DJ::
Amyl Nitrate
DJ Amyl Nitrate is better known as Lorraine Carpenter, writer for such publications as the Mirror, Exclaim and Under the Radar. Amyl Nitrate was born in 1999, when she founded PVC Productions with DJ Radiowhore. The duo hosted a series of successful DJ nights, specializing in Britpop, new wave, '70s glam, classic alternative and indie rock. They also put on concerts, tributes and benefits independently and with Pop Montreal, featuring local bands and the occasional out-of-towner, including Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke of The Smiths, who dropped by during their DJ tour in 2004. PVC disbanded in 2005, with Radiowhore's relocation to Chicago, leaving Amyl Nitrate swinging solo, expanding her repertoire and diversifying her gigs - in recent years, she's played weddings, vernissages and private parties. This spring, she organized a Joy Division/New Order party and launched a new DJ night alongside Greg D and K-Mark: Southwest Sundays, twice a month at the Centre St-Ambroise.

Arts & Crafts ::
Caroline Jean (Artwork)
Caroline Jean followed her artistic path in need to paint instead of a career choice. Born in Quebec city, Canada in 1973, she graduated from Laval University with a MFA with thesis called «The Unresolved Desire» in 2005. Jean's paintings are part of a certain style of expressionism in which gesture is as significant as color. They are created with rigor and reflect a strong presence that attracts the viewer in odd atmospheres that are at times friendly and other times harrowing, even worrisome. In addition to having replaced the drawing, the video sequence is now developed like an image bank in which the artist can draw both inspiration and information. For this emerging artist, painting portrait today is peeling the layers off and her creative process is a singular manner of facing the vertiginous, paradoxical and intertwined «affects» of the being towards its condition and beyond its self-image.

Nadia Nespeca (Photography)
Nadia Nespeca has been an avid photographer for several years, covering a wide range of themes, from travel, portraits, landscapes to events. Her most recent work has included digital artistry which has given her work a compelling finish. Nadia has managed to portray intimate yet candid images, which open the door to the viewers imagination.

Eva Blue (Photography)
Eva Blue doesn't quite consider herself a photographer. She comes from a varied background; a BFA from Concordia in Studio Art and over 8 years as a designer specializing in web. Her approach to photography is organic and fluid, where it's about capturing a moment as opposed to taking the perfect picture. Her work is about experiences and hopes her pictures convey a story and an emotion.

Mary Jane Caro (Photography)
Mary Jane Caro and her camera have spent quite some time getting to know eachother. Their relationship has led them from the French Quarter of New Orleans, to the rooftops of the East Village in NYC, to the streetcars of San Francisco, however they are always happiest exploring all the wonderful visual treasures that Montreal has to offer. Mary Jane's photos have been featured in numerous publications, including Stationaery, Voir, the Montreal Mirror and Lush magazine. She has enjoyed shooting with many of the city's comedians, visual artists, and musicians. "Collaborating with other people to create images is the most fulfilling aspect of being behind the camera for me," she states. "I'll be working with some really talented artists in the upcoming months and it's always exciting to share the process with people whose work you admire."

Adriana Coluccio (Multimedia Artist)
Adriana is currently finishing her BFA in Studio Arts at Concordia University. Her work is varied spanning from the highly contemporary to the very classic. She is a multimedia artist with interests in video art, installation and painting. Currently, her body of work focuses on notions of digital articulations and the world of painting. Her paintings can be expressed as digitally distorted explosions of paint. Adriana is one of the WAWA veterans, as she has been one of the contributing artists since the WAWA show's conception in 2003.

Amanda Rhodenizer (Artwork)
Nova Scotia native Amanda Rhodenizer approaches figure painting much in the traditions of digital photo manipulation and photomontage. Having recently recovered from NSCAD's undergraduate program, she is now living in Montreal continuing to make pictures which are heavily influenced by consumer culture, domesticated animals, her day job at a photo-lab, and pieces of your conversations.

Amanda Schurman (Artwork)
Amanda Schurman’s paintings open windows into iconic landscapes inhabited by prehistoric immortals. Through expressive narrative she visits the stories of her ancestors and allows them to reveal thems.elves through illustrative mirrors. She moved from Saskatoon to Montreal in the spring of 2002 where she completed a BFA at Concordia University in 2007.

Tony Elias (Magic)
Born and raised in Hollywood, California, Tony Elias has been performing magic professionally since he was thirteen years old. He has performed for various audiences in numerous venues around the world. He moved to Montreal three years ago to attend a University and has just graduated with a B.Sc. in Biology. Although he will start pharmacy school next semester, he hopes to continue performing and improving his craft.

