Biography
Originally from Goshen, Indiana, Ethan Setiawan tried out numerous instruments before finding his way to the mandolin, making a name for himself when he won both the National Mandolin Championship and the Rockygrass Mandolin Championship. Years later, Setiawan has become a leading voice of the mandolin, his path wending its way through traditional bluegrass, to Bach partitas, and free jazz. He performs regularly with his progressive bluegrass band Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground, and Scottish fusion duo Hildaland. His solo albums “Flux” and “Gambit” (produced by Darol Anger) are made up of original tunes drawing from all these wells, and employed a traditional full band format. On his 2025 release “Encyclopedia Mandolinnica” he explores the many possibilities of mandolin music through duets and trios with friends, mentors, and heroes. His current touring project, Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground, will release its first album, “Little Storms”, in 2026.
Setiawan was one of three kids who were all homeschooled by folk-loving parents. His childhood was untraditional and full of exploration, and music gave him a social outlet outside of the home. “As a teenager, I loved the idea of going to jams and having this community of people that all play music”, he explains. He began driving to Chicago to take lessons with Don Stiernberg and traveled to California to attend The Mandolin Symposium. After finishing high school, Setiawan attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. “I think I came into Berklee as a very technically oriented musician, but just being exposed to so many different styles and incredible musicians really broadened my musical horizons, and gave me a deeper understanding of artistry and musicality beyond technical proficiency”.
Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground is deeply rooted in and colored by traditional bluegrass, yet forward-leaning into a thoughtful modernity. This Boston-based quintet allies together some of the most athletic musical aces of the Northeast bluegrass scene: BB Bowness on banjo, Julian Pinelli on fiddle, Alex Rubin on guitar, Brittany Karlson on bass, led by mandolinist Ethan Setiawan. Rather than retreading bluegrass's past, Fine Ground’s debut album, “Little Storms”, reflects the heart of the tradition with fresh original compositions alongside songs from beloved contemporary folk artists. This new release brews together a musical collection that feels equally at home in the bluegrass canon and today's broader contemporary acoustic landscape. Recorded at Dimension Sound Studios, Little Storms was recorded the way this dynamic band has always loved to make music together: live, in a room, listening and connecting to each other through the songs that move them. It is a truthful and moving portrait of the musical depth that only comes hand-in-hand with longtime friendship, collaboration, and love of craft. “Little Storms” releases on October 2nd, 2026.
In addition to his solo projects, Setiawan is an in demand side man and band member, and can be seen playing with various acts in the Northeast and further abroad. Throughout his work, Setiawan’s technical proficiency is rivaled only by his restraint, leaving room for the music to thrive.
Press
“…creative and virtuosic”
“…one of the most formidable mandolinists of his generation.”
“Growing up in America’s Corn Belt, Ethan has this music in his head, hands, and heart.”
“Ethan is one of the most exciting, versatile and virtuosic musicians in today’s acoustic music landscape.”
“Vibrant, thoughtful, and beautifully interactive”
“One of the brightest lights and freshest voices to emerge in the mandolin world in years.”
“Ethan is one of those greatly informed young musicians of today who knows the roots of the music he is creating, but is not afraid to search and carve out his own voice within this new tradition.”
“...This young player fully grasps the importance of leaving space in his playing, letting notes breathe, and allowing the mandolin’s sound to expand fully”
Press for Gambit
“...reaches beyond the traditional confines of bluegrass, showing a wide breadth of compositional styles from loose country jams to new age, jazz-tinged ballads..”
“On his new record, Gambit…he fuses his entire musical background to create something completely new. It isn’t jazz, but it’s not not jazz. It’s bluegrass, but not in the traditional sense. It’s funk, but also old-timey”
“Ethan Setiawan’s GAMBIT isn’t just a collection of new string band tunes; Ethan has captured the spirit of a whole genre, through his personal lens… gorgeous generous music by a whole new generation of brilliant musicians.”
