Name Ava Vidal
Who’s she then? Possibly the tallest female comic on the circuit, 6ft plus Ava Vidal is a cool and composed performer with an intriguing past. A teenage mum, she earned a living as a prison officer before turning to stand-up, a move inspired by watching Chris Rock.
She'll have done the Edinburgh Fringe, then? Yes, with shows entitled Misfit and Responsible. The former from 2005 about her out-of— place life so far and the latter a year later concerning the shift into her thirties.
Has she been on the box? Back in 2004, she appeared in E4's one-off reality contest Kings of Comedy. a tournament eventually won by Andrew Maxwell. And if you happen to have been in the US during the summer of 2007, you might have spotted her doing well in NBC's Last Comic Standing, a show not a million miles away from KoC. Unfortunately, some visa problems prevented her from getting to LA for the semi-final.
Is she related to Gore Vidal? No.
(Brian Donaldson) I Jongleurs, Edinburgh, Fri 23 & Sat 24 Jan.
Edinburgh
Raymond "earns The Stand. 5
York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £8 (£6). The legend that is Mr Raymond Meants perfonns his highly acclaimed show Shaggy Dog Stories. a showcase for his masterful storytelling and other such stuff. See preview. page 38.
Hairy Watt Comedy Club The Union. Heriot-Watt University. Riccarton. 451 5333. 9pm. £4 (£3). Funny men l)es Clarke. Niall Browne and Neil
Mcl‘arlane do the comedy thing for student-ville. although grown-ups are allowed if they want to feel old and uncool.
Glasgow Best of Irish The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £7 (£6; members £4). Mr Michael Redmond introduces a selection of Irish treats: Martin Bigpig Mor. Eleanor 'l'icman and Jeff ()‘Boylc. Cio listen to their cheeky accents and marvel at how funny positive discrimination can be.
The Go Button Trader Joe's. 325 Hope Street. 332 4017. 8.30pm. Stu
Who'.’ heads up a stupendous line-up for a free gig. With MC JoJo Sutherland. Daniel Sloss. Daniel Huntley. John Purses and Daniel Webster.
Edinburgh
M of Scottish The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). More celebrations of all things Scottish and funny: it‘s enough to bring a tear to Scan Connery’s eye. Tonight’s gags are provided by (iary Little. (itis 'lawse. Chris 1-‘orf1's.Andrevv liearmonth and MC Joe lleenan.
Glasgow The Thursday Show 'llte Stand. 3 33 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Bump tip your 'Httirsday witlt the marvellous Jo Catilfield yep. that one off the telly along with MC Joe lleenan. Kevin l)ewsbury arid Charlie Ross.
Edinburgh
Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde. 1 l2 Hanover Street. 225 2022. 9pm. £3. Sec Thu 22. Fit 0’ The Giggles 'llte Mercal. 28 West Maitland Street. 225 3861. 9pm. £5 (£3). See Thu 22.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Bruce l)evlin conipcres. iii the fine old company of Martin Bigpig Mor. Andy Sir. lileanor 'liernan and Michael Manley. It's the same lineup as the forthcoming weekend. btit cheap as chips so get yersel a wee bargain.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. 1l(i(‘ Building. 1 l Renfrew Street. 0870 7870707. 8pm. £12. If you’ve got notlting to do this weekend. then ltead down to Jongynpoos where Mike Wilkinson. Patrick Rolink. Nick Revell and Mark Walker will be telling jokes about everything.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 29.
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. (ireenside Place. 08707 870707. 8pm. £1 1. A couple of Scottish scamps. Scott Agnew and John Ross. are joined by fellow rib—ticklers Ron Vaudry and ()wen ()‘Neill.
The Stand 'lhe Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 29.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. U(iC Building. 1 l Renfrew Street. 0870 7870707. 8pm. £15. Sec Fri 30. Comedy 0 The State The State Bar. 148 llollaitd Street. 332 2159. 9pm. £5. (iuest MC Billy Kirkwood retums to The State to introduce Colin lidward. Jeff~ Brighton. Keara Murphy and headliner. comedy stalwart and head of his clan. Mark Bmtchpiece.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 9pm. £13. See Thu 29.
Woodlands Bumper Value Comedy Club Uisge Beatha. 232 246 Woodlands Road. 564 1596. 9pm. £6 (£4). See Sat 24.
Edinburgh Jongletls Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. (ireenside Place. 08707 870707. 8pm. £14. See Fri 30.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £13. See Thu 29.
