Red List / Zoo9 / Sellindge Music Festival

An anti-press release from Sellindge Music Festival! Probably best to get some bands on board and send out some info about who is playing your festival, rather than just going on about someone else's festival. Good to point this out though, Zoo8 was a disaster, and surely no-one who went to that will pay out up front for Zoo9 (damn all the time I spent SEO-ing that name), so they've had to change the name. And you wouldn't want to get caught out accidentally buying tickets for zoo9 would you? Here's what they have to say:

The Secret Behind Zoo Thousand and Nine

[if even sellindge music festival are apologising on behalf of this press release I think I should remove this bit for now - fg]

Fear not my fellow garden-of-Englanders, your festival thirst will be quenched! And no, we're not talking about Red List Live, we're clever and know their true identity. We're talking about Sellindge Music Festival. Though the official lineup hasn't been released, Sellindge will have 5 event areas, a comedy stage, a fun fair, helicoptor rides, international food & drink, an artists field, and loads of other goodies. They're also supporting two amazing causes, The Big Issue and Action Against Hunger. Tickets will be much more affordable than the Zoo, and it's also said that these people actually know what they're doing, so you'll be able to go to the toilet without queuing for 3 hours, and all the bands will actually show up. Now that's what I'm talkin' about.

What's even more exciting is Sellindge Music Festival giving you, the humble musician, band or budding hip-hip star a chance to perform alongside international acts on the main stage of the 2009 festival. The Main Stage Talent Tournament will hold 5 semi-finals (5 acts each) at different venues throughout Kent in early 2009. Then the 5 finalists will play at a soon-to-be announced venue for their chance to win the big prize!

Music lovers of Kent - will we be defeated with crappy festivals and give up on a local music success? Or shall we stand together, give Zoo Thousand, I mean Red List Live the bird, and be part of history in the making? I don't know about you, but I'm up for all of the latter. To be the first to hear Sellindge news and the official lineup, or for more info on the Main Stage Talent Tournament, join them on Facebook at www.sellindgefacebook.com.

2008 :: Comment / reply

Lone Star Comedy, now with added German standup

The line up consists of Henning Wehn, Liam Mullone, Jim Smallman and a newcomer’s act.

Henning Wehn is the German Comedy Ambassador to the UK. He calmly and clinically debunks the idea that Germans do not have a sense of humour.

Henning does this by shamelessly exposing the British stereotypes of Germans and poking considerable fun at the German nation, its interesting past and current concerns. He can be controversial, but is always great fun. Come and laugh out loud.

Reviews

“It was great to see Henning at Jongleurs on Friday. He was absolutely hilarious. A very intelligent comedian who cleverly dissects his own jokes, and is able to laugh at himself. He plays an excellent character and has thought about every detail, even down to his clothes and choice of stopwatch! A funny, unique act. We will definitely see him again”

“It was a pleasure to see a new face at Jongleurs this weekend with the arrival on the circuit of popular German comic Henning Wehn. As Henning reaches the stage he immediately offsets the usual I-think-I'm-better-than-you German stereotype by being self-deprecating in both manner and appearance. He has a provocative line in international humour poking fun at both his country and himself with a killer gag about sectarianism and Jews. Joyful to watch, looking forward to having him back in a few weeks.”

Chortle May 2008





Liam Mullone launched his comedy career in October 2002, quickly winning the respect of promoters in and around London with an act that, according to veteran comic Bob Mills, is based around "not really understanding how the world works".

He reached the final stages of several major competitions and appeared on ITV's Take The Mike and the BBC New Talent Awards showcase on BBC Three. Just 10 months after first setting foot on a stage he was spotted by Avalon and joined their Comedy Network team for Autumn 2003. He is now performing all over the UK.

His act relies on his sharp, florid way with words and surreal flights of intellectual fancy that is belied by a faltering, perplexed style.

Reviews

“Stunning stuff, delivered with sincerity and style. Kept the whole room mesmerised. Didn't hear a single thing I'd heard before either. Now my fourth favourite comedian! (There's 50 is my chart so not bad)”

“An awesome act. Why has Liam never won a major competition? He certainly should be a big name, and stands out head and shoulders above most acts on the circuit. Intelligent material delivered in a wonderful, whimsical style. Unique.”

Chortle

“Makes a disparate crowd laugh together about life's absurdities”

Leicester Mercury





Jim Smallman is a full-time stand-up comedian based in Leicester. He has been performing to acclaim for the past 3 and a half years He was a Laughing Horse new act finalist in 2006, and Equity Comedian of the Year finalist in 2007. Has performed in front of 2000 people at the Leicester Comedy Festival Preview Show (very positive review of this on Chortle) and has performed the full spectrum of gigs - from packed student union, rowdy "stag and hen" filled venues to debuting his hour long show in 2007's Leicester Comedy Festival to a sold-out audience and very positive response.

