012at 7:30 pmAmherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MA 01002with ElixirThe Figments: Anna Patton (clarinet) and Owen Morrison (guitar/feet)
May 4, 2012to May 6, 2012May Madness Dance WeekendClarkdale, AZwith Elixirw/ The Groovemongers, The Great Bear Trio, and Will Mentor
May 11, 2012at 8:00 pmBurlington Contra DanceEdmunds Middle School, 299 Main St, Burlington, VTwith ElixirThe Interns: Mary Wesley (calling) and Max Newman (guitar). Max, Mary, and I have all worked as Youth Intern for CDSS.
May 12, 2012at 3:00 pmSpecial Burlington Contra DanceSt Michael's Collegewith ElixirJeremiah Mclane (piano/accordion), Owen Marshall (guitar/tenor banjo), and Will Mentor (calling)
May 13, 2012at 7:30 pmBrattleboro Contra DanceMain and Grove Streets, Brattleboro, VTwith ElixirJeremiah Mclane (piano/accordion), Owen Marshall (guitar/tenor banjo), and Will Mentor (calling)
May 16, 2012at 7:30 pmAmherst Contra DanceMasonic Lodge, 99 Main St, Amherst, MAwith Elixir
May 19, 2012at 8:00 pmGreenfield Contra Dance401 Chapman St, Greenfield, MAwith Elixir

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: