COMEDY LISTINGS - June/July 2013 Bumper Summer Edition!

Whether you like it or not, summer's here, and that means it's Edinburgh preview season here in Leicester. Bottle Rocket are putting on the usual fine selection of previews at Firebug, which include Nick Helm, Pat Cahill, Chris Stokes and a DLCF2013 Winners' Special featuring Romesh Ranganathan (Best Show) and Brett Goldstein (Best New Show). The Cookie Jar also hosts a strong selection of preview shows from the likes of Andrew Lawrence, Paul Foot, Paul Chowdry and Seann Walsh.

PREVIEW: Delaney, Donnelly & Lawrence fill the long weekend with laughter

It's Bank Holiday weekend (yay!), the weather's looking good (yay!) and spirits are high (yay!) - what better excuse to get out there and check out the fine comedy line-ups coming up over the next few days? WELL? I'm waiting for an answer...

Tonight and tomorrow at Just the Tonic we have the nation's premier purveyor of smart, finely-crafted one-liners Gary Delaney, with support from everyone's favourite 'bloke' Paul McCaffrey, angel-faced filthmonger Diane Spencer, and wide-eyed silliness from Eric Lampaert. Tickets vary in prices and are available from http://www.justthetonic.com/leicester-comedy/

Meanwhile over at The Y on Saturday, Bottle Rocket Comedy present the delightfully deadpan Carl Donnelly, who's cemented his reputation as one of the most inventive and assured comics on the circuit with appearances on Mock the Week and Russell Howard. Carl is backed up by likeable Irishman Andrew Ryan, grumpy Geordie Carl Hutchinson, and intelligent wordplay from Jessica Fostekew. Tickets are ten of your actual pounds, get 'em here: http://brcomedy.com/the-y/bottle-rocket-comedy-club-4th-may-ft-carl-donnelly

Then on Sunday, the unstoppable Andrew Lawrence brings his latest show 'Andrew Lawrence is Coming to Get You' to Just the Tonic. A few years back, Lawrence was the first act I ever reviewed and I instantly fell in love with his misanthropic take on the world and his stunningly-delivered rants filled with inventive insults and lashings of self-deprecation. Back then he was calling himself 'too ugly for TV', but the quality of his material has overcome this perceived barrier and he is now regularly seen on Channel 4's Stand Up for the Week as well as popping up from time to time on telly's big 'showcase' programmes (you know which ones I mean). Tickets be here: http://www.justthetonic.com/leicester-comedy/shows/sunday-5-may-2013/1057/

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...

COMEDY LISTINGS - APRIL 2013

Hello there you lot. Hope you all had a good March - and by 'good' I mean I hope you didn't actually freeze to death. I admit I didn't go to see much comedy last month (with the exception of the last ever Lions Eat Ice Cream, during which I made my performance debut as the chief baker at 'Leicester Comedy Scone'). This 'month off' has given my sense of humour a much-needed break after the festival and also allowed me to sorting my work/life balance out, meaning I should now be able to devote more time to watching and writing about comedy - hurray!

So let's start with April's listings, which include solo shows from cheeky Londoner Micky Flanagan, one-of-a-kind mime/prop man The Boy With Tape On His Face and everyone's favourite grumpy American Rich Hall. Adam Buxton returns with his music/video/comedy show 'Bug' and The Criterion hosts the first outing of brand new improv group The Same Faces. Also, don't forget there's still time to enter our awesome three-in-one ticket competition, in which you can win tickets for Zoe Lyons etc on the 6th, Barbara Nice/Mae Martin on the 9th and four tickets to any Fri/Sat show in April at Just the Tonic, with free booze thrown in for good measure! The closing date is midday on Wednesday 3rd, so don't delay - click here to enter today!

Thu 4th - Big Value Comedy Auditions @ Just the Tonic
Fri 5th - Steve Royle, Chris Mayo, Mark Maier, Pierre Hollins @ Loughborough Town Hall
Fri 5th / Sat 6th - Mark Maier, Pierre Hollins, Debra-Jane Appelby, Ben Van Der Velde @ Just the Tonic
Sat 6th - Zoe Lyons, Ed Gamble, Paul McCaffrey, Ian Smith @ The Y
Mon 8th - Al Murray @ Loughborough Town Hall

Tue 9th - Barbara Nice, Mae Martin, Maureen Younger @ Duffy's Bar
Tue 9th - Adam Buxton: BUG @ Phoenix Square