“The songwriting and playing on this album are incredible”
“…a sound world that speaks to many traditions but is often refreshing and surprising, drawing on Bluegrass, Jazz, and Classical elements.”
“Conjuring the classic Americana of Aaron Copland, and Yo-Yo Ma‘s Goat Rodeo sessions, “Golden” is a wild and electric piece, showcasing Setiawan’s dexterity on the instrument, along with a keen sense of melody.”
SELECTED PERFORMANCE CREDITS
Binnorie – Louise Bichan: mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, electric tenor guitar, vocals (October 2026)
Little Storms – Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground: mandolin, vocals (October 2026)
Fiddle Tunes – Hildaland: mandolin, octave mandolin (November 2025)
Encyclopedia Mandolinnica – Ethan Setiawan: mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, 5 string electric mandocello (August 2025)
Goodtime Revival – BB Bowness: mandolin (July 2025)
Band of Friends - Band of Friends: mandolin, octave mandolin (November 2024)
The Wizard & The Voyager - Ethan Setiawan & Maurizio Fiore Salas: mandolin, octave mandolin, mandola (September 2024)
Across The Great Divide, vol. 1 - Ethan Setiawan: mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, 5 string electric mandocello, guitar, cello, keyboard, bass drum (January 2024)
Gambit - Ethan Setiawan: mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin (March 2023)
The Abominable Stringband Vol. 2 - Acoustic Nomads: mandolin, mandola (November 2022)
How Beautiful It’s Been - Corner House: mandolin, octave mandolin, 5-string mandocello, vocals (May 2022)
The Shape of Grass to Come Vol. 3 - The Harmolodic Stringband: mandolin, mandola (October 2021)
More Of The Same - Julian Pinelli & Ethan Setiawan: mandolin, octave mandolin, mandocello (May 2020)
The Crooked Road - Darol Anger & Emy Phelps: mandolin (June 2018)
Projects
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Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground is deeply rooted in traditional bluegrass while leaning into a thoughtful modernity. Featuring BB Bowness, Julian Pinelli, Alex Rubin, Brittany Karlson, and Ethan Setiawan, the Boston-based quintet blends fresh original compositions with songs by beloved contemporary folk artists. Recorded live at Dimension Sound Studios, their forthcoming debut album “Little Storms” is a portrait of longtime friendship, collaboration, and love of craft. “Little Storms” releases on October 2nd, 2026.
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A contemporary collage of Scottish and American traditional music, Hildaland is a duo that approaches geographic borders as markers of exploration rather than boundaries to be wary of. Fiddle player Louise Bichan, originally from Orkney, Scotland, and mandolinist Ethan Setiawan, originally from Goshen, Indiana, have taken their duo from traditional Scottish roots through to progressive bluegrass and jazz, with music inspired largely by places and the journeys between them, both physical and musical. Regardless of their physical or musical location, the duo has an unmistakable sound. In defining their goal within traditional music and refining the scope of their musical territory, Hildaland has honed in on a specific, innovative, and beautiful voice as a band.
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At the crossroads of South American folk music and Northern Americana you will find Acoustic Nomads, a band of rising stars taking the acoustic music scene by storm. Acoustic Nomads interweaves contemporary improvisation and newgrass with folkloric traditions from North and South America, with influences spanning from Appalachia to Argentina. The band's unique sound is a result of the players harnessing these varied musical interests and joyously exploring uncharted musical territory together. Since forming in 2019, Acoustic Nomads has headlined performances at WBUR Cityspace in Boston, Club Passim in Cambridge, Hartford’s Baby Grand Jazz Series, Arts at the Armory in Somerville, Barnarts’ Feast & Field Series in Barnard VT, and performed at major bluegrass festivals including Freshgrass, Grey Fox, and Joe Val. Their performances maintain the spirit of folkloric music while delving into modern jazz improvisation and sophisticated chamber music arrangements, showing how different cultures can come together and join in the celebration of humanity through art.
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Bluegrass quartet who met while studying at Berklee College of Music.
“Annoyingly talented” - Louise Bichan