It’s the month of the year when we need comedy the most. So, scrape together the pennies – try down the back of the sofa – and get out to see this lot. Comedy in Manchester doesn’t stop for any month, not even grumpy January.
The Frog and Bucket and The Comedy Store
As the year gets underway, The Store’s usual selection of quality entertainment gets going again. Regular nights at the weekends, amateur night King Gong on Sunday 8, Alex Boardman’s pick of New Comedians on Sun 15 and New Stuff being tested out on both Sundays 22 and 29. Then there’s a special night of comedy programmed for three days after the US presidential inauguration on Mon 23 plotting to Take Back America billed as ‘a script in hand responses to the US Presidential Election’.
The Frog is swiftly back too with its regular line-up of great gigs on Thursdays through to Saturdays from Thurs 5, and, of course, new act night Beat the Frog every Monday from the second day of the new year. Plus, there’s the monthly Laughing Cows, all women comedy, on Sun 29, kicking off the year with The Job Lot‘s Jo Enright, Canadian comic Dana Alexander and poet Kate Fox.
The Worst Comedy Night in Salford, Kings Arms, 17 & 31 Jan, free
Get down to the new act night this month. In fact, give it a go yourself. New year, new chance to embarrass yourself or become a superstar. It’ll go one way or the other. Probably.
Comedy @ Chorlton Irish Club, Fri Jan 6, £12 (£10 conc)
Cheering up that first weekend of the year with Danny O’Brien from Dublin and British Pakistani comic Tez Ilyas. Plus, support from Nina Gilligan and compere Mick Ferry.
The Didsbury Comedy Club, Didsbury Cricket Club, £7; The Heatons Comedy Evening, The Heatons Sports Club, £7.50. Both on Sun Jan 8
Chris Kent and Carl Hutchinson do the doubling up, while in Didsbury Anth Young is in support with Andrew Ryan as MC. Then Sunil Patel is the support at Heatons and Justin Moorhouse is emceeing.
Trapdoor Comedy, The Railway, Mon 9, £5; Solomon’s, Tues 10, £5; The Old Monkey, Wed 11, £3
Three days of Trapdoor comedy with Oldham’s finest Mick Ferry on Mon and fast rising star Jamali Maddix Tues. Plus deadpan one-liner merchant Gary Delaney at the Old Monkey.
XSMalarkey, every Tuesday, £5, £3 members
XS storms back into 2017 on Tues 10 with special headline act. Then on Tues 17 it’s Chortle Comedian of the Year 2011 and Edinburgh Fringe best newcomer nominee Adam Hess’ turn to headline. On Tues 24 British Malaysian stand-up and Daphne member Phil Wang takes the honours and the ever-innovative Danielle Ward rounds off the month on Tues 31.
The Delightful Sausage, Castle Hotel, Fri Jan 13 & Gullivers, Wed 18, £4
Not one, but two portions of sausage this month with a work in progress night from Cantrill and Gledhill and the team, as well as the usual chipolata shenanigans in its new venue Gullivers. This month the regular night will see performances from uber luvvie Randolph Tempest, Kate McCabe, Bisha K Ali, Liam Bolton, Barnaby J Thompson, Chris Cantrill and Amy Gledhill.
Bangers and Laughs, Fri 13, £15; Off the Rails, Sat 14, £12 (£10) and Sun 29 Jan, Off The Rails special events
Lots on at Rob Riley’s Saddleworth gigs this month. Firstly, there’s Bangers and Laughs a fund raising show for Saddleworth Round Table at The White Hart with Martin Mor, Rob Rouse and MC Rob Riley on Fri 13. On Sat 14 it’s the regular Off The Rails night at Royal George – but also for charity, this time in aid of Saddleworth Morris Men and with Seymour Mace, Tez Ilyas, Hayley Ellis, MC Rob Riley. On the final Sun 29 at 5pm there’s a screening of Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake followed by a Q&A with its comedian stars Dave Johns and Gavin Webster (£7) at the Royal George. Then catch them performing their stand-up sets at Off The Rails afterwards (£8.50).
Comedy at Antwerp Mansion, Rusholme, Sun Jan 22, £2 (but redeemable on a drink at the bar)
Special movie showing of The Blues Brothers with live comedy from Junior Simpson and Bobby Murdock. MC Roland Gent.
John Shuttleworth, The Lowry, Wed 25 & Thu 26 Jan, £19 – £21
Continuing his fine line in punning titles, Sheffield’s finest security guard, Shuttleworth, presents My Last Will and Tasty Mint. After a recent health scare (a mild bout of sciatica) Shuttleworth considers his mortality.
Josh Howie, The Lowry, Sun Jan 29, £10 – £12
The début tour for the hilariously ‘frank’ comedian. The son of PR guru Lynne Franks (the inspiration for Jennifer Saunders’ Edina in Absolutely Fabulous), Howie took to the more sensible career of stand-up comedy.
Sidekick Comedy, On Bar, Mon Jan 30, £2 or free with student card
The fine, fine gig in the village this month with Tom Burgess, Ian Lane, Jean Kelly, and Jackie Hagan.
