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>> The new kids of spoken word convene at the Casa

by VINCENT TINGUELY

This weekend, the next generation of Montreal’s spoken word scene hits the stage at Casa del Popolo when the Streeteaters crew launches the 15th issue of their lit zine at the monthly Words and Music at the Casa series. “We’re calling it Wired on Words Eats the Street,” says Streeteaters publisher and spoken wordster Paula Belina. “Sort of a B-movie title.”

Belina started publishing Streeteaters a couple of years ago. It was a natural progression from the flurry of zine-making, chapbook publishing, spoken word performance and show organizing she got embroiled in with long-time collaborator and Streeteaters co-editor Larissa Andrusyshyn. According to Belina, “That’s when The Devil’s Voice was going on and YAWP! and that stuff. And that’s where we come from, watching those shows and getting right into the poetry scene. Iz Cox, Jake Brown-we’re the kids of those people.”

Each issue of Streeteaters features about seven contributors, including poets, prose writers, photographers and visual artists. It holds true to the original ethos of zine-making: it’s fast, cheap (zines are included in the entry fee of the launch) and fun to read. Belina’s editorial choices are based more on a gut level response than on theory. As she explains it, “I like when people’s poetry is really owned by the person who wrote it, and it says something about the person and says something honest.”

At this Sunday’s launch, Belina will preview her new chapbook, Exhibit the Shine, and Andrusyshyn reads from her latest chapbook, Natalka, I. There’ll also be blue collar poetry courtesy of Phred Vatcha (who’s recently taken over the Wednesday’s Child open mic series), Neale McDevitt aka “The Bard of N.D.G.,” performance poet Laura MacDonald, musical interludes with David Young and Mindy Amelotte, with host Ian Ferrier presiding overall. People interested in subscribing to Streeteaters ($20 for 12 issues) or who want to contribute, can write to: Streeteaters Productions, P.O. Box 1783, Station H, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 2N6. :

Wired on Words Eats the Street, Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent), 8pm, $5

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