Page 1 of Dave`s Leicester Comedy Featival.

Now in it`s 19th year and we have a sponsor that is a fairly big name. I`m not sure how I feel about it now belonging to Dave. I have been going for 17 years. Surely I have more of a claim on it.

Anyway, from the 3rd of Feb its 17 days, 35 venues, and hundreds of acts. Far to much beer and takeaways. And being totally skint till the next pay day.

My tip of people playing to breakthrough this comming year is John Robins. I saw his first ever show where there were a total of 7 people in the audience. 3 of them were staff of the event. He pulls the same trick as Sarah Millican (live, not TV) of getting people to reveal stuff you would only tell your best mate. He will be on things like live at the Apollo by the end of the year.

Unfortunately he clashes with another tip. If not for this year but but next. Matt Green. Fast talking, manic, very clever. That and he looks about 12.


One act that will never hit the big time as I can`t see it translating to the big stage or TV, is the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theater. One man, two socks. Songs, arguments, quick change clothes and props, Kraftwerk, violence, improv, audience participation and genuine cock ups. By all means look on YouTube, but its just not the same as being there.

So far I have narrowed it down to 77 acts to see. This may take some time to whittle down.

Oh, the link.

www.comedy-festival.co.uk






"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

Surely with your current testing of material, you will be performing in some little corner?


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I do have a 2 mates who are playing the festival. Matt Hollins who won the 2004 comedian of the year as won in the past by, Johnny Vegas, Jason Manford, Rhod Gilbert, Jimmy Carr came second one year, where is he now? But he is more deadpan story telling.

Ben Ennis (fellow Mute Records fan) is more of a one line merchant. I will ask him if he is prepared to drop one of mine in. I would then be a writer.




"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

First things booked. Greg Davies and friends in aid of the Stroke association. Last year his friends were some bloke I don`t remember, Lloyd Langford, Jon Richardson and Rhod Gilbert.

John Robins who I tip above.

My mates above, Matt and Ben. They are playing the best smelling venue of the festival, Kayal. The small room is above a veggie curry house. It hold around 50 people when full.

So I was rather happy when the other half said that on before Matt and Ben were 2 comedians doing a secret gig. One is Gary Delaney. If you don`t know him. He does one liners. Think Tim Vine, but funnier and darker. The other you may have heard of. Sarah Millican. Didn`t manage to to get tickets for her on her advertised show. She sold out 2 nights at De Monfort hall (1600 each night) months ago. Would be the first time I`ve not seen her since she has been doing the festival. (2008) So her in a small room for a fiver is a result.




"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

Quote:
The original 42pcenter MD says...
The other you may have heard of. Sarah MillicanOoh nice, she funny.


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I have been a fan for an age and seen her many times. Either doing her full shows, previews or works in progress.

On her DVD she does a bit about breaking stuff during sex. She mentions the funniest story she had heard from an audience member was a bloke who had snapped his banjo string whilst shagging his girlfriend up the arse. That was my mate Leon, and it was painfully funny sitting next to him as she teased the details out of him.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

With 3 day left I feel an update is needed.

Over the past 14 days I have seen 14 acts. Some I has never heard of. Others sell out massive venues. So far I have seen.

John Robbins.
Garry Delaney.
Joe Lycett.
Sarah Millican.
Ben Ennis.
Matt Hollins.
The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theater.
Greg Davies.
Ed Gamble.
Mark Olver.
Russel Howard.
Joe Lycett (Again. Different show.)
Rhod Gilbert.
Josh Widdicombe.
Seann Walsh.

The stand out act for me so far is Joe Lycett. Just as comfortable in a 50 seat room as a 1600 one. He is camp, but doesn`t really play on it too much. His story telling is second to none. The reading of his letters to and from Birmingham city council over a parking ticket (it made the Birmingham Evening Post) is one of the funniest things I have ever heard read out. He will be massive.

The best actual joke. Split between two.

Gary Delaney.

Garry Glitter walks in to a florists.

"Can I have some flowers please?"

"Orchids?"

"No, just flowers thanks."

The other one is either Ed Gamble or Mark Olver. I can`t remember.

I got home the other day and my girlfriend had got rows of wheat, carrots, potatoes and other arable produce down one arm. And lines of pigs, cow and sheep down the other.

I`m worried she`s started self farming.

We shall see if anything tops those over the next three days.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

Sounds good, how does it work regading tickets, entrance etc? Do you have to buy a ticket on the door each gig, or do you buy a wristband which lets you ino any event as long as there`s place? If the latter, are they allsame price, or like normal does i depend on who is performing?

Just wondering, `cos when I saw Jimmy Carr, that was £35, we`re seeing Billy Conolly next month again £35 each. Same venue Sarah M was £25, unfortunately the only tickets left when I went to book to that were right at back, so I didn`t bother.

It depends on the venue, act and promoter. Someone like Millican sold out months ago at twenty pounds a ticket. Others you just turn up on the door and take your chance. Prices go from free upwards.

We did have a chat with one of the organizers one year about having a season ticket. Allowing entry to various shows with a grading system. Nothing yet. Although the curve theater did do a deal where you could pick 5 shows out of around 10.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

This item was edited on Friday, 17th February 2012, 15:18

Well, it`s that time of year. 17 days again and over 500 shows.

So far I have seen:
The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre. See description from earlier in the thread.

Anthony King. Bloke with a guitar. Stand up and songs. All of it very dark. I saw him by chance last year. I`ll now look out for whenever he is playing in the area.

Shappi Khorsandi. Her off the telly. She was ok. Enough laughs and likeable. Nothing spectacular though.

Rob Deering. He has been going for years now. He is a multi instrumentalists. Guitar, piano, drums, congas, cowbell and a looping pedal. Very silly but brilliantly put together songs. He always puts on a good show.

Something a bit different we have be to is a show called Dancing About Architecture. Hosted by the very funny Mark Olver. He has 4-5 comedians on stage with him for a chat show type thing about comedy. The audience are encouraged to join in and ask questions. It`s not the comedians doing their act and there is no script. It can, and does go off all over the place.

We have been to 2 so far. The first one was 3 relatively unknown act. Suzi Ruffell, Gareth Richards and Chris Stokes. It was a very funny hour and a half for the 20 or so people there. The next one we was had more like 100 people there. The comics were Markus Birdman, Carly Smallman, Adam Hess and the reason it was busier, Norman Lovett and Johnny Vegas. It was the same thing but totally different.

If you have an interest in comedy it`s a show you should try and see.

Not sure what we have next. But there are 13 days to go. So I`m sure there will be a few more shows to see.




"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.