OUR STORY
Bio
Magic Tortoise is an alt-folk duo that blends intricate fingerstyle guitar, rich harmonies, and unconventional song structures into a sound that is both delicate and powerful. Matt Cattanach and Bas Tijdhof bring an energy to the stage that reflects their deep joy in creating music together with an improvisational twist, making each performance a unique, immersive experience. Rooted in a profound connection to the natural world, their music invites listeners to pause, reflect, and deeply feel.
With two Festival of Original Music (FOOM) finals appearances (2020 & 2022) and a FOOM Lyric Category win in 2021, Magic Tortoise has established itself as a unique voice in South Australia’s original music scene. Their evocative show “Beyond the Trees”—a multi-sensory journey blending music, storytelling, and nature— was a sell out at Adelaide Fringe (2023) and entranced audiences at Nature Festival (2022) and Adelaide Fringe (2024).
Live, the duo creates a captivating experience, intertwining intricate guitar work and soaring harmonies, inviting audiences into a world where music and nature meet. Their unconventional chord arrangements and song structures bring a fresh perspective to folk traditions, resulting in an evocative, soul-stirring sound.
Passionate about sharing their nature-connected music in natural spaces, Magic Tortoise also loves collaborating across artistic disciplines and cultural divides, creating powerful multimedia performances that blur the boundaries between sound, sight, and story.
If you listen closely, you might hear echoes of Nick Drake, Radiohead, Neil Young and Iron & Wine, but at its heart, Magic Tortoise is something truly original!
Matt Cattanach
Matt loves writing songs while meandering timelessly through the bushland of the Adelaide Hills.
His development as an artist has been strongly influenced by his exploration of being fully human in relationship with the wild, as well as sharing stories that have to be told.
He is constantly astounded by the musical artistry of Bas and the intensity and depth of feelings he brings to the songs Magic Tortoise creates.
Life is very full with chasing his two beautiful boys on mountain bike trails, being an awesome husband, teaching Upper Primary and Kaurna Language, growing veggies and cooking yummy meals.
Bas Tijdhof
Bas has honed his vurtuosic guitar skills since being a teenager growing up in the Netherlands.
He first started performing in his late teens and has explored a range of musical genre’s and group formats.
For more than 10 years he has entranced audiences as lead guitarist and vocalist for Adelaide Blues outfit The Mighty Night Owls.
A lifelong student of master guitarists combined with Bas’ improvisational flair means that every Magic Tortoise performance is unique.
Bas also brings his rich vocal tones and exceptional guitar playing to original tunes he creates for Magic Tortoise.