Andrea Fryett (Dance)
Andrea Fryett first found her love for Middle Eastern Dance in 2000 when she saw a street performance of dancers the first night she moved to Montreal. She started her first class two months later and her first teacher (Nabila) immediately recognized her talent and love for fusion styles of middle eastern dance, and encouraged her to experiment and push herself with new forms concepts. In 2003 Andrea was introduced to the work of Rachel Brice, kami Liddle, and fat chance belly dance and immediately began to integrate many of the aspects that make up American tribal style and San Francisco tribal fusion in an attempt to push herself further. In the past few years Andrea has been developing her own signature style which is often referred to as ethereal; the style blends all oriental dance styles from every epoch transporting the viewer into a fantasy realm of the unknown. Andrea has been teaching for three years downtown Montreal and is currently performing with her troupe Ethereal Tribal and as a solo artist in many restaurants and festivals in and around Quebec and Ontario.

Writer's Table ::
Erica Ruth Kelly
Erica Ruth Kelly is a local writer who is truly coming into her own. Deciding to forgo solving the problem of religion, she quit her Master’s program, signed up for English courses and threw herself into what has become, in a short time, a promising writing career. Published in “Four Minutes to Midnight,” “Subversions,” and “sources,” Erica will also be a contributor to up-and-coming online arts journal “Rover,” being launched in September 2008. Following the success of her 2007 chapbook “The Muse of Absolute Joy,” she is showcasing her newest chapbook “Symptoms,” which promises to confuse and hopes to enlighten.

Four Minutes to Midnight (23:56)
Four Minutes to Midnight (23:56) is a magazine devoted to exploring the strange and wonderous relationships between love, revolution and finely crafted contemporary typography.

Jill Murray
Writer and perpetually injured wanna-b-girl, Jill “2-left” Murray, dances when no one is watching. A web designer and theatre school graduate, she goes back and forth between Toronto and Montreal with her partner in crime, emcee More or Les, and their b-gle, Frances. Her first novel, Break on Through-- a teen breakdance tour-de-force-- was published this spring by Doubleday Canada. She is working on her second, about an R&B group gone scandalously wrong.

SNAP! Magazine
Hannah Byrne & Shayl Prisk
SNAP! is a free arts and lifestyle publication distributed every two months in Montreal's downtown core, and is supported by a website (www.snapme.ca) a gallery space and an events company.

Hannah Byrne is the marketing manager and web editor for SNAP! and loves to be part of creative team dynamics. Born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Hannah came to Montreal two years ago and is putting her business background to use by networking with other young creative entrepreneurs.

Shayl Prisk is the independent publisher and editor of SNAP! Journalism runs in her blood and it is with a keen eye to detail that she approaches the artistic and editorial direction of the magazine. Shayl came to Montreal from her native Sydney, Australia five years ago.

The Australian duo are excited by the enthusiastic reception they have received so far and enjoy working with so many creative and talented Montrealers.

Amanda Mabro (Music)
In a couple of years, music lovers from New York to Vancouver discovered the intensely dramatic sonically beautiful vision of Amanda Mabro in the release of her critically acclaimed debut record "Superwoman In The Making". A Montreal native, Mabro has taken years to hone a sound that is truly like no other, fusing the smooth and sultry vocal stylings of the jazz greats, and the mysterious, sassy and theatrical flare of German and French Cabaret. Make no mistake, this is not smooth jazz, but rather it embodies a fresh kind of youthful exuberance that jazz based music has long since lost garnering comparisons like, "Mabro and her band are the White Stripes of Cabaret" (Andy Frank, Program director CIUT ) and "Rigid jazz purists and Michael Buble fans may not approve." (Chartattack magazine). "Amanda Mabro is different: her songs grab you by the throat and look you in the eye with cool defiance. This is big-voiced, cabaret-influenced music with a bit of garage attitude." -Montreal Gazette

