the Beijinger

Country Fair organizers Emi Uemura and Caroline Merrifield tell us how we can get acquainted with our local organic farmers.

How does Country Fair work?
Country Fair developed out of a need to connect Beijing’s organic farmers with the city’s consumers. The event – modeled after farmers’ markets like those in Canada or the US – works as a platform for consumers to engage directly with the people who feed them, and for farmers to practice direct marketing. Our hope has been that the Country Fair events will increase consumers’ understanding of our urban food system, supporting the efforts of Beijing’s small-scale organic producers. 

Yeah I know, what is Tongzhou Canal Park (I have the same question with "world music")? Well, before recently moving into the city, Tongzhou was my neighborhood (said with unreasonable pride), as well as the habitat for many rock stars in Beijing - the rent is cheap, the traffic is wild, the streets are lined with real estate agencies selling apartments at ridiculously high prices, and the Batong Line is crowded enough to make the law of inertia powerless since you never fall without holding a thing...I'm gonna stop now so we can go straight to the point. After the premiere last year, Modern Sky is throwing the 2nd Strawberry Music Festival on May 1-3 in Beijing's eastern suburb. With more than 100 acts on six stages, boss Shen Lihui is clearly showing his ambition.

For once, we’re aiming to spend the entire long weekend in Beijing. Why, you ask? See here, here, here and here – need we say more?

Our Music Editor has been doing a fine job prepping us on what to expect from the music festivals. This year we can choose from Midi, Strawberry or Music Valley – or hit up all three, since they each take place over the span of three days (April 30-May 2).

Once you've settled on the lineups of your liking, however, you still face another dilemma: finding the perfect outfit.

After a year off in Zhenjiang, China's very first rock music festival is back in Beijing at Haidian Park on May 1-4. Last Year, Midi School of Music hosted its own award ceremony, and most of the winning acts will appear on stage during the May holiday. But some of the bands from Modern Sky seem to be missing - whatever happened to solidarity...

News just flashed in that British punk legends Sham 69 have postponed their scheduled Asian Tour, so it seems inevitable to compare this turn of event to what happened to The Buzzcocks last year, however the Midi organizer has informed us that Sham will definitely play on May 1. So keep your fingers crossed and keep your eyes on the Beijinger Blog for an interview with guitarist Dave Parsons.

The Hard Rock Calling festival kicks off June 24, celebrating Hard Rock Cafe's 40th anniversary this year. An all-star lineup includes The Killers, Bon Jovi and Stevie Nicks. And it's in London. Why should we care? Because Hard Rock Beijing is giving you a chance to win a free trip to the festival.

This weekend’s music festival takes the stage out in Shunyi. Rynostock, a charity rock festival, plays all day Saturday at Pomme O’Shea’s - and unlike other recent festivals, beer and other drinks are guaranteed to be flowing in abundance.

Today is World Reading Day or 世界读书日 (shìjiè dúshū rì) in Chinese, also known as World Book and Copyright Day through out much of the rest of the world. Unlike last year, none of the big bookstores in Beijing will be offering hefty discounts. Though it seems the National Library of China is organizing a few activities. But never mind the absence of sales, the digital age is here and you can go and read some classics over at the World Digital Library for free instead.

The English-language edition of The Global Times is reporting that Beijing Capital International Airport will be closed on the morning of October 1.

UPDATE: In a change to the original plan, organizers Acupuncture Records have announced that May 21-22's INTRO 2011 electronic music festival has been moved to 751 D-Park in 798 Art District - the event will not take place at Tongzhou Canal Park as previously advertised.

Philadelphia’s Josh Wink was at the forefront of the early ’90s rave scene in the US, melting dance floors and scoring hits with tracks like “Higher State of Consciousness.” Two decades on, Wink brings his record bag for a headline set at the biggest weekend on Beijing’s electronic music calendar, INTRO 2011, which takes place May 21-22 at 751 D-Park in 798 Art District (moved from originally planned Tongzhou Canal Park). We warmed Wink up for Beijing by asking him about Star Wars, Radiohead and his shifting perception of the humble banana.