Johny Brown lives in Hackney, London. He has been the vocalist and writer in the Band Of Holy Joy for the past 40 years. It is an ongoing passionate romantic brutalist commitment. He hosts a radio show on ResonanceFM called Bad Punk and sometimes writes plays, one of those plays, William Burroughs Caught in Possession of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, was performed at the Abbess theatre in Montmartre, but that was a while back, and he has been mainly on a very fine losing streak since then. The recently released Corpse Flower is his first singular book of prose poetry.
Catherine Ronan is an Irish, award-winning poet. She is published nationally and internationally. She performed at events including Electric Picnic, Cultivating Voices, Poetry Ireland and Soul Bone. Her chapbooks, Alchemy and Synchrodestiny were both highly commended in the International Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition. Her Poetry collection, ‘Elemental Skin’, was published by Revival Press and nominated for the Heaney, Pigott and Forward Poetry Prizes.
Phil Lynch is a Dublin (Ireland) based poet and spoken word artist. His work has appeared in a range of literary journals and anthologies, on Podcasts and CDs and has also been featured on poetry and arts shows on national and local radio in Ireland. He is a regular performer at poetry and spoken word events and festivals in Ireland and he has also read at events in Belgium, France, the UK and USA. He has been involved in organising and hosting such events and is currently a coordinator of the Words by the Sea monthly open mic night in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (under the auspices of ArtNetdlr). He was a co-founder of Lingo, Ireland’s first international spoken word festival. His latest poetry collection, Moving On (Salmon Poetry), was published in April, 2024. His previous collection, In a Changing Light, also with Salmon Poetry, was published in 2016.
Claudia Talbot, also known by her pseudonym Giselle Linder, is an Australian-born poet and actress currently based in Paris, France. Her debut poetry collection, “City Gothic”, was released by indie publisher Dark Thirty Poetry Publishing in September 2023, and was followed by a second collection, titled “Are You Having a Good Time Yet?”, on March 6th 2025. Her work has also been included in various publications, such as Querencia Press, Imperfect Zine, Version Originale and Bread and Butter Magazine. Since moving to Paris she has graduated from the Cours Florent school of theatre and performed in Alchemy Theatre’s productions of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” and Hannah Coyle’s adaptation of Chekov’s “Three Sisters”, as well as featuring in their recent Tapis Theatre scratch night with a self-devised horror monologue. She is heavily inspired by confessional poetry of the 50s and 60s, gothic literature and Old Hollywood films. She can be found on instagram as @lawdymsclawdy.
Youssef Alaoui is an Arab-Latino writer, publisher, and events organizer. His writing is known for poetic explorations of oppression, racism, and colonialism. His work has been recognized with three Pushcart Prize nominations and appeared in national and international publications. He holds an MFA in Poetics from New College of California, San Francisco. He founded both Paper Press Books & Associates and Beast Crawl Literary Festival to champion underrepresented voices and foster a vibrant and inclusive arts festival specific to Oakland. bio.site/youssefalaoui
Jasmine Vegas from New York has been living in France for 30 years. In the 90’s and early 2000’s she performed her original music and poetry regularly, singing and playing accordion solo and with her bands in Paris and elsewhere. More recently she has appeared onstage with Nina Hagen and Brigitte Fontaine, as part of the ‘weird old ladies club’!Listen and download at jasminevegas.bandcamp.com right now! She also self-produces videoclips of her music available at youtube.com/jasminevegas immediately. Don’t wait! You’ll be glad you did! Get it now!And by the way: HELP! instagram.com/jasminevegasmusic
Xoài David (pronounced s-why) (she/her) is a freelance graphic/web designer, illustrator, and writer. She is a Third Culture Kid who grew up in eight different countries across Asia and Africa, often exploring themes of transition and multiculturality in her work. She studied Graphisme at LISAA applied arts school and Book Design at Ecole Estienne, before obtaining an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Kent (Paris School of Arts and Culture). Her work has been published in journals like Tears in the Fence, The Opiate, and The Menteur, as well as her mini-chapbooks which will be on sale. Her radio play, One Way Ticket, is about two older women trying to hitch a ride to the land of Oz via tornado, and a tired female cop. This was performed by Moving Parts Theatre group. Xoài is a bisexual bilingual Eurasian, product of colonial cliches. Mother of frogs, teacher of English and Co-Founder of Organisation to Decolonise International Schools (ODIS), Xoài is officially working on one novel, just one at a time, seriously, we promise.
Mark Norman Harris is Canadian. 37 years old, separated but not yet divorced (for legal reasons). He is the owner of The Troina Players Company, a Canadian-based tax shelter that operates an artist retreat out of a villa in Sicily. He was once a host of Spoken Word. His current work “Vegans For Dinner: A Musical “is a two man musical comedy about an island of vegans colonized by cannibals. This show will be featured in the Edinburgh, Dublin and Tallinn fringe festivals this year before continuing a tour into the United States. You can see a preview of it 16 February at Theatre Essaion.
Victor Obarineh Sakanwi is a Nigerian musician, writer, and poet who has made Paris, France his home, where he continues to shape his artistic career. As a regular contributor to the city’s vibrant open mic circuit, Victor captivates audiences with his dynamic performances and profound storytelling. His work often explores themes of identity, resilience, and the complex experience of navigating between cultures. Drawing inspiration from both his Nigerian roots and Western influences, he weaves a unique blend of rhythms and narratives, creating a powerful fusion that resonates with a diverse audience. His poem and song “Soil” was published in “Disgrace : A collection of multilingual poems” by Paris Lit Up in March 2024.His first EP “Soil” was released in December 2024 in collaboration with Ubayy (pursangcréole) and Felix Meyer.
Ubayy is a multi-disciplinary artist originally from Mauritius but based in Paris, France. His work is distinguished by its deep philosophical undertones, layered visual storytelling, and keen observational qualities. Rooted in East African heritage yet heavily influenced by Western culture, Ubayy’s creations are a fusion of both worlds, with a strong emphasis on introspection and self-discovery.Music plays a significant role in his art, serving as a spiritual medium that transcends cultural, linguistic, and racial barriers. Through his work, Ubayy seeks to explore universal themes and foster connections that go beyond surface-level differences, offering an intimate and thoughtful perspective on human experience.
Henry Madd is an award winning poet and playwright who has been entertaining people for over 10 years with his electric performances. His work walks a tightrope between bizarre, funny and gut wrenching that leaves audiences not knowing whether to laugh or cry. His debut drama toured nationally and earned him a writing residency sponsored by Film 4, a listing in The Guardians top 100 shows of the year and The Stage’s best shows of Edinburgh Fringe.
SpokenWord Paris 