EDINBURGH PREVIEW SEASON HITS LEICESTER (OUCH!)

It's that time of the year again folks, when the air is full of the smell of barbecues, suncream and the sweat of a thousand nervous performers - yes, Edinburgh preview season is almost upon us, and I for one am very bloody excited! 

Despite some quality local nights in smaller venues and a couple of big names coming to town, it's fair to say there's been a bit of a lull in Leicester since the festival ended and Just the Tonic closed its doors for the last time. But next month the city will once again explode with quality hour-long shows from some of the circuit's finest comedians, all looking to perfect their new material in time to pack it into a suitcase and head north of the border in August. It'll be like our own little mini-Edfest, (or 'Leicstinburgh' if you're into the whole 'smashing words together for no real reason' thing...

So, what's on? I hear you ask...

Where will you be on comedy's 'Super Tuesday'?

Comedy proves how similar it is to catching a bus next week, as three great gigs come along at the same time, forcing the city's laugh-addicts to pay their money and take their choice, hoping that they don't end up on the bus that's full of screaming babies or abusive drunkards, and breaks down half way to its destination. Tuesday 14th May is 'Super Tuesday' in Leicester, and your comedy choices are as follows:

No safety net: Tony Law

COMEDY LISTINGS - MAY 2013

It's May! The sun is out and there's a distinct whiff of summer in the air, but for how long??? The answer - I DON'T CARE - this isn't a blog about the fricking weather, you know. It's about comedy and there's positively oodles of it coming up this month, as the new season really kicks into gear and we start to edge towards Edinburgh preview territory.

Andrew Lawrence is Coming to Get You. Yes, you.

So you've got your telly faves Andy Parsons, Micky Flanagan and Julian Clary at De Mont, but the ones I'm really looking forward to this month are Andrew Lawrence on the 5th and the awesome line-up for Set List on the 14th (both at JTT), as well as Scott Bennett and Anthony King at the Looking Glass, and another cracking line-up from Bottle Rocket on the 18th. Always worth seeing the circuit's only occultist metal transvestite comic Andrew O'Neill too. Don't forget Handmade Festival at the end of the month, which features some top comedians as well as lots of music, film and art across several venues.
Anyhoo, that's just my baboon-headed opinion - take a look at the full line-up for yourselves...

FESTIVAL AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED!!

As those involved in the festival have been slowly catching up on sleep and trying to restore some sense of normality to their lives, the merry band of festival judges have been deliberating and arguing the toss over which shows and venues deserve special recognition at the festival awards ceremony later this month. The nominations were unveiled earlier today, and there are some pretty surprising choices!

Nominated - Leanne Mckie reprised her role as local crooner 'Eng'
 in Barbara Steele's Wheels of Steel

Obviously I'm delighted to see my good friend Leanne Mckie's epic 2 hour cavalcade of mentalness Barbara Steele's Wheels of Steel nominated for Best Show, alongside Francesca Martinez and newly-crowned Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Romesh Ranganathan amongst others. Spunky young kiwi Rhys Mathewson is up for Best New Show in a strong field including local songster Anthony King and TV regular Charlie Baker.

FESTIVAL DIARY DAY 15 - 'Work in Progress' could mean anything really...

Righty, apologies again for the lateness on this one but I've had to wait until I cleared the enormous backlog of work that had built up at home whilst I was out galavanting around the festival, and boy has it been a stressful few days. but hey, that's not your concern is it? (the correct answer is 'No.')

He's got work to do - Daniel Simonsen

FESTIVAL DIARY DAY 12 - No reviews please...

Hello comedy fans, and I apologise in advance for the lack of detail in today's Festival Diary. The only show I had on my schedule for yesterday was the work-in-progress double header from James Acaster and David Trent at the Belmont Hotel, and the first thing I was told when I got there was that their management had requested no press/reviews please, thank you very much.

Keep Giggling 'Til the Weekend - four shows in the next 2 days

Okay so we're all buzzing about the comedy festival, but remember that's over two months away, so for the meantime, what's on in the next few days to keep us giggling?

Well, plenty, actually. Tonight at De Montfort Hall, Fascinating Aida perform their unique and highly successful brand of comedy cabaret, described as "Absolutely Fabulous meets Noel Coward, as sung by the Andrews Sisters".
http://www.demontforthall.co.uk/events/events.php/2012/878/fascinating-aida/

Then there's more futuristic tangential tales, atmospheric music and abstract performance posturing from Richard Peel's Megaworld on Thursday at the Crumblin' Cookie, this time joined by comedy-magic mentalist Steven P Travis. http://www.richardpeel.com/megaworld/index.html

Also on Thursday, Just the Tonic plays host to circuit mainstay Junior Simpson, Norway's finest dry wit Daniel Simonsen, former Chortle newcomer award winner Diane Spencer and compere Darrell Martin. http://www.justthetonic.com/Leicester-Comedy/shows/thursday-29-nov-2012/914/

And if neither of those float your boat, Thursday also sees a real variety show going on at The Y Theatre in the form of Emergency! Hosted by local comic Tom Young, it features an eclectic mix of theatre, dance, performance poetry, short film, music and comedy. Highlights this time round include a short mockumentary about Blake Incarcerated - Cleethorpes' finest spirit medium (pictured above), who is the creation of the excellent character comic Ian Hall.
http://www.leicesterymca.co.uk/y-theatre-whats-on-details.php?listing=1159

That should see you through to the weekend, December listings coming soon...

