music: WHITE MARKET | THE RIVER | SKY AND EARTH

“Stockhausen meets world music. A cultural clash that is different, daring and never uninteresting.” Bruce Elder, Rolling Stone magazine

“One of the most remarkable concerts in the rich history of the Brugge festival.” Chris Delariviere, De Morgan, Belgium

“For me, Colin Offord is the Leonardo Da Vinci of world music.” Mark Bekaert, t’Bourdonske, Belgium

“He is like a modern troubadour of the Aquarian Age with his artistic crossover of Celtic, Aboriginal, Medieval and Asian music. His performances are enchanting, effortless and always an exciting event." Antoine Legat Cultuur Magazine, Belgium

"If you've been depressed because so much music sounds alike lately, here's the remedy. The combination of wild music and highly original instruments will have you raising your eyebrows and listening like you've never listened before. Don't be afraid, it won't hurt you. Really !" Chet Williamson, Rambles Culture Magazine, USA

“Uplifting musical work capable of replenishing the human spirit.” Lisa Yallamas, Brisbane Courier Mail

“Magical and extraordinary. A musician and artist of genius. A real national musical treasure.” Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald

“Offord sings in a gloriously rich voice of exceptional range. The sound he makes carries the breath of angels.” John Shand, The Sydney Morning Herald

"The first thing about Australian performer Colin Offord that strikes his audience is his unusual
home-made musical instruments. But when he sings, the glorious melodies eclipse everything else.
They resonate through the hall as he dramatically slashes his bow over the instrument's strings. It's beautiful and unusual music, easy to listen to but difficult to characterize. At times the sounds seem like sonorous Celtic music,at other times futuristic, at other times like a melodic Australian Aboriginal didgeridoo." Jane Rickards The China Post

“As old as humanity and as up to date as the latest experimental pieces. What a buzz.” Veronica Kelly, the Australian

“For the duration of the evening, the Bernheim Biblioteque park became an enchanted place.” Les Nouvelles Caledoniens, New Caledonia

“Offord charmed and galvanized the audience with his own inventions, a realm of sounds from the Aboriginal to the industrial in the same clang and breath.” Tom Harrison, The Province, Vancouver.

“Haunting, organic, irregular, it calls from an ancient source into the modern and asks us to reach inside ourselves.” Darrelyn Gunzberg, Lowdown Magazine.

“Offord is a genuine original. His music is immediately accessible, probably because without artistic pretentiousness or self-consciousness, it manages to reach into some kind of collective sub-conscious and touches sensitivities which are both mythic and familiar.” Bruce Elder, World Music, The Guide.

“His double flute playing was almost painfully exquisite and like all he does, conveys a magical blend of the primal and the sophisticated.” John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald.

“Offord’s music is sometimes controversial, but it is always possessed of a great beauty. It is music that ispersonally, directly expressive, but which gets beyond many of the limitations of the Western “art music” aesthetic.” Jeremy Vincent, Libretto Magazine, Melbourne.

“The second occasion of Torhout World drew approximately 3,500 people to the Castle D’Aertrycke. This year the program was dominated by European singers, but well complimented by the outstanding, magical Colin Offord of Australia.” Stephan Van Volcem, Streeknieuws, Brugge.

“A voice so clean you could operate with it." Dr Guy Grant, Deloraine News.

“Richly sensual and extraordinarily imaginative. A plethora of unique sound colour, spectacle and sheer raw energy.” Stuart Hill, The West Australian.

“A significant and unheralded highlight of the weekend, that was both charming and informative.” David Sly, Womad, The Advertiser.

“A broad and innovative repertoire of composition, improvisation and dance, breaking down the barriers of conventional performance traditions.” James Waites, Vogue Australia.

“The Australian musician and visual artist had no problem in winning the audience with his performance. Offord plays some very unique, self made instruments with which he can create the strangest sounds. His musical landscapes were very well suited to the sunny park of the Aertrycke Castle. With this quality, strong concert Torhout World Festival couldn’t have wished for a better start.” Chris Delarieve, De Morgan, Belgium.