After a brilliant 2 weeks at the Melbourne comedy festival in April this year where I crammed in as much comedy as was humanly possible in the time I now feel like I have a good grounding to recommend good nights and excellent comedians new and established. And loads of those who don't get as much attention as they deserve.
I didnt get to go to Edinburgh. Instead I binged on the excellent Fat Tuesday comedy club Edinburgh preview shows.
Run by Tiernan Douieb Fat Tuesdays are at the Compass, Chapel Market, London. Tickets are usually £8 for around 3 solid hours of top notch comedy In an intimate and cosy setting above the pub.
I have seen Sarah Millchan, Josie Long, Alan Carr, Jack Whitehead, Jon Richardson, and many more here. Cant recommend it enough.
(Currently not on due to Edinburgh exhaustion)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18144012688
Another very very good night is Old Rope. Run by the lovely Phil Nichols. For a mere minimum fee (usually around a fiver) leading comedians, circuit regulars and the best newcomers perform new material alongside main headline acts.The idea is that they have to test all their new material and only hang onto the noose (hanging over the stage) if they are dying and so need to use their old material a.k.a old Rope (geddit?)
Find Old Rope at
The Phoenix,
Basement Bar
37 Cavendish Square
London
W1G 0PP
People I have seen here are Rich Hall, Mike Wilmot, Ed Byrne, Steven Grant, Jack Dee, Stephen Merchant, Paul Foot, Robin Ince, Issy Suttie, Brendon Burns, Milton Jones, Shappi Korsandi, Chris Addison and many many more...its a little basement bar and all very informal. A really really fantastic night out.
http://www.chortle.co.uk/venues/16/london_central/876/old_rope
This makes me laugh my arse off so I thought I would share.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTdTqcLXZgU
