comedyOlist.co.uk
SKETCH SHOW BIG AND DAFT
Paisley Arts Centre, Wed 24 Oct; Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, Thu 25 Oct; Bellshill Cultural Centre, Fri 26 Oct; Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, Sat 27 Oct.
Not the end of an era
The term ‘grt-Batest has is almost SyllOllylllOLlS with ‘splitting up'. so when Ian Boldsworth. one third of manic trio Big And Daft. tells me that this tour will be a ‘best of. or greatest hits' show. it strikes fear into a fan's heart. But it can't mean the end. can it? ‘lt could mean that. but not necessanly.‘ explains BOk’lSWOt’tll. 'We're not planning to do Edinburgh next year as a trio. The plan at the moment is I’m taking a solo show and Rob's taking a solo show. but that might not
happen.‘
Edinburgh in August ‘.'.’lll‘()tll the interminany energetic threesome isn't a welcome prospect. For three years Ian and mates Bob Reuse and Jon Williams have taken audiences on a surreal escapade involving legaCies. spacemen and even Father Christmas. all performed with trademark tomfoolery. razor-sharp Wll and Superb song and dance routines. I kid you not.
Public and critical respoi st,- to the trio's shows have been phenomenal. In three years. Boldsworth can remember only one negative reView. but. disheartened by a lack of bigebucks inedia interest in their supremely chaotic Festival show. the lads have decided as time to investigate other channels for their talents.
Now. after a month of post-Rastwal recuperation. Big And Daft are embarking on their first tour proper. although Boldworth is reticent at the prospect. ‘We're doing our first one back together tonight and it's going to be strange for us not having Andre [Vincent] and Adam [Bloom] there. Although Andre is going to be there. because he's coming to watch. He says he's going to Sll in the corner in his Santa costume and sulk. And JUST keep putting his hand up.‘
Labelling this the end of an era would be an overstatement. not to mention premature. Their solo work is an eXCiting prospect: Bob is a beguiling stand-up and Ian is headlining a tour of student unions early next year. One thing is certain though. the air of uncertainty hanging over this coming tour should make the
experience unmissable. (Maureen Ellis)
Thursday 18
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£3). Resident host l‘rankie Boyle takes charge of the proceedings. introducing Mothcrw ell lad Mark Bratchpiecc. magic Stcyeit Dick and three Velvet Virgins.
Edinburgh Noble Comedy Noble's Bar. 44a Constitution Street. l.eith. 554 2024. 9pm. Free. .\'o holds barred ranting from Raymond Mcarns. ably supported by Viv (ice and compere Charlie Ross. The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £5 (£2). lrish mirth merchant Paddy Courtney. l)es McLean. John Ross and Kirsty Moss join compere Joon Broon.
Reg Anderson’s Comedy Cellar l'iin Mac('ools. l6l l.othiaii Road. 622 710‘). ()pm. l'rec. |.ocal lad 74 THE LIST "1%).
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(ieorge Nesbit headlines. with stippoit Tron] Chris Bl"()()l1]lTCltl and tough- talking Raymond Mearns.
Snatch Club The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. l0pm~3am. £3.50 (£2.50). Resident compere and DJ Harry Ainsworth (aka Perrier winner (iarth Cruikshank) hosts this weekly Curry ()1! meets lli-I)r'-Hi' debauched cabaret. liach week there will be a selection ol‘ guests. and competition host Dave Strong conducts the participatory fun and games.
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand. 33.3 \Vootllands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £6 (£5). Perrier nominee Adam Hills makes it two weekends in a row in Scotland. only this time he takes his amiable brand ol~ humour to (ilasgow. Irish lad Paddy Courtney. the Reverend ()badiah Steppenwolte Ill
and compere Jane Mackay complete the line-up.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £6 (£5). Charming lrishtnan Kevin (iildea indulges in some musical stand-up. Miles Jtipp pontil'icates on poshness. and local lad John McBride lowers the tone. Susan Morrison keeps the lads in line as compere.
Dundee
Dundee Comedy Club The Doghouse. l3 Brown Street. 0l382 227080. 9pm. £5 (£4). (ilasgow's word play genius [)es Clarke. l)es McLean and Richard Smith take responsibility tor the laughter quota.
Saturday 20
Glasgow
Kenny MCCOII Borders Books. 283 Buchanan Street. 222 7700. 7.30pm. A mixture ol' mtisic and comedy from McColl and guests.
The Stand The Stand. 33.3 \Yoodlands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £7 (£4 ). See Hi 1‘). only with compere Susan Morrison.
Madcap Comedy Club State Bar. I48 Holland Street. 357 5387. 9.30pm. £5 (£4). David Kaye headlines. with support from Lee Ness and Rob Miller. .-\s always. Billy Bonkers is your amiable host.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£4). See Hi 1‘). only with compere Jane Mackay.
Glasgow
Six On Sunday The Stand. 333 \Voodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). lind the weekend on a high note with compere Mark Bratchpiecc and Des McLean.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpiii. l-‘ree with drinks or a meal. l‘reestylc l'tinniness and hangover-banishing antics l‘rom resident duo Patil (iraham and Stuart Murphy.
Six On Sunday The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £3 (£2). Al'l‘able Irishman Paddy Courtney takes the top slot in a stand-up sexttiplet which also features Steven Dick and compere Bruce Devlin.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £l. Ben Darcy and Teddy are the tried and tested professionals at this newcomers try-out night.
Edinburgh
Gala Benefit Night For CHV The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£4 ). The Stand roll otit the red carpet for lidinbtirgh t'niversity Children's Holiday Venture.
Reg Anderson’s Big Fun Quiz Night Noble‘s Bar. 44a Constitution Street. l.eitlt. 554 2024. 9.30pm. £l to play. (io head to head with Reg ‘know - it-all' Anderson Tor the chance to win cash and prizes in this ctilt qtti/ cabaret.
Kirkcaldy
Mark Thomas: Dambusters - Tales of Dissent Adam Smith Theatre. Beitnochy Road. 0l5‘)2 4l2‘)2‘). 7.30pm. £12.50 (£8.50). Stand— tip w ith a heavy political slant. tackling two of his favourite subjects: dodgy dealings and Turkish dams. See l'eature.
Wednesday 24
Glasgow
The Fred MacAulay Show The Stand. 333 \‘v'oodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6). The wizened old man of' comedy takes time ottt from his hectic broadcasting schedule to host his monthly show at The Stand. Bob Reilly pops tip amongst his guests.
Edinburgh
Mark Thomas: Dambusters - Tales of Dissent Queen‘s Hall. Clerk Street. 668 20l‘). 7.30pm. £12.50 (£8.50). See Tue 23.
Another Chance To See . . . Dark Side Of The Toon The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5). Venture into the seedy underbelly of lidinburgh as sell.- conl‘essed ‘gadgies‘ John McBride. James l‘erguson and Pattl McNeil] present an alternative tourist trail — the number l6 btis route. Probably best not to sit on the top deck.
Reg Anderson’s Big Fun Quiz Night Cale Royal Bistro Bar. l7 West Register Street. 557 4792. 9pm. £l to play. See Tue 23.
Departure Lounge @ PopRokit PopRokit. 2 Picardy Place. 556 4272. 9.30pm. liree. Harry .-\insworth tests the mettle of his qui/ cabaret devotees in a nail-biting light to the linish. Only the quickest. wittiest and brainiest can expect to walk away with the top prize of a case of K ('idcr.
Paisley
Big And Daft Paisley Arts Centre. .\'ew Street. 887 mm. 8.30pm. £8 (£4). Boundless energy and nonsensical silliness from a trio who have been tipped as ‘The (ioodies’ of the new millennium. See preview.
Glasgow
Karen Dunbar Live King‘s Theatre. 207 Bath Street. 287 55l 1. 7.30pm. £8 —£ 14. ('lir'ivin ' The [kit‘s l‘unny lady takes her assortment of comic characters on the road. alongside sidekick Tom l'rie. See preview in (iay section.
The Stand The Stand. 33.3 \Yoodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£3). Thinking man’s comic Kevin Hayes headlines. with support l‘rom lirank Quinn. three Velyet Virgins and guest compere Joon Broon.
The Comedy Club @ The Edge Chambers/The lidge. 57 Cochrane Street. 552 1740. 0.30pm. £6 (£4). All hail the healing power ol‘ the Reverend ()badiah Steppenwoltc lll. His faithful l'ollowers for this evening are Des McLean. Charlie Ross. open spotter .\'ick (iray and compere James Campbell.
Edinburgh
Big And Daft (iilded Balloon. 233 Cowgate. 226 6550. 8pm. £7.50 (£6.50). See preview.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £5 (£3). Guest host Jane Mackay introduces Bob Reilly. Sandra Johnstone and young Glasgow lad l)es Clarke.
Noble Comedy Noble's Bar. 44a Constitution Street. l.eith. 554 2024. ()pm. Free. Cttlt comedy icon Reg Anderson takes the top slot. with John Spaceman standing tip in support. Reg Anderson’s Comedy Cellar 15in MacCools. l6] Lothian Road. 622 7 l0‘). ()pm. Free. Reg ‘voodoo‘ Anderson takes a turn in the headline slot. with hard man James Ferguson taking over the reins as compere. and support comes from Martin litirby and the Btishtucker Brothers.
Snatch Club The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. l0pm~3am. £3.50 (£2.50). See Thti l8.