Kristi plays Django in Ireland!
Donation protected
I am the bassist for The Hot Club of Troy from Langley, Whidbey Island, Washington, the home of Djangofest NW, America's premier gypsy jazz festival.
My dream is to play music with our band in the Django Sur Lennon Festival in my grandfather's county of Donegal, Ireland October 27-30, 2017.
When my grandpa, Myles Emmett O'Donnell, immigrated to the U.S. in 1871, he left his homeland of Ireland with a new suit, a trade as a boot maker and as a musician.
In 2016, upon learning about the first Django Sur Lennon Manouche Music Festival in my grandfather's county of Donegal, Ireland, I made the journey to represent the O'Donnell Clan and our 'Django' band, The Hot Club of Troy.
My dream is coming true!
The Hot Club of Troy has formally been invited to perform in the 2017 Django Sur Lennon Festival!
This dream adventure is a way for me, Kristi the artist, to utilize all of my creative artistry to get the Band to the festival. By offering you tangible artworks and recordings of our music, my intention is to raise the money needed to fly the entire band there, rent the car, get a few extra gigs, and document the festival for art creations for you.
This journey is connecting me with the Donegal Diaspora; a coming home to "my turf" to bring back a bit of what was born in me from my grandparents from Ireland.
"Creative Donegal: Creativity is a part of Donegal life, it's in the air we breathe. We paint with our words and sing with our stories. Our landscape beats a rhythm that will make your soul dance." Donegal Diaspora
It is sharing a global love of Django Reinhardt's music across continents inspiring musicians around the world to play creative music together.
It is connecting musicians from Djangofest NW on Whidbey Island with musicians from Django Sur Lennon on the Emerald Isle of Ireland.
It is educating people about Django's triumph over a debilitating challenge, about his playing music under political duress, and showing all of us how he and artists of his era remained creative in challenging times.
Now all we need to do is get there!
The festival is paying for our performance and lodging while at the festival.
Costs we will incur include:
~Travel /flights/car rental $5125
~ Per Diem for the band 2370
~ Music, video & art production 2500
~ Administrative costs 2000
~ Fundraising fees (estimated) 900
Total $12,942
How will you benefit?
You will get to be a part of Django Sur Lennon via us!
Throughout the festival, you will receive my original artworks, hand drawn postcards, photographs, pod casts, live music recordings, poetry and journaling inspired by the music, the surrounds and festivities.
Kristio sketch
You and chose what types of my artworks you'd like, including our newly released 'Django' CD . (You can listen to our music via this link.)
You are sending the first band from the U.S. to the Django Sur Lennon Festival in Ireland.
We will be in alignment together with vast amounts of uplifting and inspirational creative energy.
**************************************************
You have believed in me all along- as a bass player, an artist and connector. Thank you!
In my recent epiphany, I realized I am here on Earth to be the creative person I was born to be!
This is an immersive art project for me. I will play with my heart and soul for you and deliver beauty, excitement and magic via my artworks and our music.
You are my inspiration. I am forever grateful to you for being fans, purchasing my artworks and our CD's and for prompting me to reach further into the universe to connect us through creativity.
Kristi in Ramelton, Donegal
May you live a long life,
Full of gladness and health;
With pockets full of gold,
As the least of your wealth.
May the dreams you hold dearest,
Be those which come true;
The kindness you spread,
Keep returning to you.
-Irish Blessing
As Thomas of Ramelton said to me: "Everyone must have a dream. And sometimes they come true!"
I am truly thankful to Troy Chapman, who calls me "the fearless bass player". He encourages my optimism and naive go-ahead energy to improve and play. Keith Bowers is a patient colleague. They are tremendous teachers and musicians who inspire me. Eric, who joined our band last year, propels me to listen to his intuitive melodies and humorous phrasing.
I am grateful to entire band, The Hot Club of Troy, for supporting my idea to play at the Django Sur Lennon Festival this year. Thank you Django Sur Lennon team for having faith in me.
The Hot Club of Troy is:
Troy Chapman, guitar
Eric Vanderbilt-Mathews, clarinet and saxophone
Keith Bowers, guitar
and me, Kristi O'Donnell, bass.
Thank you for contributing the amount of money you feel most able to share. Your support is truly appreciated.