Tue 9th - The Reduced Shakespeare Company @ Loughborough Town HallThu 11th - Big Value Comedy Auditions @ Just the Tonic
Fri 12th - Markus Birdman, Mandy Muden, Ben Schofield, Spiky Mike @Market Harborough RUFCFri 12th / Sat 13th -  Johnny Candon, Andrew Bird, Liam Mullone, Matt Richardson @ Just the Tonic
Wed 18th - Nibbles with Giggles @ Entropy
Thu 18th - The Boy With Tape On His Face @ Just the Tonic
Fri 19th / Sat 20th - John Robins, Will Franken, Geoff Norcott, Romesh Ranganathan @ Just the Tonic
Sat 20th - Rob Rouse, Tony Jameson, Nick Doody, Rhys Matthewson @ The Y
Sat 20th - UFI: Unidentified Flying Improv @ The Looking Glass
Sat 20th - Maff Brown, Martin Beaumont, Joe Rowntree @ Lutterworth Piano RoomSun 21st - Micky Flanagan @ De Montfort Hall
Sun 21st - Should I Stay or Should I Go? @ Kayal
Wed 24th - Antony King - Not Normal @ The Guildhall
Thu 25th - Big Value Comedy Auditions @ Just the Tonic
Thu 25th - Rich Hall @ De Montfort Hall
Fri 26th - Ivan Brackenbury, Dylan Rhymer, Ian D Montford, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic
Sat 27th - Hormonal Housewives @ De Montfort Hall
Sat 27th - The Same Faces @ The Criterion
Sat 27th - Ivan Brackenbury, Dylan Rhymer, Marlon Davis, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic
Mon 29th - The Raymond & Mr Timpkins Revue, Romesh Ranganathan, Anthony King, Dave Twentyman @ Sileby Conservative Club

As usual, let me know if you want to add anything to the list, by email, on the facebook page or on twitter.
Toodle-pip!

WIN FREE TICKETS TO 3 GIGS to celebrate our first birthday!

We're back, y'all - and it's party time!!

Leicester Comedy Scene is now officially one year old (woohoo!) and so, suitably rested from the festival and in the mood for a celebratory comedy binge, we have not one, not two, but THREE SETS OF TICKETS to be won in our 'Official Leicester Comedy Scene Birthday Ticket Giveaway Bonanza'!
OK, so it could do with a snappier title. And I need to use fewer exclamation marks. No sod it - I'm allowed to 'cause I'm excited...(!)
Ahem. Read on, comedy fans...

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 16 - Romesh rules and Al rocks the Korma-bunker

So on to Saturday 23rd Feb, the penultimate day of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival, and my appointment with destiny as I took my place on a panel of comedy luminaries to judge the prestigious Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition.

I met with the judges in the lobby of the Ramada Encore Hotel, where most of them were staying for the night. I was first to arrive and I sat sipping tea with Geoff Rowe the festival director, as one by one the great and good of the comedy industry joined us - Steve North (General Manager of the Dave TV channel), Andy Leitch (formerly part fo the festival organisers, now working for Off the Kerb who represent some of the biggest stars in comedy - seriously check out their website and be amazed at the number of famous names!), Sarah Farrell (Head of Content & Development for Comedy Central), promoter Mick Perrin (whom I had watched on BBC iPlayer just the previous night along with his star client Eddie Izzard) and last but not least Bruce Dessau, comedy reviewer for the Evening Standard and writer of the 'Beyond the Joke' blog). To say I felt honoured and privileged to be amongst such company is a somewhat cheesy and oft-used sentiment, but thoroughly appropriate under these circumstances. After the meeting and greeting we headed several yards along the street to Chutney Ivy and enjoyed a lovely selection of Indian treats and a chatted over a cheeky beer, before proceeding to The Y Theatre to take our seats at the judges' table.

Host - Jarred Christmas

FESTIVAL DIARY Days 12, 13 & 14 - Chicken-bitches and Could-do-betters

Righty - got some catching up to do here. Had lots of work to do in the last few days so forgive me if I haven't been providing you with your daily dose of comedy festival reviews - I'll start bringing you up to speed now, with a summary of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the festival.