DeAnne Smith (Comedy)
DeAnne Smith exploded onto Montreal's comedy scene just three years ago and today, there's hardly a nook or cranny of the city she hasn't performed in. In addition to co-creating the popular, weekly Comedy OFF The Main show, DeAnne was voted one of Montreal's top five comedians by readers of The Montreal Mirror. Fresh off the "Dykes of Hazard" tour which took her throughout the United States, DeAnne received international attention by making the Canadian finals of NBC's Last Comic Standing. In July 2007, she was featured in the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, whose website predicted, "You can expect this alternative comic to make some noise and garner a great deal of attention." Confident that her quirky and cerebral brand of humor was well-received at home, DeAnne travelled to Australia in early 2008 to perform her hour-long solo show, "Shouting Over Drunks." After attracting serious buzz at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in February, DeAnne charmed crowds at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March and was invited to perform in Sydney's Cracker Comedy Festival in April. According to The Adelaide Advertiser, "DeAnne Smith is a neat little dynamo. Succeeds by keeping the punches coming." Arts Hub Australia says she "certainly packs a punch with her worldly observations" and Indyish.com writes, "You have to wonder where her energy comes from...DeAnne is brilliantly quick-witted." DeAnne Smith is a freaking powerhouse of hilarity. That's her self-affirmation, but it also happens to be true.

Briga (Music)
Building on and going beyond Montreal's gypsy music heavy hitters Kaba Horo and Les Gitans de Sarajevo, Briga brings eastern European folk violin to the forefront and into a realm of New World Influences. Brigitte Dajczer's violin and vocals transports us to a colorful, energetic, gripping and sensual world all the while encouraging excellent musicianship and improvisation. Briga brings us through divers musical landscapes such as world, urban, funk, jazz, groove, and songwriting/narrative, while always remaining true to its eastern European roots. The musicians are Georgi Stankov (bass), Marton Maderspach (drums) et Alix Noël (piano and accordeon).

Annabelle Chvostek (Music)
Hailed as a passionate, visionary songwriter and dynamic muliti-instrumentalist, Annabelle Chvostek first came to notice in Montreal’s thriving independent music scene. After two and a half years of performing with The Wailin’ Jennys, where her songs reached millions, Annabelle returns to astonish and delight with her solo work. Annabelle is preparing to release a new batch of original songs featuring a co-write with the legendary Bruce Cockburn, produced by Roma Baran (Laurie Anderson) and Vivian Stoll (Isis). "Just gorgeous … so musical … oh my." Jane Siberry/Issa, Canada “A contemporary urban folk alchemist … a persuasive vocalist and multiinstrumentalist, with a natural style unpolluted by attention seeking postures.” Musicworkz, UK “These are spiritual depths paired with beautiful vocals.” Alooga Media, Germany

Jordi Rosen (Music)
Jordi Rosen is a Montréal-based singer/songwriter and accordionist who has collaborated, performed and toured with many artists including Rufus Wainwright, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Annabelle Chvostek. She also shared the stage with artists such as Antony and the Johnsons, Penny Lang, The The, and was nominated best singer/songwriter at the 2001 MIMI awards. During the Fall of 2007 Jordi Rosen was delighted to play a five week residency at The Living Room In New York City. She showcased her accordion, vocals and Casio keyboard with it's varieties of sounds and beats. She was also featured at the CMJ festival and had the pleasure of guesting on Annabelle Chvostek's new album 'Resilience' while in NYC. A majority of Jordi's songs stem from her Intuitive abilities. She loves to spread love, joy and healing through her music. "Like fables, lullabies and love ballads wrapped into one arrestingly pretty in an old-world kind of way" - Montreal Gazette

Raylene Campbell (Music)
Raylene is an accordionist, improviser, composer, performance artist, audio/video artist, sound designer, teacher and Deep Listening Instructor with an MFA from Bard College,NY. Her creative work has involved explorations of acoustic ecology, psychogeography, architecture (acoustic and social spaces), computer interactive technology, audience interactivity, and she has performed various styles of music on accordion from Classical, Jazz and Worldbeat to Pop and Punk Rock. Although her focus is primarily with electroacoustic performance, Raylene is slowly finding interesting fusions between all of these styles. Let's face it...as an accordionist and experimental sound artist Raylene's original work will never fit inside "the box", but she sure has fun trying!

Stage Managers ::
Gen Jones
Gen Jones is known for her dark plumage and jeweled beak. She is a bipedal carbon-based life form who recently migrated to the Montreal Island area from her original breeding grounds in the flatlands of Manitoba. Gen Jones is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, fruits and hummus. Her main predators include grizzly bears, cougars and humans. Upon sexual maturity her behavioral activities have centered around radio broadcasting and musical endeavors.

Nancy Bono
Nancy Bono until now has specialized in repressing her artistic side. This was especially easy to accomplish while pursuing a law degree. Now that the law degree is done and she has some time to breathe before “THE BAR - not a place for drinking” begins, Nancy can no longer stop her artistic side from opening its trench coat and exposing itself to people everywhere. The WAWA show will be one of those first screaming in shock dirty moments allowing her to bask in a sea of inspirational, vaginal/breastal creativity.

