8 May 2006
The Belgian Embassy has gone through many activities during the 25 years I go there, most in the large historical room. Having a rock concert there is certainly something new. The performance on 4 November by the Belgian group “Sioen” – from my hometown Ghent – was a successful event attended by closer to 90 people, not too bad considering the May 1 holidays with so many people out of town.
Sioen came to China for the first time but gave 4 concerts in Beijing this week, including the one in the embassy. They will be back in September for a grand tour in China to several cities.
I admit I did not know Sioen but it seems they are a big hit in Belgium, quite understandable when you here them play. As our friend David commented – the band should be called “The Deng Xiaoping Band” – small but full of energy… Their website: www.sioen.net.

I could not resist buying their DVD/CD “Ceci n’est pas un film”, even the price was ten times what we usually pay in the back streets of Beijing. Even got a nice poster.
The public seemed to be very pleased and the food served by our friend Renaat Morel could only make it even better.
Thanks again to our ambassador Bernard Pierre – cool to see so many different activities for the Belgian community in Beijing.

Sioen / the public / Valerie and Mrs. Karin Pierre
I don’t know if it is a coincidence – import from Ghent? – but we also had our first rain that day, so Sun had to look for her “heating”… and watching her holding the dangerous glass of beer…