OffsideOpen

The OffsideOpen International New Music Festival Gelderland or Offside Festival was a jazz festival in the German - Dutch border region of Gelderland. It was founded by Burkhard Hennen in 2007 and was a second time 2008.

The three-day festival in August was organizational support from the cities of funds, Straelen and the Dutch municipality of Arcen. The financing of the festival took place through donations of private sponsors. Burkhard Hennen, founder and from 1972 to 2005 artistic director of the Moers Festival, thus realizing his vision of a festival of a piece, a holistic overarching concept. For example, was - done instead of professional fast food stand operators as in Moers through the city - Lower Rhine kitchen by volunteers offered gGmbH the trainees of the Integra. The 200 workers also made sure the infrastructure and logistics, so that hens all bids decided for this festival initiative since it was this offer most sympathetic.

From 17 to 19 August 2007, the festival took place on three stages at money. More than 200 international musicians performed in Geldern and around the festival on cross-border. A special attraction was the approximately 40-member Shibuza Shirazu Orchestra from Japan, the hens had discovered in 1997 in Yokohama. The ensemble made ​​the OffsideOpen Festival to kick off his European tour. But first, the orchestra remained five days in the area and has performed in concerts including the school auditorium.

Hens pleaded because of a funding gap, to take place the next festival later. But the other organizers preferred an annual basis. Then hens stepped down as artistic director in July 2008 and the festival name changed because Hennens naming rights of OffsideOpen to Offside. Offside 2008 took place from 22 to 24 August 2008 at Dutch lake place with Gunter Hampel, Klaus Doldinger, Jazz canteen and Mars Williams and other musicians. The artistic director In 2008 Rainer Hanssen. For a further edition of the festival did not happen because too many sponsors bailed.