I ventured out on Tuesday night to see Nando's presents Chris Ramsey & Friends at the Y Theatre. It felt like a very different experience to the other gigs I've been attending throughout the festival. A big theatre, corporate sponsorship, big names from the telly, an audience full of young people who you distinctly suspected didn't go to see much comedy - it was a world away from the mostly small gigs full of dedicated comedy fans in pub basements or rooms above curry houses that I have become used to frequenting of late. In the lobby, Nando's staff handed out free chicken wraps to hungry punters, the room contained row after row of Nando's staff, and at the back of the stage behind the performers hung a huge Nando's banner - tonight, we were all chicken's bitches.

High energy - Chris Ramsey

Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year - finalists announced

The excitement is growing as festival time draws ever closer. Today, the finalists have been announced for one of the most prestigious awards in comedy. Every year, the cream of the country's up-and-coming stand-ups compete for the title of Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year as part of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival.

The 8 finalists have been hand-picked by some of the country's top comedy promoters, and will each perform a set at The Y Theatre on Saturday, February 23, hoping the competition will be a stepping stone to stardom, as it was for previous winners Rhod Gilbert, Johnny Vegas, Mitch Benn, Seann Walsh and Jason Manford.

DECEMBER COMEDY LISTINGS

Here we go then - the final listings of 2012, and what a cracking year it's been! Now I know it's brass monkeys out there, but don't let that stop you getting out and seeing the great comics that Leicester's venues have lined up for you. After all, if the Great Comedian in the Sky had intended us to stay in and watch telly every night, he wouldn't have invented warm clothing and taxis! (Alternative punchline: he wouldn't have invented drivel like 'I'm a Celebrity...'). Read on, folks...

Sat 1st - Barbara Nice, Mike Wilkinson, Stuart Goldsmith, Nick Page @ Just the Tonic

Sun 2nd - Daniel Sloss, Kai Humphries @ Just the Tonic

Mon 3rd - DMU Comedy Society Open Mic Night @ The Cookie Jar
Tue 4th - Big Value Auditions @ Just the Tonic

Wed 5th - Ship of Fools Comedy Showcase @ The Looking Glass
Fri 7th - Shaggers Christmas Special @ The Cookie Jar
Fri 7th / Sat 8th - Ian Cognito, Paul McCaffrey, Carey Marx, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic

Tue 11th - Laughing Cows feat Jen Brister, VG Lee, Maureen Younger @ The Red Tent
Wed 12th - Nibbles with Giggles @ Entropy
Wed 12th to Sat 15th - John Robins, Steve Harris, Carl Donnelly @ Just the Tonic

Fri 14th - UFI: Unidentified Flying Improv @ Curve
Sat 15th - Bottle Rocket Xmas Special feat Arthur Smith, Boothby Graffoe, Gareth Richards, Tom Deacon, Matt Richardson @ The Y Theatre

Tue 18th - Lions Eat Ice Cream @ The Looking Glass
Tue 18th - Philberto, Gareth Richards, Romesh Ranganathan, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic
Wed 19th - Imran Yusuf @ The Y Theatre
Wed 19th - Ship of Fools Comedy Club @ The Looking Glass
Thu 20th - Gary Delaney, Matt Kirshen, Philberto, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic

Fri 21st - Phil Nichol, Gary Delaney, Philberto, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic
Sat 22nd - Philberto, Phil Nicol, Sam Avery, Tim Clark @ Just the Tonic

Mon 31st - Ivan Brackenbury, Wes Zaharuk, Phil Nichol, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic

So there you go - as usual email, fb or tweet at me if you have anything to add to the listings.
Cheers!

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...

Bottle Rocket Christmas Special preview + Festival line-up released

It's around about this time of year when comedy fans start looking beyond Christmas and into the new year, as the line-ups for the next Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival start to circulate. The full brochure will be available in a multitude of venues very soon, and a few high-profile shows have already been publicised. 

Winners of Best Promoter at last year's festival awards, Bottle Rocket Comedy Club have just released their entire festival line-up, which features a plethora of acts - some well known, some less so - performing at at Firebug, the Belmont Hotel and The Y Theatre. You can check out their full festival roll-call and start booking your tickets at http://brcomedy.com/events/ - I've already started booking mine!

Whilst we're on the subject of Bottle Rocket, have you got your tickets for their cracking Christmas show yet? It takes place on December 15th at The Y Theatre, and is hosted by elder statesman of comedy and perennial Grumpy Old Man Arthur Smith. Headlining the bill is Boothby Graffoe, who combines comedy and music, best described by Stewart Lee as a "multi-talented, darkly hilarious, grade A British eccentric...A musical comedy act who is more musical than most musicians, and funnier than most comedians".

