MAY/JUNE ROUND-UP including new nights, Edinburgh previews etc

Ahoy there fellow comedy-lubbers! Or should that be lovers? I dunno, whatever. I'm bored of that nautical nonsense already. Obviously it's been a little while since I posted, so I thought I'd do a bit of a round-up of the scene in general, so that you're all up to date with current comedy happenings in the Leicester 'hood, because there have been a few changes and new additions to the regular comedy scene...

Gareth Richards headlines at the Comedy Cafe

Firstly, after Club Smashing burst onto the scene in March, another brand new regular night has appeared, and it's on tomorrow at the LCB Depot (one of my favourite venues during this year's festival). It's called Comedy Cafe and is hosted by the lovely Ben Ennis, with the first instalment arriving tomorrow night (Friday 1st May), doors open at 7:30pm. This month's line-up features long time Ennis collaborator and all-round chatty fellow/nice guy Kevin Hayes, 'Midlands New Act of the Year' Josh Pugh, the larger than life comedy whirlwind that is Annette Fagon, and the contrastingly introverted Chortle Nominee Gareth Richards. Tickets are £9 advance or a tenner on the door, more info and tickets here.

Comedy & Cocktails is still going strong, every first Tuesday of the month at Manhattan34. This month's line up on the 5th May features David Anthony Wood, Juice, Dan Mayo, Luke Dixon, Graham Milton and Aaron O'Tang, and is hosted by guest compere Daniel Nicholas, which should add a mildly unhinged flavour to proceedings. Check out the facebook event here.

The afforementioned Club Smashing returns on Wednesday 20th May with more surreal experiments and abstract silliness. This month's theme is Birthdays, and will feature the varied talents of Jason Neale, Matthew Hollins, Alex Hylton and Dave McGuckin, with sketches from Neil Johnston & Graham Milton, and singalongs with 'Karen Oakey Karaoke' and 'David Coverdale’s Cover Versions'. Once again your hosts for the evening are Bruce Edhouse & Ian Hall, this time assisted by the inimitable Shirley Rentokill.

Proper Funny's Jason Neale showboating with the 'Battle for Leicester' Trophy

Proper Funny Comedy, the first winner of the 'Battle for Leicester' trophy, has now become a monthly night at The Criterion. The next one takes place on Saturday 30th May, featuring Aaran O'Tang, Alex Hylton, Graham Milton, Owen Morris, Peter Thomas and Sarah Keyworth, and is hosted, as always, by sweet little pussycat Jason Neale. Take a look at the facebook event here.

Also going from strength to strength at the moment is Alex Hylton's Exchange Comedy Club. Since moving to a 'free entry/pay what you want on the way out' model, Alex has been packing the room out, which always makes for a great atmosphere. Headlining this month is Bethany Black, with supporting slots from Matt Hollins, Jack Campbell and Colin Havey. That happens on Thursday 21st May.

'English Comedian of the Year' Jack Campbell visits The Cookie on Saturday

Also worth getting excited about is Edinburgh Preview season, which is just around the corner. I'll be doing a full post on that soon, but for now it's worth knowing that tickets are available for all of The Cookie's extensive programme of shows - most of which are in July but there are a couple of early ones such as the crowd-pleasingly witty Jack Campbell this Saturday (2nd May) and his old chum from uni, the wild-eyed innovator Daniel Nicholas, on Saturday 13th June. Tickets for all The Cookie's shows are available here.

And speaking of Edinburgh previews, there have been very audible rumblings on the scene that after their debut success in this year's festival, Leicester Fridge are about to announce some exciting shows for the summer - we'll keep you posted...

Also worth a mention are the following events:
- The Same Faces (game-based improv), Sat 2nd May at The Criterion
- Us & Them (performance showcase, featuring some comic and some more serious acts), May 3rd at Embrace Arts
- House of Verse / Poetry Brothel (described by the organisers as "Words, flows, chuckles, beats, comfy seats"), Friday 15th May at Manhattan34
- Forget Me Not: An Alzheimer’s Whodunnit (Rob Gee's murder mystery set on a dementia ward), Fri 22nd May, Upstairs at The Western

That's all for now. As I said, there will be a full feature on the upcoming Edinburgh preview season soon, but until then, get out and get laughing!

Ta-ra for now,

Paul.