As the late, great Prince Rogers Nelson once stated in song, ‘sometimes it snows in April’. Even on our respective latitudes, he was perfectly correct, just ask the Met Office. But, sunshine or sleet this month, you need to get back indoors and check out some comedy.
Group Therapy, Gorilla, Sat 1 April, £12 (£10 members)
This month a headline set from a star of the Edinburgh Fringe last year (not least for her innovative poster design), American comic Desiree Burch. Plus, full support from the fine talents of Stuart Laws and Jessica Fostekew.
More great comedy from The Frog and Bucket and The Comedy Store for the whole of the month (bar a few days off).
At The Comedy Store, as ever, there are the professional nights Thurs to Sat, then the amateur gong night King Gong is on Sun 2nd, pro comedians are prepping their New Stuff on Sun 9th and on Sun 23rd Comedy Mania presents The Crowd Killers with MC Aurie Styla, Kae Kurd, Mo The Comedian, Travis Jay, Babatunde and Axel Blake (£15).
Over at the Frog and Bucket there are of course the pro nights on Thurs/Fri and Sat and gong night on Mondays in the form of Beat the Frog. In addition, all black line-up comedy night Laff Til Ya Fart is on Sun 2nd, there’s a special visit from Blackburn comic Tez Ilyas on Sun 9th with his new show Made in Britain and work in progress night WIP is on Wed 12th. The monthly improv night Discount Comedy Checkout is on Sun 16th, then round off the month with Laughing Cows on Sun 30th.
The Didsbury Comedy Club, Didsbury Cricket Club, £7 & The Heatons Comedy Evening, The Heatons Sports Club, £7.50 Sun 2 April.
This month Christian Schulte-Loh and Andrew Bird double up while in Didsbury Amy Gledhill supports and Andrew Ryan emcees and at The Heatons Gabriel Ebulue takes the middle spot and Justin Moorhouse hosts.
XSMalarkey, Pub/Zoo, Every Tuesday, £5 (£3 members)
Another great line up from the XS folk. Tues 4th is yet to be confirmed but you know it’ll be a good one. Then on Tues 11th it’s seasoned improviser Andre Vincent, Tues 18th sees sharp gagster Garrett Millerick’s turn and the acutely insightful Jamali Maddix headlines on Tues 25th.
Bob Mortimer and Andy Dawson’s Athletico Mince Live, The Dancehouse, Tues 4 April, from £15
Vic’s other half and his writer mate Andy bring their hit comedy podcast to the stage, ‘with songs, stories, laughter, name-calling and chicken dippers’.
Comedy @ Chorlton Irish Club, Fri 7 April, £12/£10 adv.
This month Justin Moorhouse introduces the cheeky musical comic Duncan Oakley, with fine support from Adam Staunton and Sunil Patel.
Hayley’s House Party, 3mt Theatre, Fri 7 April, £5
For the last time, the engagingly witty comedian Hayley Ellis invites some of her funniest friends around – including Stephen Bailey, Danny Sutcliffe, Rachel Fairburn and Amy Gledhill.
Guilty Feminist Podcast, The Dancehouse, Sat 8 April, from £15
Acclaimed comedian Deborah Frances White presents a live version of her podcast with a special guest host. Discussing all things 21st century feminist as well as confessing all those little ‘insecurities, hypocrisies and fears that underlie their lofty principles’.
Lee Nelson, The Lowry, Sun 9 April, £23.50
Comedian Simon Brodkin is currently better known for his high-profile pranks, but out on the live scene he’s been honing the Nelson character for many years.
Trapdoor Comedy, various venues
The gloriously silly and high intelligence combines in Simon Munnery’s often hilariously baffling shtick. He’s comedy royalty – Elizabeth I to be exact. And he’s at Trapdoor this week at The Spread Eagle in Chorlton on Mon 10th, Solomon’s in Withington on Tues 11th and The Old Monkey in the city centre on Wed 12th.
Dead Cat Comedy, Sand Bar, Wed 12 April, PWYW
This month the pay what you want gig presents John Hastings – currently one of the circuits most beguiling comedians and a sharp improviser too. Taking the quirky nerd shtick and running with it.
Mrs Brown, Manchester Arena, 12 – 15 April, £27-£45
The ubiquitous Mrs Brown is comedy Marmite. The comedy’s simple, the fun big and those who like her will find her fecking hilarious. And you can’t argue with that.
Sham Bodie, Soup Kitchen, Thu 13 April, £5
The eclectic night with Gein’s Family Giftshop, Liverpool Echo Stand Up of the Year Top Joe, duo (though you probably worked that out) Ross and Josh and plus fine music from Proto Idiot.
Rob Rouse, The Lowry, Sun 16 April, £12 (£10 conc)
Rouse takes the enforced introspection and relinquished control middle age has brought him and adds to one of the most awkward situations you could ever find yourself in and a night of comedy is created.
Danny Baker, The Lowry, Wed 19 April, £21.50-£23.50
Baker’s off the cuff tour Cradle to the Stage rolls on. Swinging by Salford to chat about whatever it is that takes his fancy, but it will be entertaining – he’s proved that so far on this tour.
Delightful Sausage v The Order of the Silly Billies, Gullivers, Wed 19 April, £4
Nonsense ensues this month with The Silly Billies, Tom King, Jack Evans, Amy Gledhill, Chris Cantrill and probably some more filth.
Sean Lock, O2 Apollo, Fri 21 April, £23
Lock has a gift of being able to craft a tight gag while maintaining the surreal and silliness within a largely deadpan delivery. Sublime stuff, quite rightly he is one of those acts who is highly respected among his comedic peers.
Lettuce Laugh, The Slug and Lettuce, Didsbury. Fri 21 April, £8 adv/£10 on the door.
This month’s first Lettuce gig sees Cheshire storyteller Kevin Dewsbury take the headliner spot plus full support and MC Jonathan Paylor.
Stephen Bailey, The Lowry, Sun 23 April, £12 (£10 conc)
With a breathless delivery, the cheeky, gossipy son of this city tells some breezy yet close to the bone tales of his life. You’ll be seeing him on the telly, catch him live now.
Dillie Keane, The Lowry, Mon 24 April, £21-£23
Fascinating Aida’s Keane goes solo for a while with a selection of songs that will be, in turn, witty, beautiful, fun and melancholy. It’ll be a great night out.
Rose and Rosie, The Lowry, Tue 25 April, £31.50
The YouTubers hit the live arena. Anything could happen. And probably will.
Myra Dubois, The Dancehouse, Fri 28 April, £12 (£10 conc)
‘Rotherham’s least celebrated daughter’ Dubois with her début tour Self AdMyra.
Lettuce Laugh, The Bowling Green, Chorlton Green, Fri 28 April, £7 adv/£9 on the door
The second Lettuce gig this month features Tony Jameson, John Porter and full support plus MC Jonathan Paylor.
Noise Next Door, The Lowry, Sun 30 April, £8.50 (under 16s £5.50)
The hi-energy improv troupe with their family friendly Really Good Afternoon Show because…it’s in the afternoon people.