Also taking to the stage will be Gareth Richards (Frank Skinner's Absolute Radio Show), Radio 1's Tom Deacon and winner of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival Best New Show, Matt Richardson.

Tickets are £13 and it's bound to be a packed Y Theatre so get yours in now before they sell out!

http://www.leicesterymca.co.uk/y-theatre-whats-on-details.php?listing=1143

NOVEMBER COMEDY LISTINGS

November. Month of moustaches, fireworks and the gradual, inevitable encroaching of Christmas into every sphere of your life. My solution? Don't watch TV - it's amazing how much more pleasant life becomes when you ears are not constantly bombarded with smug voices announcing "This Christmas, blah-blah blah-blah blaaaah...", four hundred times a day over several months.

And without a telly to keep you indoors and fearful of the outside world, you're free to go out and watch lots of comedy. Good job too, coz there's LOADS on this month, from telly regulars Kevin Bridges and Greg Davies (pictured, with the back of his mum's head), circuit favourites Tom Wrigglesworth, Andrew Bird and Tony Law, and alternative heroes Paul Foot, Doc Brown and Josie Long. The entire spectrum of comedy is represented here in the city - musical cabaret from Fascinating Aida, animated comedy in the form of Little Howard, and improv from UFI, not to mention those shining beacons of wrongness Devvo and Bob Slayer. Anyway, what am I telling you all this for? Read it for yourself...

Mark Thomas gets un-political at The Y on Wednesday

Since the early nineties, Mark Thomas has forged a successful career as a humourous political activist, using comedy and fine storytelling to open the public's eyes to the multifarious hypocrisies of the rich and powerful. Numerous government ministers, large corporations and public organisations have been the victims of his pranks, rants and eye-opening exposés.

It might surprise you, then, that the focus of his show at The Y Theatre on Wednesday, should be his father. 'Brava Figaro!' is a very personal show, in which Thomas tells the story of  his Thatcherite, opera-loving, self-employed builder dad, and the often difficult relationship they shared.

The result, by all accounts, is an unusually intimate and emotional journey, so prepare to feel drained (in a good way) by the end. Tickets and more info are available at http://www.leicesterymca.co.uk/y-theatre-whats-on-details.php?listing=1104

Delaney and Whitehead top the bills this weekend...

Mock the Week regular and master of the finely crafted one-liner Gary Delaney continues his recent spate of appearances in the city this weekend, headlining the Bottle Rocket night at the Y Theatre on Saturday. I saw him a couple of weeks back and he really is at the top of his game at the moment - his clever and often twisted quickfire gags kept the audience hooting right through his set, and you get the impression he could've gone on reeling them off all night. Support comes from eccentric storyteller Tom Allen - star of TV, radio, film and the Edinburgh Fringe. Also appearing are Grimsby-born singer-turned-comic Lloyd Griffith and compere Simon Feilder (that is the correct spelling - I've checked!). Tickets are a tenner from http://brcomedy.com/events/

Meanwhile at Just the Tonic, deadpan Canadian Jason John Whitehead returns with his winning mix of sharp wit and 'likeable slacker' persona. To see him in action is to think "This is what Shaggy from Scooby Doo could've made of himself without the distraction of a huge talking dog or the constantly depressing presence of 3 proactive high-achievers around him". Support comes from BBC New Comedy award-winner Angela Barnes and regular compere Romesh Ranganathan. All 3 are appearing on Friday and Saturday night, get your tickets here: http://www.justthetonic.com/leicester-comedy/

How to Enjoy a Live Comedy Show - the basics.

Last night was a good night for Leicester, comedy-wise. Abstract poet, stand-up and Partridge-sidekick Tim Key was performing his tour show Masterslut at The Y Theatre. Meanwhile over at the Looking Glass, Ship of Fools Comedy Club were hosting a new acts night with a very diverse bill of local talents.

I was lucky enough to make it to both shows, and very enjoyable they were. Sadly, both shows were also slightly marred by people who clearly don't understand how a live comedy show works. Incredible, I know... So let's remind them of the basics, shall we? 

1. Stand-up comedy is LIVE PERFORMANCE. It is not the telly in your living room, a football match or a  drunken chat amongst friends.