Reviews

"Anarchic and matey in equal measures, Smallman boasts a masterful rapport with the audience and clearly takes much delight in pushing the comedy boundaries... his manic energy was easily picked up by the punters" Coventry Evening Telegraph

"An endearing and arresting onstage presence divulging finely crafted autobiographical anecdotes laced with deliciously dark humour. A welcome addition to any evening of quality stand-up. "

Anthony J Brown - Promoter

"I've worked with Jim Smallman for over three years and countless gigs, and he has never failed to enliven and invigorate each night whether doing one of his twisted sets or as an MC. He's the sort of act that audiences talk about and remember..."

Adnan Ahmed, Bottle Rocket Comedy

2008 :: Comment / reply

Lone Star Comedy moves to the Tower Theatre

The Lone Star Comedy Club returns at a new venue – The Tower Theatre on North Road at Shorncliffe in Cheriton, near Folkestone – on Saturday May 31st with MITCH BENN, MICHAEL FABBRI, compere MAFF BROWN and a newcomer’s act.

Now the home of FHODS, the Tower Theatre is currently the town’s best-kept secret and is the old Garrison Church at the Shorncliffe barracks. There are about 300 seats in the auditorium and a Full bar service. Drinks will be available before the show starts, in the interval and afterwards. Don’t be put off making the effort – there’s ample FREE parking and you’ll love it when you get there! Take a look at the website – www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk – for a map and further details.

MITCH BENN headlined the club’s opening night at the Lanterns in Folkestone back January 2004. He is not only one of the most sought-after acts on the comedy circuit but is widely acknowledged as one of the best writer/performers of comic songs in the country. Mitch began his comedy career at Edinburgh in 1994. He moved to London two years later and quickly established himself as a comedy club ‘headliner’ as well as a favourite on the university circuit.

In 1995, he was voted ‘Best New Comic’ at the Glastonbury Festival and he has appeared there every year since, including an hour-long extended set in 1999 which drew a standing ovation from an audience of 1,500.

Mitch is a regular writer and performer on ‘The Now Show’ for BBC Radio 4 and ‘It’s Been a Bad Week’ for BBC Radio 2. Three series of his successful Radio 4 show, ‘Mitch Benn’s Crimes Against Music’ have been broadcast so far. He also presents ‘The Mitch Benn Music Show’ on BBC Radio 7.

On tv, Mitch appears regularly on BBC1’s ‘The One Show’ as the writer and arranger of ‘the Complaints Choir’. He contributes occasional songs to Channel 4’s ‘Bremner Bird and Fortune’. He has also appeared on ‘The Last Word’ for More4, ‘Gas’ for Channel 4, ‘Live at Jongleurs’, ‘The warehouse’ and ‘Today With Des & Mel’ for ITV, ‘The Comedy Store’ for Channel 5, ‘The World Stands Up’ for Paramount and ‘Raymaan Is Laat’ for Dutch tv. He was the presenter of the paranormal discussion show ‘Out There’ for Carlton World.

Mitch’s second album “Radio Face” was released through Laughing Stock records in 2002. His earlier live album, “The Unnecessary Mitch Benn’ is still available.

In 1999 he had won the Mercury Comedian of the Year prize at the Leicester Comedy Festival. He has performed many times at the Edinburgh Festival and also appeared in the successful revue show “The Bootleg Bootleg Beatles’.

Mitch has toured extensively abroad, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Ireland, Montreal, Holland and South Africa.

“Well crafted, well sung, his songs are just plain funny.” – The Guardian.

MICHAEL FABBRI is fast earning an enviable reputation as one of the best up-and-coming acts around – becoming sharper and smarter with each passing month. Inventive in his outlook, he has latterly acquired the gig-hardened discipline of hitting punchlines hard and often without allowing this reliable professionalism to compromise his relaxed, slacker persona.

His trick is to play the juvenile buffoon while delivering material with an increasing edge. The suppression of his own exuberance is a highly effective technique, as it makes the audience feel a little naughty in empathy, and so they laugh all the more.

MAFF BROWN is the resident host of the award-winning Outside the Box comedy club in Kingston-upon-Thames. Within three-and-a-half months of its launch, it won the Best Comedy Venue for small clubs in London by chortle.co.uk he has been described as a material machine by Frank Skinner as he is constantly writing a new 20 minutes for his club every Monday.

“Maff is one of those comics that doesn’t need to try. Jokes fallout of him like gold coins coming out of a pirates chest.” – Frank Skinner.

Tickets are £8 each and available by contacting Richard on 07810 864228 or the Tower Theatre direct at 01303 223925. Doors open at 7.30pm, with the show starting at 8.30pm.

2008 :: Comment / reply