What do you get when you mix alien sci-fi, Vermont state history, and creative forces during coronavirus? Just ask Nick Charyk of Western Terrestrials and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, the creators of the locally-produced film The Ballad of Ethan Alien. This movie, featuring veteran local entertainment such as Rusty Dewees and Bow Thayer, is a musical film based on the song “Ethan Alien” from the Western Terrestrials’ sophomore album, “Back in the Saddle of a Fever Dream.” You won’t want to miss this “interstellar, interspecies kind of collaborative love affair,” which combines local talent, alien vibes, and progressive ideology into a masterpiece.

This film is being executively produced by Charyk in collaboration with Big Heavy World. It was directed by J. Nicholas Mees, a native of the Northeast Kingdom, and produced by collaborative partner Priya Ghosh - you may recognize the pair from their recent award-winning film, A Heist of One’s Own. Their newest production, The Ballad of Ethan Alien, will be screened at several events during Halloween weekend. You can catch it on Monday, November 2 at 5:30 pm at the State House Lawn in Montpelier. Find out more about this event here.

Charyk says that the goal of this film “is to elevate the creative powers of multi-generational Vermont artists with diverse backgrounds.” To achieve this goal, the film is being produced completely locally. It will feature some music from Western Terrestrials, but will also highlight other local, Vermont-based artists. It will also be produced by local lighting, sound, and film production professionals, many of whom have struggled to find work during the pandemic. James Lockridge, Executive Director of Big Heavy World, notes that, while relying on local talent and professionals, this film will share “important themes beyond our borders.” It will speak to critical concepts such as “inclusivity, collective action, diversity, anti-racism, and the importance of artistic expression,” Charyk elaborates.

The Ballad of Ethan Alien is a film with unique beginnings to say the least. Nick Charyk was halfway through a Segway tour of Savannah, GA in early March when he received a direct message on Instagram from Ketch Secor, a personal hero of his. It read: “y’all got a cool vibe. Let’s co-write a song. I’m gonna give you the title and u take it from there: Ethan Allen Wuz An Alien.” Charyk and Secor immediately began working with Cinderella Sound Studios in Madison, TN, but were forced home after three days due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite these setbacks, “Ethan Alien” was released on July 4, and the idea for the film was born shortly after.

Besides executively producing The Ballad of Ethan Alien, Nick Charyk has a lot of other experience working in and for local communities. He managed former Vermont state senator Matt Dunne’s 2016 gubernatorial campaign, and he served as the political director of the Vermont Democratic Party. He also ran Planned Parenthood’s Vermont Super PAC, and was a spokesperson and lobbyist for AllEarth Renewables. Secor is a southerner, originally from Nashville, TN, but he fell in love with Vermont after attending Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He thinks Vermont is “the coolest place up north,” and we couldn’t agree more.

We’ll leave you with a final reminder from Secor and Charyk: “from outer space, y’all are all aliens.” Want to contribute to this meaningful local project? The Ethan Alien gang is still actively inviting financial donations. To donate, go to https://www.westernterrestrials.com/balladofethanalien, or mail your contribution to

Big Heavy World

PO Box 428

Burlington, VT 05402-0428

(Write “Ethan Alien” on the check memo).
You can find out more about the Western Terrestrials and The Ballad of Ethan Alien on their websites or in the Seven Days spotlight article from July.

Text by Kaitlyn Paszkiewicz

Images courtesy of Maggie Lenz at Leonine Public Affairs

The Ballad of Ethan Alien: Love, Space, and Local Talent Coming to a Drive-In Near You