Biography
When Ed was a kid, his father John Howe gave him a soldering iron and opened his world up to the possibilities of creativity. He then built and created many innovative products ranging from electric tractors to rebuilding English race cars and off road motorbikes. With his father who had 14 U.S. patents, he lived and studied sustainable off grid homestead living, so he knows what it means to raise a family and live independently. Solar Energy is just one of his talents. His great grandfather, Edward Ernst Kleinschmidt, was a brilliant inventor with over 100 U.S. patents - of who he was named after. Ed was a born innovative problem solver.
Ed is also well known for his joyful grace when playing the fiddle. He has been playing the fiddle since he was 4, and for the last 25 years he has been playing music professionally all around the US. He's taught fiddle and improv music classes for many years at various camps for participants of all ages. He has played for hundreds of contra dances across the nation - most well known for his music duo Perpetual e-Motion (2008-2015) - playing music based in tradition, with a progressive vision. He is a NS Design electric violin endorsed artist. Currently in the bands, Drive Train, Breakin' Strings and Double Trouble.
History, Bands, Awards
1983 - At 4 years old, Ed started learning the Suzuki method in Western Maine. His mom Debbie is an artist and his Dad John was an mechanical and electric engineer, banjo player, and bluegrass enthusiast.
1988 - Around 8 yrs old Ed started playing for contra dances in Maine. He was also invited to play with the Mighty Cloud of Fiddlers who included Greg Boardman a well known fiddler and teacher along with Pam Weeks who was Eds mentor.
1989 - He started playing in various Bluegrass festivals throughout New England in his family band called the Howe Family Band with his father John on Banjo and brother, Thomas on the mandolin.
1993-2001 - Ed competed in many New England Fiddle Contests usually placing in many events.
1996 - He won the prestigious Niel Gow Award for Best Straphsphey.
1996-2009 - Ed joined the band Wake the Neighbors which played Irish, Scottish, French-Canadian, and New England Dance music. Ed played fiddle; John Cote on mandolin, guitar, and feet; Anthony Shostak on banjo, bodhran, and didgeridoo; and now a very well known fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger. He also played with local well known bluegrass band Union River Band along with touring with The Dave Rowe Trio.
2001- Present - He began teaching at Maine Fiddle Camp in 2001 and continues to be an active teacher, mentor, and help with camp operations. He works with children of many ages as well as adult learners. See his bio here: https://www.mainefiddlecamp.org/staff/ed-howe/
2008-2015 - Ed and John Cote created and played in a nationally renowned contra dance band called Perpetual e-Motion. Ed innovated folk dance music with creative use of complex looping electronic instrument paired with intuitive rhythms alongside the backdrop of old time traditional music. They played electronic instruments with components hand built by them and for a tailored sound that was true to their roots and unlike anything people had heard before.
2009 - Ed became featured artist with NS Designs, founded by award-winning innovator Ned Steinberger. He continues to be an endorsed artist to this day. See his bio and links to music here: https://thinkns.com/artists/ns-design-artist-edward-howe/. You can also read an interview of his https://thinkns.com/interview-with-ed-howe/.
2013 - Ed made the cover of the Country Song and Dance Society's Magazine as a CDSS featured musician
2014-2019 - Ed played fiddle with Jaime Oshima on guitar in their band Barefoot for contra dances around the US.
2015-2020 - Ed focused on his roots in Maine and built a successful solar business as a owner and lead installer for off-grid systems and houses. He also became a well known Sound Engineer for many festivals and events around the country. He played numerous shows with a variety of bands during this time.
2020-Present - Ed is currently in 2 bands, a contra dance band Drive Train with Stuart Kenney on upright bass/banjo and Bennett Konesni on guitar and vocals. He is also a rotating member in a bluegrass band called Breakin' Strings with Cliff Gelina.
2023 - Ed received a nomination for Best Fiddler of the Year for the International Bluegrass Music Association. He was also asked to be the "beacon for the dance community" and lead the organization of American Folk Dance for the renowned Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) Asheville, North Carolina. Their mission is to connect cultures and create community through celebrating and exposing people to world music and the arts. Ed started a band called Double Trouble with George Paul on keys.
He continues to be a teacher and mentor for musicians of all ages, play shows along the Eastern Coast with a variety of musicians and events. He does all this while he leads his successful solar and sound engineering business. Ed is a well known community member across the US and is always happy to collaborate.
2024 - Ed started a Folk Orchestra in Atlanta, GA focused on facilitating musicians of all levels being welcome to play for a weekly contra dance.