2. The comedian is a performer, who has lines to remember, whilst at the same time having bright lights shined in his/her face and a sea of expectant faces staring at him/her, who have paid to be entertained. This is actually bloody stressful (have you ever tried it yourself?) and thus the comedian is deserving of our respect (whatever we may think of his/her material)

3. This means you shouldn't just shout whatever you want, whenever you want at the acts, because unlike the people on the telly, THEY CAN HEAR YOU and in most cases it will distract them from their job of entertaining you. 

4. The same goes for just talking away amongst yourselves. If you just came out to drink and chat all night, why on earth are you in the audience of a comedy show?

5. Many acts encourage audience participation, generally looking for a springboard for some banter or an ad-libbed segue into their next routine. Some, like Pat Monahan, base entire shows on messing about with the audience. This is the exception though. Most acts only want your contribution IF THEY ASK YOU FOR IT DIRECTLY. If this happens, knock yourself out!

6. If not, your job is to listen and laugh. And as if by magic, the more you listen, the more you will laugh. This is the way to get involved in a show, because a comedy show is, generally speaking, a journey through a comedian's mind. Some are pretty easy to follow, some most certainly are not, but just like every journey you've ever taken in your life, if you're not paying attention to where you're going, you can find yourself lost and frustrated. Likewise, the more complex the journey, the more rewarding it often is when you reach your destination, so stick with it.

7. The final thing to remember is that unless you are the billed performer, NOBODY IN THE ROOM HAS PAID TO HEAR YOU. If you feel you are not being entertained, go somewhere else. The more distracting and destructive input you have in the show, the more people you are going to piss off. Nobody likes having their evening ruined, especially when they have paid good money to be entertained and have fun.

Rant over. 

You may now continue to laugh responsibly. 

If it's funny.

Otherwise, applaud politely and leave at the next available opportunity.

Er, I'm just going to shuffle away now...

PB.

OCTOBER COMEDY LISTINGS FOR LEICESTER

It's October - the month that makes everybody habitually spout such waffle as "Oooh I can't believe it's October already", "Where did the summer go?" and "Oooh isn't it getting dark early", as if none of us had ever experienced the changing of the seasons before. Jolly lucky that there are plenty of funny folk out there to offer us an amusing and inventive alternative to the barrage of moronic truisms we're subjected to during the day. And here they are in full:

Tue 2nd - The Comedy Occurence @ Just the Tonic
Wed 3rd - Writers Stand Up @ Exchange Bar
Thu 4th - Chris Martin, Angela Barnes @ Just the Tonic
Thu 4th - Ross Noble @ De Montfort Hall
Fri 5th / Sat 6th - Tiffany Stevenson, Chris Martin, John Mann, Johnny Candon @ Just the Tonic
Sat 6th - What's The Story? (Comedy storytelling workshop) @ Y Theatre
Tue 9th - Big Value Comedy Auditions @ Just the Tonic
Wed 10th - Ben Clark, Antony King, James Hately, Firm Handshakers, Lindsey Warnes-Carroll @ Looking Glass
Thu 11th - Bob Slayer, Martin Soan, Special Mystery Guest  @ Just the Tonic
Thu 11th - Stewart Francis @ De Montfort Hall
Fri 12th / Sat 13th -  Paul McCaffrey, John Robins, Dana Alexander, Eric Lampaert  @ Just the Tonic
Fri 12th - Live at The Barley Mow @ Barley Mow
Fri 12th - Unidentified Flying Improv @ Manhattan34
Tue 16th - Lions Eat Ice Cream @ Looking Glass
Tue 16th - Big Value Comedy Auditions @ Just the Tonic
Thu 18th - Open Mic nite @ Just the Tonic
Fri 19th - Jason John Whitehead, Keith Carter,Angela Barnes, Romesh Ranganathan @ Just the Tonic
Sun 21st - Should I Stay or Should I Go? @ Kayal
Tue 23th - Big Value Comedy Auditions @ Just the Tonic
Thu 25th - Robin Ince @ Cookie Jar
Thu 25th - Barbara Nice, Chris Martin @ Just the Tonic
Fri 26th / Sat 27th - Phil Nichol, Susan Murray, Daliso Chaponda, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic
Sat 27th - Chris Ramsey @ Y Theatre
Sat 28th - Gary Delaney, Sarah Kendall, Lloyd Griffith, Mark Simmons @ Y Theatre
Mon 29th - Clever Peter @ Just the Tonic
Tue 30th - Lions Eat Ice Cream @ Looking Glass
Tue 30th - Big Value Comedy Auditions @ Just the Tonic
Wed 31st - Richard Peel presents Monsterdrome @ The Cookie Jar
Wed 31st - Mark Thomas @ The Y Theatre

As usual, send me any of your additions to the list via email, the facebook page or tweet @leiccomedyscene

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!!

Coming up this weekend: Kojo, Bloom, Bligh and many more besides...

Star of the urban comedy scene Kojo brings his 'Special Delivery' tour to Just the Tonic tonight. Kojo has supported such giants as Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock amongst others, and is currently raising his profile with a show on Choice FM, appearances on BBC3 and starring in an upcoming film directed by Noel Clarke. Support comes from young rising star Kevin J, tickets are a tenner and can be acquired through the following portal: http://www.justthetonic.com/Leicester-Comedy/shows/friday-7-sep-2012/836/

Meanwhile over at the Y Theatre tomorrow, Bottle Rocket Comedy Club returns with circuit and TV veteran Adam Bloom, who has been a consistently popular and energetic stand-up for over a decade, notching up sell-out Edinburgh shows and TV panel show appearances galore along the way. He's supported by Yorkshire banter-smith Craig Murray, the twisted and deadpan Julian Deane and up-and-comer Jonathan Elston. Get your tickets at the other end of this link: http://brcomedy.com/events/

Also on Saturday, Just the Tonic features another solid line-up with Danny McLoughlin, Simon Bligh, Steve Harris, and Liam Mullone. Tickets are £11 from here: http://www.justthetonic.com/Leicester-Comedy/shows/saturday-8-sep-2012/838/

...and we're back! SEPTEMBER COMEDY LISTINGS

Hello there comedy fans! Long time no see. Well, August is over, and as well as meaning that Autumn is knocking on the door like an insistent religious nutter, it also means Edinburgh is finished for another year and as a result we have a full programme of comedy shenanigans in the city once again - hurrah!
And what a bumper month it is, with big names like Pat Monahan, Mark Watson, Jack Dee and Dara O'Briain gracing us with their presence, as well as plenty of quality line-ups in a plethora of venues across the city to keep you amused as the nights start to draw in.

Sat 1st - Philberto, Joe Lycett, Anthony King, Eric Lampaert @ Just the Tonic
Sat 1st - Sit Down, Stand Up (6 acts) @ Upper Brown Street
Sun 2nd - Should I Stay or Should I Go? (comedy gong show) @ Kayal
Wed 5th - Patrick Monahan, Antony King, Ian Crawford, Alan Seaman @ Looking Glass
Fri 7th - Kojo, Kevin J @ Just the Tonic
Sat 8th - Adam Bloom, Julian Deane, Jonathan Elston, Craig Murray @ The Y Theatre
Sat 8th - The Noise Next Door, Danny McLoughlin, Shazia Mirza @ Just the Tonic
Wed 12th - Nibbles with Giggles @ Entropy
Thu 13th - Jason Byrne @ De Montfort Hall
Fri 14th - Sandi Toksvig @ De Montfort Hall
Fri 14th - Live at the Barley Mow (free comedy night) @ the Barley Mow
Sat 15th - Jeff Innocent, Bobby Mair, John Robins @ Just the Tonic
Mon 17th - Fear of a Brown Planet @ The Cookie Jar
Tue 18th - Lions Eat Ice Cream (open mic night) @ Looking Glass
Thu 20th - Jack Dee @ De Montfort Hall
Fri 21st - Junior Simpson, Rob Beckett, David Hadingham @ Just the Tonic
Sat 22nd - Ian D Montfort, Tiffany Stevenson, Bobby Mair, Ben van der Valde @ The Y Theatre
Sat 22nd - Junior Simpson, Rob Beckett, David Hadingham @ Just the Tonic
Thu 27th - Richard Peel presents Megaworld @ Crumblin Cookie
Thu 27th - Mark Watson @ Y Theatre
Thu 27th/Fri 28th - Dara O'Briain @ De Montfort Hall
Thu 27th - Zoe Lyons, Gary Delaney, Junior Simpson, Darrell Martin @ Just the Tonic
Fri 28th - Mark Cram, Ian Hall, Francis Jenking, Leanne Mckie, Richard Peel, Barnaby J Thompson (Dolly Rockit Rollers Fundraiser) @ Firebug
Fri 28th/Sat 29th - Addy Borgh, Dr George Ryegold, Ian Cognito @ Just the Tonic

As always if you have anything to add, email me, tweet @LeicComedyScene or post on  the facebook page.