On Chinese New Year, 2006, two Beijing-based DJs were invited by one of Norway's most respected jazz artists, Bugge Wesseltoft, to play at the Polar Jazz Festival in Svalbard. Patrick Yu was one of those DJs. It was his experience in Norway that led him to co-organize this month's NO+CH jazz festival here in Beijing. "I was very impressed with the music and culture when I was there. I saw a lot of passion for music and you see the same sort of passion here in Beijing."

For three days, nhu at the Lido will host a music extravaganza, which will incorporate jazz, electronica, experimental and what has been termed "electronic biker rock," with acts from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Beijing. Returning artist Bugge Wesseltoft is heading up the Norwegian contingent with eight acts from his label, Jazzland Recordings, and will include a performance by the Jazzland Allstars. Sweden is sending over Steadycam and Porn Sword Tobacco from the City Centre Offices and Kompact labels respectively. Meanwhile Them Shepherds and Bangkok Impact from Finland are on loan from the Sounds Like Suomi series that will run a week later at Yugong Yishan and Cargo.

It seems that the Blink and HotHouse production companies have had no problems in booking a diverse artist line-up. "Nordic people are very interested in the Chinese market and they want to spread their music here," explains Yu. He wasn't the only DJ invited to Norway last year. Beijing spinner Gao Hu was also flown to Norway to perform at the Polar Jazz Festival. "I was impressed by the simplicity and efficiency of everything that I saw there," he says. "The music was really impressive because it's not trying to be too fancy or intricate-t was simple yet effective and the people were so warm and interesting and interested in what was going on in China's music scene."

Nordic modern culture is gearing up to have a more substantial impact on China than what's on offer at Ikea on the fourth ring road, as the NO+CH festival hits the road and takes on Shanghai and Guangzhou. The organizers are hoping for a cross-cultural experience that will see China and the Nordic countries build long-term relations. "he great thing about the festival is that it provides great exposure on both sides,"says Yu."rtists from Beijing are performing and it allows dialogue between these two countries. When our guests go home they can say they saw live music and experienced live music here and take that, and hopefully a couple of Chinese artists, back with them."

Nhu at the Lido
Location: 6 Fangyuan Xilu,south gate of Lido Park, Chaoyang
Tel: 010-64356762