Tonight is Mock the Week night in Leicester - 4 gigs to choose from!

For some unknown reason, tonight is the busiest night in Leicester's comedy calendar since the last Comedy Festival, with four cracking nights to choose from, and there's a distinctly 'Mock the Week' flavour to proceedings...

Mock the Week presenter and all-round fast-talking master of wit Dara O'Briain plays De Montfort Hall as part of his 'Craic Dealer' tour. He appears tonight and tomorrow, tickets are £20 from here: http://www.demontforthall.co.uk/events/events.php/2012/922/dara-o-briain/

Meanwhile at the Y Theatre, fellow Week-Mocker and everyone's favourite bespectacled Bristolian Mark Watson performs his show 'The Information'. According to his press release, the show "may contain optional audience interaction, games, improvisation and unaggressive banter". Tickets are £15 from hither: http://brcomedy.com/events/

And as if that wasn't enough, Just the Tonic also boasts a full line-up of quality stand-ups tonight, also featuring Mock the Week stars Zoe Lyons, Gary Delaney and Ben Norris with compere Darrell Martin. Entry is £8 or £4 with NUS. Get your tickets right here: http://www.justthetonic.com/Leicester-Comedy/shows/thursday-27-sep-2012/892/

And last but not least, The Crumblin Cookie plays host once again to Richard Peel's Megaworld. This is the ideal gig for people who don't wish to pay money to see people they already watch regularly on the telly, as entry is free and to the best of my knowledge Richard isn't a regular on Mock the Week. Expect the silly, the surreal, the musical and the whimsical. There's more info at http://www.richardpeel.com/megaworld/index.html

So there you have it - with four cracking nights to choose from, THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO STAY AT HOME TONIGHT!!

AUGUST COMEDY LISTINGS

Funny month August... if you happen to be in Edinburgh.
With most of the country's standups clearing off to partake in the madness that is the Fringe festival north of the border, Leicester's comedy cupboard is left somewhat emptier than usual. But fear not - some plucky fellows have resisted the urge to spend the whole month whoring themselves around the Scottish capital, meaning there are still some laughs to be had in the city this month, and here's where to find them:

Saturday 4th - Simon Bligh, Julian Deane, Noel James, Eric Lampaert @Just the Tonic
Saturday 11th - Dan Evans, Nick Revell, Angie McAvoy, Sam Avery @Just the Tonic
Tuesday 14th - Lions Eat Ice Cream (open mike night) @Hub
Friday 17th - Rich Fulcher, Toby, Carly Smallman @Summer Sundae
Saturday 18th - Mark Maier, Mike Newall, Geoff Norcott, Eric Lampaert @Just the Tonic
Saturday 18th - David Morgan, Joey Page, Joe Bor @Summer Sundae
Tuesday 21st - Lions Eat Ice Cream (open mike night) @Hub
Friday 24th - Rob Gee: Smartarse @Crumblin' Cookie
Saturday 25th - Gary Delaney, Eddy Brimson, Adam Vincent, Sam Avery @Just the Tonic
Thursday 30th - Richard Peel presents Megaworld @Crumblin' Cookie


As for me, I'll be taking a well-deserved break from blogging during August (not to go to Edinburgh, mind - I'm not made of money you know!). Leicester Comedy Scene shall return at the end of August - bigger, better and more jam-packed with comedy shenanigans than ever...
Until then, have a cracking August!
PB.

Cheer up Englebert, Europe may not like you but Leicester still loves you...

(actual Englebert, pictured preparing for the show yesterday)

Rising like a Phoenix from the Eurovision ashes, everybody's favourite Leicester crooner Englebert Humperdinck will be appearing at the Crumblin' Cookie tomorrow and Friday... but he may look a little different in the flesh!

That's because 'Eng' is just one of the many characters played by Leanne McKie & Suzanne 'Sooz' Rowland in their Leicester-centric cavalcade of craziness entitled "What have you done with Denise's 30p?". Originally developed in Leanne & Sooz's living rooms (just off The Narb), the hour-long show was a big hit back in February, earning the pair a special mention at the Leicester Comedy Festival awards, and returns tomorrow for two nights only, for the benefit of all those who missed the original show.

