Tunes in the Dining Room • Casey Driessen & Alan Kelly • [Otherlands: Ireland]

This recording is the sixth in a new multi-episode project by Casey Driessen titled - OTHERLANDS: A Global Music Exploration.
LOCATION: Galway, Ireland
DATE: November 14, 2019
CREDITS
Songs: Calum's Road / The Hut on Staffin Island / Duck River (Donald Shaw / Phil Cunningham / Trad.)
Music Arranged by: Casey Driessen & Alan Kelly
Accordion: Alan Kelly
Fiddle & Audio/Video: Casey Driessen
Additional Music Excerpts: Easter Snow (Intro, traditional), Lucy Campbell's (Outro, traditional)
Special Thanks: Emmette Driessen & Ezra Ray Adams Penland
EQUIPMENT
The following Shure microphones were used in the making of this collaboration. If you’re interested in learning more and/or purchasing one, please use the links below. This helps to support the music I make. Thank you.
Shure KSM44 [large diaphragm condenser] (amzn.to/2OMSAR9)
Shure KSM141 [small diaphragm condenser] (amzn.to/3bjbQ1U)
Shure BETA 181 [cardioid capsule] (amzn.to/2vcNdU1)
Shure MV88+ [stereo video mic] (amzn.to/3bftnZ5)
Shure A75M [universal mic mount] (amzn.to/2tzylyR)
Shure A53M [shock stopper] (amzn.to/2Ox3hqx)
ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION
My collaboration with Irish accordionist Alan Kelly marks the first "on location" session of my travels. I always imagined this project having the flexibility to be more mobile and go into "less controlled" situations, so when Alan graciously invited me into his home, it seemed a great opportunity to give it a go.
*To know more about Alan and his projects, please visit his:
• Website (alankellygang.ie)
• Facebook ( / alan.kelly.52493 )
• Twitter ( / alankellygang )
Alan and I met through a mutual Galway friend - fiddler Sean Smyth - at a cozy session in Kinvara at Connolly's Pub. I immediately enjoyed the playful way that Alan punctuated chords and bass notes within his melodies. We commenced to meet at two more local sessions.
For our collaboration, Alan had picked out two tunes from contemporary Scottish composers (both talented accordionists) for us to start with - a strathspey called "Calum's Road" by Donald Shaw and a reel named "The Hut on Staffin Island" by Phil Cunningham. When Alan played the second tune, the pickup notes and key immediately reminded me of an American tune I learned from fiddler Art Stamper called Duck River. I played it for Alan and he was eager to learn it.
Since "The Hut on Staffin Island" and "Duck River" started so similarly, it was often hard to switch from one to the other without being confused. Solution: we agreed that Alan would start the one he brought, and I, mine.
Our afternoon ended with me asking to hear him play something different...a slow Irish air in a new key. He chose one from his home county of Roscommon called "Easter Snow," which is heard during the opening of our video.
Sharing music, stories, and food/drink?...check, check, and check. That's what it's all about.
If you’d like to read more about our collaboration, please visit:
www.caseydriess...
To follow along the OTHERLANDS project, please visit:
OTHERLANDS Webpage (www.CaseyDriess...)
Instagram ( / caseydriessen ,
Facebook ( / caseydriessen ,
or this TH-cam channel.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
OTHERLANDS: A Global Music Exploration follows GRAMMY-nominated 5-string American fiddler Casey Driessen as he travels with his family to various countries across the globe to meet with local acoustic-based musicians with roots in their own traditions. Musical exchanges and travels are documented via audio, video and photography elements with collected materials released over the course of the project via his website and social media outlets and official musical releases likely to come at the end of travels.
OTHERLANDS is an independently designed and produced project that is self-contained with a small collection of audio and video equipment. All engineering and recording, including any post-production, can be set up, operated, and completed by Casey wherever on the globe he happens to be.
For more information and to follow the project, please visit - www.CaseyDriess...

[@DebrisHauler]

I hear that bit from the Oog album! So cool!

[@helenmirelen4362]

Glorious, glorious playing! Thank God for the internet & thank you for sharing your gifts with us. Can't stop listening!

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

My pleasure. Thanks for listening!

[@emmette1748]

I miss Ireland we should go back :(

[@MrGolanheights]

Fantastic. Lovely sweet music.

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thank you! Be sure to check out Alan Kelly's projects, fantastic musician.

[@lancethelancer2608]

Man I wish I was still there with ya uncle!

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Cool that you and your cuz got a special accordion demonstration from Alan though!

[@marcwolff9663]

Thank you for brightening up my day a little bit Casey. Anytime I am feeling stressed out, I know I can count on some fiddling to cheer me up. Your music is so intentional and triumphant. It's the quality I love most about your playing. It is similar to Abigain and Bela. There is so much beauty, love, and joy in your music that it is impossible for me to not be filled the divine when I listen to it. Thanks again, and keep playing! I appreciate you and your gifts to the world.

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thank you Marc, that's very kind. I'm happy to hear that Alan and I could spend a bit of your day with you. Hope to see you somewhere on the road!

[@annechurch8071]

Beautiful! Takes me back to Ireland, warms my soul.

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Awe, thanks! I can't wait to take myself back to Ireland :-)

[@dalebrownmusic]

Some lovely playing there gents!

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

Thank you for listening!

[@NataliaKiranaMusic]

Love this! Thank you so much! ❤❤

[@CaseyDriessenMusic]

You're most welcome. Thanks for following along!