CARLSBERG catlaughs festival 09

grames_bond

thats right the kilkenny catlaughs fest is back and this time....it's sponsored by carlsberg! may 28th - june 1st and heres the line up:

Des Bishop
John Bishop
Lewis Black
Alonzo Bodden
Dead Cat Bounce
Bill Burr
Jason Byrne
Comedy Cats
Alun Cochrane
Ian Coppinger
Otis Lee Crenshaw
Neil Delamere
Brendan Dempsey
Derek Edwards
Hannah Gadsby
PJ Gallagher
Rhod Gilbert
Greg Giraldo
Dave Gorman
Ricky Grover
Rich Hall
Maeve Higgins
Adam Hills
The Cat Laughs International Improv
Dom Irrera
Jimeoin
Milton Jones
Russell Kane
Andrew Lawrence
Fred MacAulay
Lee Mack
Kathleen Madigan
Shane Mauss
Andrew Maxwell
Sarah Millican
John Mulaney
Barry Murphy
Colin Murphy
Ross Noble
David O'Doherty
Ardal O'Hanlon
Jarlath Regan
Jon Richardson
Karl Spain
Hans Teeuwen
Tommy Tiernan

few very good names in there but looks like business as usual for kilkenny this year once again!
comments?

the flananator

I'll be in the middle ofexams during those dates unfortunetly...

Some very good acts though; Jarleth Regan and DOD are two favs of mine on the Irish circuit, while I imagine Tommy Tiernan would be a good spectacle!

vivadeadponies

grames_bond wrote: »

thats right the kilkenny catlaughs fest is back and this time....it's sponsored by carlsberg! may 28th - june 1st and heres the line up:


Lewis Black
Otis Lee Crenshaw
Rhod Gilbert
Dave Gorman
Rich Hall(who is otis lee crenshaw, so that's odd)
Adam Hills
Milton Jones
Lee Mack
Sarah Millican
Ross Noble
David O'Doherty
Hans Teeuwen

few very good names in there but looks like business as usual for kilkenny this year once again!
comments?

I'd go see the ones in bold and would like to see the others there.
Teeuwen was meant to be amazing at Edinburgh
Critics said Rhod Gilbert deserved the perrier last year
Rich Hall is never bad
Dave Gorman's a genius
Lewis Black was good but's gone downhill
etc

elshambo

The yanks have it

the irish(+yank irish), they have something else!:o

dont tell crenshaw that his is just Rich Hall
you might get a punch up the bracket!


an aside:
finally saw/met simon munnery tonight

Wonderous!

& i made him laugh(twice):eek::o:D

vivadeadponies

what's munnery up to?

elshambo

Whats the story with tickets/places to stay etc
do they tend to sell out fairly sharpish?

Never been before (really dont know why!:o)
Was going to the first two but couldnt:o:mad:

so any tips on tickets etc would be good
Cheers!

Line up:
Rich Hall Genius
Otis Lee Crenshaw can be very good

Rhod Gilbert Never liked him but say him on telly the other night
and liked it

Can be very good
Ardal O'Hanlon

quality but a bit same old same old???
Milton Jones
Lee Mack
Dom Irrera

Would be interested in seeing
Jon Richardson

Honestly dont know them:o:o:o
Shane Mauss
Hans Teeuwen
Alonzo Bodden
Alun Cochrane

better start Utubing i suppose

vivadeadponies wrote: »

what's munnery up to?

Gigging away in london by the looks of it,
has something to do with writing of the new Stewart Lee show

squidgey

Delighted to see Dave Gorman's name. His books are brilliant.

Equally delighted to see no mention of Dermot Whelan's name. [shudder]

grames_bond

squidgey wrote: »

Delighted to see Dave Gorman's name. His books are brilliant.

Equally delighted to see no mention of Dermot Whelan's name. [shudder]

dermot whelan is part of the comedy cats! and has been the last number of years!

longshanks

des bishop? i've yet to laugh at one joke/story he's told. not even a smirk

Eglinton

elshambo wrote: »

Whats the story with tickets/places to stay etc
do they tend to sell out fairly sharpish?

Never been before (really dont know why!:o)
Was going to the first two but couldnt:o:mad:

so any tips on tickets etc would be good
Cheers!

Tickets aren't a problem for most gigs. The likes of Tommy Tiernan will sell out fast but the rest should be easy enough to come by. You can book them online I think this year but it's always best to ring the hotline I think.

One problem is trying to get to see everyone you want to.

The biggest problem by a mile is accomodation though. I always book in January. I noticed that most hotels were fully booked already this year. There can be a few B&Bs with good availabilty. Just a matter of ringing around. But do this now.