With deep gratitude,
Sláinte!
Kristi O'Donnell
My dream is to play music with our band in the Django Sur Lennon Festival in my grandfather's county of Donegal, Ireland October 27-30, 2017.
When my grandpa, Myles Emmett O'Donnell, immigrated to the U.S. in 1871, he left his homeland of Ireland with a new suit, a trade as a boot maker and as a musician.
In 2016, upon learning about the first Django Sur Lennon Manouche Music Festival in my grandfather's county of Donegal, Ireland, I made the journey to represent the O'Donnell Clan and our 'Django' band, The Hot Club of Troy.
My dream is coming true!
The Hot Club of Troy has formally been invited to perform in the 2017 Django Sur Lennon Festival!
This dream adventure is a way for me, Kristi the artist, to utilize all of my creative artistry to get the Band to the festival. By offering you tangible artworks and recordings of our music, my intention is to raise the money needed to fly the entire band there, rent the car, get a few extra gigs, and document the festival for art creations for you.
This journey is connecting me with the Donegal Diaspora; a coming home to "my turf" to bring back a bit of what was born in me from my grandparents from Ireland.
"Creative Donegal: Creativity is a part of Donegal life, it's in the air we breathe. We paint with our words and sing with our stories. Our landscape beats a rhythm that will make your soul dance." Donegal DiasporaIt is sharing a global love of Django Reinhardt's music across continents inspiring musicians around the world to play creative music together.
It is connecting musicians from Djangofest NW on Whidbey Island with musicians from Django Sur Lennon on the Emerald Isle of Ireland.
It is educating people about Django's triumph over a debilitating challenge, about his playing music under political duress, and showing all of us how he and artists of his era remained creative in challenging times.
Now all we need to do is get there!
The festival is paying for our performance and lodging while at the festival.
Costs we will incur include:
~Travel /flights/car rental $5125
~ Per Diem for the band 2370
~ Music, video & art production 2500
~ Administrative costs 2000
~ Fundraising fees (estimated) 900
Total $12,942
How will you benefit?
You will get to be a part of Django Sur Lennon via us!
Throughout the festival, you will receive my original artworks, hand drawn postcards, photographs, pod casts, live music recordings, poetry and journaling inspired by the music, the surrounds and festivities.
Kristio sketchYou and chose what types of my artworks you'd like, including our newly released 'Django' CD . (You can listen to our music via this link.)
You are sending the first band from the U.S. to the Django Sur Lennon Festival in Ireland.
We will be in alignment together with vast amounts of uplifting and inspirational creative energy.
**************************************************
You have believed in me all along- as a bass player, an artist and connector. Thank you!
In my recent epiphany, I realized I am here on Earth to be the creative person I was born to be!
This is an immersive art project for me. I will play with my heart and soul for you and deliver beauty, excitement and magic via my artworks and our music.
You are my inspiration. I am forever grateful to you for being fans, purchasing my artworks and our CD's and for prompting me to reach further into the universe to connect us through creativity.
Kristi in Ramelton, DonegalMay you live a long life,
Full of gladness and health;
With pockets full of gold,
As the least of your wealth.
May the dreams you hold dearest,
Be those which come true;
The kindness you spread,
Keep returning to you.
-Irish Blessing
As Thomas of Ramelton said to me: "Everyone must have a dream. And sometimes they come true!"
I am truly thankful to Troy Chapman, who calls me "the fearless bass player". He encourages my optimism and naive go-ahead energy to improve and play. Keith Bowers is a patient colleague. They are tremendous teachers and musicians who inspire me. Eric, who joined our band last year, propels me to listen to his intuitive melodies and humorous phrasing.
I am grateful to entire band, The Hot Club of Troy, for supporting my idea to play at the Django Sur Lennon Festival this year. Thank you Django Sur Lennon team for having faith in me.
The Hot Club of Troy is:
Troy Chapman, guitar
Eric Vanderbilt-Mathews, clarinet and saxophone
Keith Bowers, guitar
and me, Kristi O'Donnell, bass.
Thank you for contributing the amount of money you feel most able to share. Your support is truly appreciated.
With deep gratitude,
Sláinte!
Kristi O'Donnell
Organizer
Kristi O'Donnell
Organizer
Greenbank, WA