I mean, we’ve got an Irish Pub that serves Guinness on tap, we’ve got one, two, three places that I can get a taco, we’ve a cafe/bookshop/lending library loaded to the rafters with English-language books, we’ve got an English-language movie cinema playing Iron Man, and now… well, now..

We’ve got a frigin’ MUSIC FESTIVAL!

This weekend, May 10-11, the aforementioned Bookworm is hosting the East & West Music Fest (has got a nice ring to it eh?). The event will host more than 150 musicians and 25 different sets. Multi-diciplined and multi-culture doesn’t cover it, the festival is going to have everything from Chinese punk to a children’s recorder ensemble will be performing.

The Line Up

Saturday 10th – 2pm to 9pm

• Charlie bringing some good old American folk to Suzhou (America)
• Suzhou’s own Tom Waits: William on guitar, piano, harmonica (America)
• The Mysterious Weapons: Rock/pop/punk (China)
• The Doctors Rock/pop: (Indonesia)
• Rico: rock (Phillipines)
• Jimmy and Robert: Rock (Phillipines)
• Too Match Rock/pop (Phillipines)
• Joe and Mike- Rock (America)
• As Is: Jazz/Funk (band members from all over the world)
• Sim: Blues (Korea)

Sunday 11th – 2pm to 9pm

• Eton House Recorder ensemble and choir – Pop and Classical, (from all over)
• Dulwich College Orchestra – classical (all over)
• SSIS Orchestra -classical (all over)
• Suzhou University Music Union – traditional Chinese instruments (China)
• The Doctors – pop/rock (Indonesia)
• Sonja and Mira on violin and piano – Classical ( Germany and Bulgaria)
• Misha and Lupkieva – accordian and piano (Russia)
• Joe unplugged – folk/rock (America)
• Suzie and Boyd – guitar vocals duet- folk/rock (China/America)
• 张云鹏 (Zhang Yun Peng) Chinese rock/pop

What’s more, the festival comes complete with a BBQ. Now if it’d only stop raining.

On top of its boatload of English-language books, the cozy two-storey canal-side venue now has the distinction of bringing to Suzhou some wonderful international literary talent.

Running from March 2nd to March 19th, the Suzhou Bookworm International Literary Festival is showcasing an impressive list of authors giving readings, and talking about their various works.

Some of the author’s making the trip to our little garden town are Qiu Xiaolong, Patrick Gale, Hari Kunzru, John Man, Zhu Wen, Justin Hill, Nicholas Jose, Christopher Kremmer, Liz Niven, Ouyang Yu, Rob Gifford and Paul French.

And, get this, tickets are only 30 RMB – less than the price of a frigin’ pint of Carlsberg at most joints in town. What’s more, that 30 RMB gets you a glass of wine (or a soft drink, wuss).

Check out the Festival Schedule for who’s appearing when – and definitely don’t miss this excellent opportunity to take a break from the China-cized world we live in and remind yourself that not all culture happened 2,500 years ago.

And, for anyone that’s not sure where The Bookworm is, it’s right around the corner from The Shamrock on Shi Quan Jie. Walk west past the Shamrock and when you hit the corner (the C-Store shop), cross Shi Quan Jie and walk 20 feet. Can’t miss it. Well, some probably can – so check out this tiny map.