Glasgow Michael Hednond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. ()870 6(X) 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; members £1).
Just snuggle down in The Stand this evening. and relax as Michael Redmond takes you on a peaceful nde Into comedy land where you'll meet lovely people such as Kevin l)ev. sbury and Charlie Ross.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? 'Htc Slaitd. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpni. See Sun 25. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The
Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm.
£5 (£4; members £1 ). l'inislt tip your
week and start tip your liebniary with
some comedy fun. with a packer line—up headed tip by lowikey master 1)av id Kay.
MC Stan Bevan introduces Jim Park. Martin McAllister. I)ave Strong and Jeremy Mied/inski.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558
7272. 830pm. £2 (£1). Presenting a
selection of eager newer comedians. ready
to be dallled by the spotlight aitd
drowned by applause. Helping them otit are professionals Scott Agnew and Kevin
Bridges.
Glasgow
Red Raw The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 (£1 l. More wannabe comedians volunteer themselves in the hopes of becoming the next thing to make you laugh. With Jay lélllef‘l)’ and Patrick Rolink as coinpere arid headliner.
Edinburgh
Wicked Wenches 'llte Stand. 5
York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). More ladies who laugh iit this monthly showcase of all things funny and. coincidentally. l'einale. MC Susan Calman steps into her regular role. with this month‘s stars: Susan Morrison. Al. Kennedy. Diane Morgan and liilidh MacAskill.
Glasgow
Wicked Wenches 'lhe Startd. 333
Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3). See Tue 3.
The Go Button Trader Joe's.
325 Hope Street. 332 4017. 8.30pm. Another cracking night from the free (ilasgow treat. with MC Billy Kirkwood. Rob Kane. Derek Miller. Phil ()‘Shea. John (iavin. Patrick Rolink and even a wee bit of improv.
Edinburgh
Stand lmprov The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£2.50 members). Recognised as one of the best troupes in the country. enjoy the fragile wit of improvised comedy arid see some of the best gags you‘ll never see again. Brilliant f'un.
Glasgow
The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 6“) 6055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). MC Susan (‘alman introduces these fine gents to the stage: Wayne l)eakin. Neil McFarlane and Chris Caims who are here fora whole damned weekend of fun.
Edinburgh Heresy The Jekyll & Hyde. l 12 Hanover Street. 225 2022. 9pm. £3. See Thu 22. Fit 0’ The Giggles The Mercat. 28 West Maitland Street. 225 3861. 9pm. £5 (£3). See Thu 22.
The Thursday Show The Stand.
5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Pinhomb Billy Kirkwood is your excitable host for the evening. And excitable be may be. with a line-up which include Carey Marx. Josh Howie and Niall Browne.
Wil Hodgson Our favourite ever ex wrestler from Chippenham (above) with a fixation on My 1 title Pony brings us some more eclectic comedy fare. The Stand, Glasgow, T hu 22 Sat 24 Jan.
Reginald D Hunter this Atlanta born, 1 ondon based powerhouse of stand tip could have been a teacher if his family had got their way. Comedy's gain is the staffroom's loss. I he Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 22 Sat 24 Jan.
Hick Doody The preacher man returns no doubt Iording tip his love of alcohol and hatred ()f all things godly. Jong/eurs, G/asgow, Hi 23 8 Sat 24 Jan.
Australia Day A bunch of of 01 like comics aim to show that their stand ups aren't just about shouting very loudly and spouting forth Obscenities by the barbie» load. The Stand, Edinburgh, Mon 26 Jan.
Raymond Mearns Glasgow's purveyor of shaggy dog stories brings us just that. A show entitled Shaggy Dog Stories. See preview. The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 27 Jan.
Hairy Watt Comedy The studes get their fill of fun courtesy of gagmeisters Des Clarke. Niall Browne and Neil McFarlane. Heriof— Watt University, Edinburgh, Tue 27 Jan.
Wicked Wenches This month's gaggle of gigglesome gals include author AL Kennedy, ukulele-fondler Eilidh MacAskilI and Diane Morgan. one-half of splendidly-monikered comic duo Two Episodes of MASH. The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 3 Feb; The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 4 Feb.
Josh Howie With a personal history most stand-ups would sell their funnybone for, the son of a rather famous PR woman recalls a somewhat confused upbringing with plenty verve and much wit. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 5 Feb.
22 Jan—5 Feb 2009 THE LIST 39