Sounds Like Suomi in CN

Sounds Like Suomi - Finnish Electronic Music Tour

NO+CH festival - China

NO+CH = NO(RDIC)+CH(INA)
Festival of Nordic artists in China
organized by State of the Art promotions

Started in 2006, Sounds Like Suomi brings Scandinavian music to China through the NOTCH festival, creating a platform for the gathering of Nordic and Chinese artists in China. The festival aims to help bring Scandinavian artists to China as well as introduce the emerging community to new Scandinavian music.

2007 festival highlights include: finnish folk queen Islaja (fonal), Susanna & the Magical Orchestra, electronic/minimal acts Luomo, Vladislav Delay and MI NI MA.

Islaja will be coming to Hong Kong as a side track of the tour on Oct 3rd @ Le Rideau. (brought to you by: White Noise Records)

NOTCH will be in Guangzhou Oct4, Beijing Oct5, Shanghai Oct6/7.

for festival details: www.soundslikesuomi.com
- schedule -

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This is another example of the increasing international curiosity in China in not only their market, but their cultural developments.

Here is an interview with Jon Campbell, promoter in Beijing, that I happened to meet once before over a year ago, discussing the music and cultural scene in China.

Interview w/ Jon

The cultural scene in China still very premature, but the growing economy and international assistance that China is recieving is giving the country great exposure and leverage in its development. It is becoming a place that attracts people as a place for its culture.

This is a bold move to step into China with such new musics, especially from a narrow genre as Finnish electronic music. The musical acts are great, the festival seems well organized and funded, but is there an audience for it in China? Is China ready?

Another example of foreign cultural interest is - Berlin-China-Bridges presented by DMY - Internationale Design Ausstellung who came by Hong Kong not too long ago. "What Makes Shanghai Addictive?" is a recent expo in Berlin that features new and upcoming artists and designers from China.

Despite the world's eagerness, it seems that China is not at the point culturally that many may expect. Perhaps everyone is anticipating too much a little too soon.