Most fabulous Door Dame ::
Emma Julien
Emma Julien is very young. Despite this, she has been promoting shows in Montreal for the last four years. She booked at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse for a steady two years, and has since moved on to Le Centre St-Ambroise where she serves beer to thirsty locals and books shows here and there with her long-time buddy, ''Centre'' programmer Dave Cool. You've probably met her doing door, merch or beer sales somewhere in the city. Yes, that was her at the last Peter Katz show. Some people see her at shows and yell, ''Hey, FOLK YOU!'' which is kind of funny but embarassing and something Emma didn't really think through when she started her music blog, ''Folk You!'' in 2006. Keep an eye out for this kid, she's busy taking over the music industry. You'll probably owe her money soon.

Brigitte Dajczer
Montreal-based Brigitte Dajczer became interested in video art while studying at the Alberta College of Art and Design. She co-produced Exploring the Bully Within with Sandi Somers, a series of videos that have been screened throughout North America and Europe. Dajczer is also a violinist who plays in the Balkan band Les Gitans de Sarajevo, and she composes most of the music heard in her videos. Her recent work, entitled Metro Series, consists of three shorts that explore Montreal's metro stations, the architecture, commuters, and the strange narratives that come out of them. In 2005 Dajczer completed her MFA at Concordia University in Studio Arts, and Les Gitans de Sarajevo was nominated for a Juno in the World Beat category. Brigiite can also be seen performing with her band "Briga" at this year's WAWA show!
Film to be shown at WAWA:
"Pugnacious"
(c)2000, approx. 6:00 min, b&w
Sweaty men may equal sexy men, but do sweaty women achieve an equal glorified beauty? As the two characters challenge themselves physically and mentally, the viewer can't help but be torn by the rawness and a seeming loss of their "femininity", and then the contrast of a beautiful boxing dancer in the knockout sequence that follows. With nothing else but the sounds of the ring, these female fighters unknowingly deconstruct the pop culture bullies we often dream of being, and put idealized aggression back into a context that lacks the pressure of Mass Media's stereotypes. Truly romanticized and appealing to watch, Pugnacious offers the viewer six minutes of intense curiosity, involvement, suspense and yes....a final champion.

Fashion Designers ::
Black Sheep Betty - Amy Arnott
As a painter, fashion designer, hair stylist, and powerhouse entrepreneur, Amy Arnott has made a name for herself in Montreal in just under a year! Nestled in the heart of the Plateau area in Montreal (4816 Parc), you'll find Black Sheep Betty, her polished urban gallery with an art and fashion fusion concept. This means there are not only painters, but fashion designers, jewelers and more. The gallery features Montreal based artists and their work must, in Amy's estimation, have that certain magic. Black Sheep Betty also hosts cracking good events, including four blowout fashion shows a year and art events that are way, way outside the box. Black Sheep Betty will be hosting and presenting the very first WAWA Fashion event on May 30th! Amy's artwork and fashions can also be seen at Sala on May 29th!

Wa'Ou - Celine Vautour
Wa'ou has been part of Celine Vautour's life since 2005. After spending countless hours running her thrift store, Celine began playing with old fabrics. She discovered she was far more interested in making her own creations and over time developed a unique style that is all her own. Celine's work can be seen at Sala on May 29th and at the Black Sheep Betty fashion show on May 30th!

WAWA Show Producers ::
Amanda Mabro
Known mostly for her vocal prowess, original music and off-beat stage antics, Amanda Mabro has created what she deems to be a very lovable monster. The estrogenical abomination known as the WAWA Show all but consumes this poor woman's life for several months leading up to it allows her to showcase yet another of her enviable talents: the ability to dream something up and make it a smashing success in the real world. Using her keen eye for style, and sublime sense of taste, her production techniques leave cheering audiences surprised, delighted, and often a little randy.

Cozmos Quazar
A multi-instrumentalist, writer and record producer, Cozmos Quazar has most been marked by an abject and spectacular love of women. Hence his unabashed willingness to whore himself so fully to this wonderul event. Certain other points of interest are his work co-writing, playing on and producing Amanda Mabro's records, his own solo effort Our Nature's Capital and producing a Target commercial for Andrea Revel. He is currently working with the lovely Miss Mabro on a seemingly ludicrous amount of new audio and visual material as well as producing records for Laman O'Nera and Erica Ruth Kelly. Between bursts of fanatical idolatry toward The Kinks and David Lynch, he speaks of releasing another solo album one day but these are regarded as the flimsiest of rumours.