The Bristol Comedy Festival is a brand new comedy festival coming to the city this month. While Bristol is no stranger to comedy shows – with the likes of the Comedy Garden and other shows and tours at venues across the city selling out in quick time – this one promises to start your year with a laugh or two.
According to the event description on the official Comedy Festival website, festival goers can expect tour shows, works in progress, roast battles, local talent, a comedy competition, plenty of stand-up, comedy sketches, secret headliners, pop-up events and even a late night ‘comedy rave’.
Funded by Bristol City Centre BID, the festival aims to collaborate with local businesses alongside national and regional comedy talent. Here’s all we know about it so far…
When and where is the Bristol Comedy Festival?
The Bristol Comedy Festival takes place from January 12-25 at various venues, pubs and bars, across the city. These include the likes of Mr Wolf’s, The Drawbridge, Dareshack, The Conspiracy, The Robin Hood, Bambalan, Bristol Folk House, Smoke and Mirrors, The Granary Club, The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer, The Hatchet, The Boardroom, Basement 45, The Raven, Averys, The Milk Thistle, The Apple, The Llandoger Trow, King Street Brew House, Small Bar, Beer Emporium, Hey Dude, Goldbrick House and The Crown.
You can find a full rundown of what is where, here.
How much are tickets?
Tickets range in price depending on the events you wish to attend. Each event is priced individually, with some as low as a fiver (and even pay what you want), plenty of free entry events, and some a little more (in the £15 region) – there’s even a comedy and wine event which costs £25.
Who’s on the line-up?
More acts on the line-up are due to be announced in the coming weeks. But so far, acts include the likes of:
- Jayde Adams
- Mark Watson
- Vittorio Angelone
- Rajiv Karia
- Jeremy Flynn
- John Tothill
- Glenn Moore
- Mel Owen
- Jarred Christmas
- Jess Fostekew
- Amelia Hamilton
- Thor Stenhaug
- Alfie Dundas
- Alexander Farrow
- Greg Winfield
- Spring Day
- Tom Rosenthal
- 2 Muslim 2 Furious
- Pravanya Pilay
- Sam Williams
- Ted Milligan
- Alex Kitson
- Hasan Al Habib
- Serena Smart
- Adam Flood & Alexandra Haddow
- Lou Taylor
- Dan Tiernan
- Amy Matthews
- Jack Campbell
- Rich Wilson
- Milo Edwards
- James Trickey
- Eva Bindeman
- Sikisa
- Jin Hao Li
- Robin Morgan
- Joseph Parsons
- Tom Glover
- Joe Kent-Walters
- Lorna Rose-Treen
- Helen Bauer
- June Tuesday
- Andrew White
- Alasdair Wallace
- Paul Hilleard
- Ed Night
- Tamsyn Kelly
- Rob Capland
- Sam See
- Priya Hall
- Hatty Preston
- Brennan Reece
- Burt Williamson
- Joshua Bethania
Did you say comedy competition? How do I get involved?
Yes, in amongst events like a ‘Comedy Rave’, ‘Roast Battle’, ‘Comedy and wine evening’ and more, there’s a comedy competition with multiple heats – and if you take the first prize, you’ll win £1,000. According to the official event description, this will be Bristol’s “very first comedy competition of its kind”.
It goes on to say: “We’ve worked hard to make this competition as inclusive and fair as possible which means we’ve ended up doing a few things a little differently, such as paying £20 expenses (per show) to anyone that makes it to the semi-finals and finals. Each heat and semi final will have an audience vote and two judge votes.
“The audience vote will always be counted first so whoever brought the thunder will always progress. The grand-final will have an industry panel, and be held in the main room of The Bristol Folk House and will be comprised of six acts doing ten minutes.
“Each act that made it this far will be guaranteed paid work within Bristol, with the runner up having that guarantee be equivalent to at least £250 and the winner getting £500 cash and £500 in club spots both with us and our links round the city. That way anyone who performs in the final is getting their foot in the door, and those who place getting to swing that door wide open.
“On top of all the above, the festival will be ongoing around the competition with plenty of opportunities for participating acts to hop on other line ups and be part of the fun.”
Made In Bristol
Upstairs at The Hatchet on January 16, for just £5 a ticket, an evening of home-grown talent is to be enjoyed also. So, if you want to watch a celebration of Bristol’s working class comedians, then this is the place to be.
As the event description says: “This is your chance to see real, unfiltered Bristolian comedians doing what they do best – making us laugh with stories that reflect our city, our people, and our unique sense of humour. Featuring an all-Bristolian line-up, these comedians know the city inside out, from Kingswood to Kingsdown and from Hartcliffe to Henbury.
“They’ll be serving up razor-sharp observations, hilarious local stories, and plenty of Bristolian pride. The show will be headlined by the quick witted and brutally honest Dani Johns “effortlessly charming banter” – (The Wee Review). With an energetic mix of storytelling and serious over sharing, Dani is an instantly likeable act and described as a “pocket rocket of a comedian” whose “sassy delivery captivates every audience member.””