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.

Big names Bloom and Howard this weekend at JTT

This weekend sees another strong line-up at Just the Tonic, with perennial favourite Adam Bloom topping the bill on Saturday, alongside deadpan local hero Chris Stokes, mad-as-a-box-of-frogs music/prop duo The Raymond and Mr Timpkins Revue and engaging storyteller John Robins.

Then on Sunday night, television's finest Russell Howard is the compere for an Edinburgh preview double bill featuring Mark Olver and John Robins (again) who will be practising their festival sets for your enjoyment.
Tickets for both shows reside here: http://www.justthetonic.com/leicester-comedy/

Herring & Osho star in Bottle Rocket Edinburgh previews

Edinburgh preview season rolls on in the city, with scores of comics braving the floods to practice their Fringe routines at the city's fine venues. Bottle Rocket Comedy Club have three more such shows this month for your comedic delectation:

Richard Herring and Pete Firman are testing out their Edinburgh shows at Firebug tomorrow, but tickets are sold out so you'll have to mug someone or sleep with someone to see the show. Form an orderly queue...

If you can't make it to that one, Sunday (22nd July) sees the return of Ray Peacock and Ed Gamble to the city - this time as a double act - in another Firebug double-bill, alongside acclaimed improv-rapsters Abandoman.

If you can't make that one either, frankly I despair. But fear not, there is one more Bottle Rocket preview show on Thursday 26th July, this time at the Y Theatre. Telly favourite Andi Osho features, along with comedian, singer and dancer Charlie Baker.


For tickets & info for all shows, go to Bottle Rocket's bit of the web (where I nicked all these pics from - thanks guys!): http://brcomedy.com/events/

REVIEW: Murray... present. Comedy dancing... present. Laughs....present?

Best known for his portrayal of hapless band manager Murray Hewitt in Flight of the Conchords, kiwi funnyman Rhys Darby brought his one-man show to De Montfort Hall last night to show that there's more to the man than the Murray.
And this he did with some style - his show was littered with various ways to show off his versatility as a performer, as if to form some sort of professional showreel of his numerous talents. There was character comedy, sound effects, plenty of movement and comedy dancing, funny stories, a little banter and a few impressions. This eclectic show was all held together by a slightly flimsy pretext wherein he has been saved from the end of the world and whisked off on a spaceship to continue the human race, and is prompted by an alien voice (provided on tape by Jemaine Clement doing his much-loved robot voice) to reflect on his life in order to figure out why he has been saved.
And thus, 'Rhysie' takes us on a journey through his life from his mischievous schooldays in the 'Dicks' gang, through his disco-dancing adolescence to his adult life with wife and kids. The material was part anecdotal, part observational, but always presented with warmth and humility, with the afforementioned sound effects and frequent mime and movement bringing each story to life and adding an extra dimension to the humour.
Despite his humble demeanour, Darby is a confident showman, and his one-man show proves that he is a highly versatile comic performer who has plenty more to offer in the future (although as a big Conchords fan I still can't help hoping to see him reprise his role as Murray at some point).

'Comedy for Rich and Poor' Round 2: Conchords vs Lions

Once again it's Rich vs Poor in the comedy stakes tonight - those with a bit of moolah floating around will be heading to De Montfort Hall to catch Rhys Darby (aka inept band manager Murray Hewitt from the awesome Flight of the Conchords) performing his solo show 'This Way to Spaceship'. Tickets and info be here: http://www.demontforthall.co.uk/events/events.php/2012/858/rhys-darby/

Meanwhile, for the financially challenged (and there are plenty of you out there), Hub's free open mic night 'Lions Eat Ice Cream' is back with another line-up of new acts and more established acts trying new material. See tonight's eclectic line-up on the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/380885968642744/ and then go and see them in the flesh for free!

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...

Good News - Russell Howard's coming to Leicester!

Just the Tonic have just confirmed that telly favourite Russell Howard will be appearing at the venue on Sunday July 22, where he will be compering and introducing two Edinburgh preview shows from his friends Mark Olver and John Robins. Tickets are £10 and are likely to sell out quickly so get over to  http://www.justthetonic.com/Leicester-Comedy/shows/sunday-22-jul-2012/889/ to bag yourself a ticket!

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

The awesome Dr George Ryegold at Just the Tonic this weekend!

One of my all-time favourite acts, Dr George Ryegold - the wonderfully twisted comic creation of Toby Williams - is headlining this weekend at Just the Tonic. The first time I saw this act, a sublime mix of learned eloquence, agonising medical complaints, questionable ethics and downright wrongness, I laughed and snorted more than I have ever done at a stand-up gig, so in short - if you've never seen him before, I strongly recommend you do so!
The full line-up for Friday night is George Ryegold, Mandy Knight, Rich Wilson and Chris Mayo. Saturday's roll-call features Ryegold again, this time supported by John Robins, Junior Simpson and Matt Forde. Get your tickets here: http://www.justthetonic.com/leicester-comedy/