Expect popstars, ghosts, fictional vigilantes, famous film stars, quizzes, badges, moustaches, wigs, cheese and bucketloads of general insanity from Leanne, Sooz and their comic collaborators Ian Hall, Barnaby J Thompson, Lindsey Warnes-Carroll and Neil Johnston.

Tickets are a jolly reasonable £5 and can be bought using pounds of electronic money from here (Thursday): http://www.wegottickets.com/event/169591 or from here for Friday's show: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/169811

Now, if you'll please release me I need to go to the toilet...

JULY COMEDY LISTINGS

It's another cracking month of comedy in this fine city of ours, with plenty more Edinburgh preview shows to choose from, some big-name telly favourites such as Frankie Boyle, Richard Herring, Johnny Vegas, Andi Osho and Rhys Darby. Also there's the premiere screening of Lucy Peel's 'Doc:Comedy' documentary focusing on comedy in the city, as well as a special treat for proud Leicesterites - the 2-night resurrection of Leicester-centric comedy festival hit 'What have you done with Denise's 30p?'. Enjoy...

Wednesday 11th - Anthony King @Looking Glass
Wednesday 11th - Nibbles with Giggles @Entropy
Thursday 12th - Phil Kay, John Robins @Just the Tonic
Thursday 12th/Friday 13th - What have you done with Denise's 30p? @Crumblin Cookie
Saturday 14th - Philberto, Carl Hutchinson, George Egg, Romesh Ranganathan @Just the Tonic
Saturday 14th - Hal Cruttenden, Lucy Porter @Y Theatre
Sunday 15th - Frankie Boyle @De Montfort Hall
Sunday 15th - Gareth Richards, Chris Stokes, Matt Richardson, Chris Henry, Philberto @Cookie Jar
Sunday 15th - Ideal night feat Johnny Vegas @Just the Tonic
Tuesday 17th - Rhys Darby @De Montfort Hall
Tuesday 17th - Lions Eat Ice Cream (open mic night) @Hub
Thursday 19th - Richard Herring, Pete Firman @Firebug
Saturday 21st - Adam Bloom, The Raymond & Mr Timpkins Revue, Chris Stokes, Ian Smith @Just the Tonic
Sunday 22nd - Russell Howard, John Robins, Mark Olver @Just the Tonic
Sunday 22nd - Abandoman, Peacock & Gamble @Firebug
Thursday 26th - Andi Osho, Charlie Baker @Y Theatre
Saturday 28th - Justin Moorhouse, Romesh Ranganathan, Roisin Conaty, Chris Mayo @Just the Tonic
Saturday 28th - Doc:Comedy premiere @Cookie Jar

2012 Comedy Festival Awards - The Winners

For those of you who missed it, the winners of the Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Awards were announced last week, in a ceremony at the City Rooms on Hotel Street. Chosen by a panel of 11 judges who were forced at gunpoint to watch more than 400 shows a day (okay that's a lie), the winners are:

Best Show - Chris Stokes for 'An Opera Written On Napkins'

Best New Act - Matt Richardson 

Best Venue with over 200 capacity - The Little Theatre 

Best Small Venue - The Crumblin' Cookie

Best Promoter - Bottle Rocket Comedy 

Special Contribution Award - Curve

Make Me Happy Community Project - Guerilla Knitting

Lifetime Contribution Award - City Council

Jolly well done and pats on the back to all the winners, and while we're on the subject of winners I may as well mention Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year winner Matt Rees, who won the coveted title and £1,000 back in February. Good on yer, sunshine!

Reach inside the Cookie Jar...

The Crumblin' Cookie (next to Dominoes toy store on the high street) used to be a great little place to eat lunch or grab a coffee, but now it's so, so much more... This humble little cafe has grown in scope and reputation immeasurably over the last couple of years, into a great place to have a drink in the evening and a cracking little music and comedy venue (winning Best New Venue at the 2010 Comedy Festival Awards and Best Overall Venue last year).
And it doesn't stop there - for there is seemingly no end to owner Antony 'Tinny' Hopkins' ambitions for this place. In late January, renovation work complete, he opened the Cookie Jar, the Crumblin' Cookie's basement venue, which hosted a plethora of paid shows during this years festival, whilst the free comedy took place upstairs. My recommendation - follow 'em on Twitter, like 'em on Facebook, and get along there to meet Tinny himself - literally one of the friendliest men I've ever met!
Shows coming up include Matthew Osborn + Matt Richardson + Carl Jones + Andrew Ryan MC on Thursday 29th March, and Andrew Maxwell on Thursday 26th April
Go here for tickets: https://www.facebook.com/thecookiejarleicester?sk=app_211526985586920
Go on, do it then...