Galvasean

Booked my accomodation yesterday. Will book tickets today!

connundrum

Do the gigs really only last 1hr 15 mins - 1hr 30 mins?

I mean 3 comedians into 75 minutes is fairly pants??

Is it worthwhile or do you feel a bit done by?

Just asking as I remember this put me off booking last year.

elshambo

connundrum wrote: »

Do the gigs really only last 1hr 15 mins - 1hr 30 mins?

I mean 3 comedians into 75 minutes is fairly pants??

Is it worthwhile or do you feel a bit done by?

Just asking as I remember this put me off booking last year.

Thats fairly standard for any proper comedy club
A bit long in fact


2 hour sets for vast sums of money are not the standard

grames_bond

connundrum wrote: »

Do the gigs really only last 1hr 15 mins - 1hr 30 mins?

I mean 3 comedians into 75 minutes is fairly pants??

Is it worthwhile or do you feel a bit done by?

Just asking as I remember this put me off booking last year.

trust me you get your moneys worth! its a great all round weekend, and it is really worth it!

ceegee

connundrum wrote: »

Do the gigs really only last 1hr 15 mins - 1hr 30 mins?

I mean 3 comedians into 75 minutes is fairly pants??

Is it worthwhile or do you feel a bit done by?

Just asking as I remember this put me off booking last year.

A solo gig by a standup usually wouldnt be any longer than 75 mins, and would cost as much if not more.

Personally, I prefer to see 3 comedians doing 25 mins each as you get less filler material. It also gives you a chance to see comedians you mightnt usually go to, eg I only saw Tim Nutt at last years CL because he was opening a show David O'Doherty was playing, and he turned out to be my favourite comedian of the weekend (worth youtubing for his lengthy discussion on toilet plungers)

Ah balls!..was thinking of heading down to this,but over the last few days,the two guys I wanted to see most (Bill Burr and Greg Giraldo) have been removed from the site,without any mention of a cancellation...chances are I'll still give it a look,but does anyone know whats goin on?

selpher

Hope Bill Burr is there. Would Love to see him.

grames_bond

well that was an awesome weekend, highlights for me? reg d hunter in the dark show, alonzo bodden and ross noble talking about dentel literature! :pac:

Eglinton

grames_bond wrote: »

well that was an awesome weekend, highlights for me? reg d hunter in the dark show, alonzo bodden and ross noble talking about dentel literature!

Completely agree with you. The Dark Show was exceptional. All three (Regi D, Andrew Lawrence and Andrew Maxwell) excelled themselves. Reg D was as super cool as I've ever seen him. And Andrew Lawrence - what a nasty wit he is - "I want you all to clap and cheer like I've just pulled back this curtain to reveal little Maddie alive and well" . Hadn't seen Alonzo Bodden before. Very impressed.

The highlight for me was probably 'Dead Cat Bounce'. I'd never heard of them before but I'd say they're destined for great things. Hilarious songs.

The lowlight was Shane Mauss. Half the audience looked like they were going to fall asleep. He really didn't know his audience. Very poor delivery. I could see his potential but he just didn't do it for anyone.

Hans Teuwan was a peculiarity. Total nutter. Half the audience hated him (women) and the other half laughed heartily (the men!). I loved him. Totally different to anything I've seen before. Also I have to note Jason Byrne & Adam Hills who did a great job as MCs at the Hans Teuwan gig. Really really funny. Wasn't a fan of Jason Byrne before.

And Fred Cooke did himself a power of good MC'ing for the Tommy T gig. The melodica tunes had me in stitches. Great stuff.


EDIT: Rhod Gilbert was very disappointing. He admitted he was a bit pissed and he got distracted by Hecklers. Didn't do himself justice. I've heard he's great but I'd say he's a bit like Tommy T in that he needs a longer show to get going.

I'd seen Ross Noble in Dublin a few weeks ago and he was brilliant.

Flimbos

I went down Fri/Sat. Highlghts for me were the two I hadn't really heard of. Andrew Lawrence and Milton Jones. Ross Noble was great too.

Knifey_Spoony

Highlights for me were

- Dave Gorman (I've seen all his shows and love him, but never seen him do stand-up before) - verrry impressive!
- Adam Hills & Jason Byrne combo. I was never a huge fan of Jason Byrne before, but thought he was great alongside Adam Hills in the Spotlight on Hans Tueewan show. And as usual, Adams Hills was great.
- Kathleen Madigan. I really, really enjoyed her set. A huge percentage of my mates didn't though, but I thought she was great!

Reg D Hunter, Andrew Lawrence and Tommy Tiernan were really good too, but I've seen them all a good few times before.

Lowlights:
- Shane Mauss. He was good, but not great. I think the biggest laugh was when he told a joke that no-one really laughed at, and then he said "Oh...too many US references for you, I see....". He wasn't terrible or anything, but just not as good as the others I saw that weekend.
- Messing With You-Tube....oh dear god....what an awful show.
Firstly it was in the hottest room I have ever been in. Secondly, everyone had seen pretty much every clip they showed. THirdly...Barry Murphy just isn't funny, and really came across like an ass. Fourthly,.....the internet connection went halfway through. Fifthly, poor DOD failed at trying to get the crowd back once the internet went. Sixthly...the internet came back on and they went on to show more clips...when half the crowd just wanted to leave at that point.
Seventhly...what a waste of DOD's amazing-ness
They redeemed themsleves though....when we walked outside and saw Barry Murphys car had been clamped. Heeheehee :pac:

Absolutely SUPER weekend overall though! Loved it!
The Dark Show was great again this year.

Anyone make it to the Improv show?

grames_bond

Knifey_Spoony wrote: »

Anyone make it to the Improv show?

i did, was great in parts, but as they always say an improv is only as good as teh audience and when they were getting suggestions such as "recession" and "celtic tiger" they werent goin on much. there were a few spectacularly funny bits though but over all i thaught they were better whenr i saw them in the carlsberg comedy carnival last year (again probably on account of the audience as a whole)

Flimbos

I really wanted to see Dave Gorman, I'd just finished his book, America Unchained, but alas, the tickets were gone, gutted.

Barry Murphy was introducing the acts for a show I saw on Saturday. He seemed very nervous, like he wasn't used to doing stand-up. I think he said he doesn't do it much anymore. A few times he must have just ran out of material because he started just singing random stuff. I like Apres Match, but this was a bit strange.

Knifey_Spoony

Flimbos wrote: »

I really wanted to see Dave Gorman, I'd just finished his book, America Unchained, but alas, the tickets were gone, gutted.

Yeah his shows sold out pretty quickly as far as I know.
I saw him on Sat when he was on the same bill as Tommy Tiernan, so that show sold out super quick.
He was great! I'd definitely go see him again.

Grames_Bond, I missed the Improv in the Iveagh Gardens last yr too. Went to see DOD who was on at the same time. Definitely gonna try catch the improv show this year though :pac:

grames_bond

Knifey_Spoony wrote: »

Grames_Bond, I missed the Improv in the Iveagh Gardens last yr too. Went to see DOD who was on at the same time. Definitely gonna try catch the improv show this year though :pac:

sean locke is the guest this year instead of phil jupitus, just so you know!

Knifey_Spoony

grames_bond wrote: »

sean locke is the guest this year instead of phil jupitus, just so you know!

Yeah I spotted that. I'd love to see Phil Jupitus though. Raging I missed him in the Iveagh Gardens last year, and Kilkenny this year

tossy

Phil Jupitus DJing at the festival club was a bit of surprise for me,although he fits the look of that cheesy middle of the road wedding DJ very well

Arcee

Bit late posting about KK but it was a really great weekend! Weather was fab so it was great being outside for the football match (unlike 2 years ago when it lashed for the whole thing!)

My favorite gig was Hans Teeuwen on the Sunday night - heard he bombed on the Saturday and loads of peole asked for their money back but he changed the order of material and was superb the next night. The most random, odd comedy ever :D Was great to see something so out of the ordinary though. Jason Byrne and Adam Hills did a great job introducing and wrapping up - would like to see them as a double act on their own.

Rhod Gilbert - I've seen him before and thought he was amazing so was a bit disappointed with the drunken ramblings this time.

Greg Giraldo - raging that he wasn't there - specifically wanted to see him :mad:

John Mullaney - the most articulate comedian I've ever seen He was a great story teller and did a few good jokes about how he thinks he's still a child (he looks like one)

Alonzo Bodden - He's just so big and his voice is so strong he initimidates you into laughing! Totally laid back and very funny. Got some good audience interaction going.

Sarah Millican - to look at her, you'd never think she'd come out with some of the filthy things she said! Loved the jokes about the cake shelf

Tommy Tiernan - genius as always. Manages to make it look like he's just making it up on the spot. Totally relaxed when asked to add another 10 mins because one of the next acts was late. Great jokes about his dad and what he thought of Tommy giving up drink.

All in all, a great (but exhausting!) weekend. Roll on next year! :pac::pac::pac: