Top 5 #Brighton Comedians to see at the Edinburgh Fringe 2017

Brighton is a comedy hub, the UK’s biggest after London. Zoe Lyons, Seann Walsh, Romesh Ranganathan and Max Miller all earned their chops in this seaside town. None of them will be appearing at this year’s Edfringe (to be fair, Max Miller passed on to the great Fringe in the sky in 1963) so it’s time to hail the fresh new talent who will be gracing your TV screens in the near future.

Top 5 Brighton Stand-ups to see at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe:

Phil Jerrod: Submerged
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=phil%20jerr
Fresh from supporting Romesh Ranganathan on his nationwide tour, the ‘cynical, astute and impassioned’ (Chortle.co.uk) comedian returns with his third debut show at the Fringe.
Pleasance Courtyard, 8.30pm

Angela Barnes: Fortitude
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/angela-barnes-fortitude
Stand-up and stories from a reluctant 40 year old with some stuff to say. ‘Feels like a sure-fire bet the instant she utters her opening lines’ (Scotsman). ‘She’s just a gloriously down-to-earth, straight talking and extremely funny comic’ (Guardian).
Pleasance Courtyard, 7.15pm

Anthony Ayton: Belonging
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/belonging
At 6’5, Anthony is probably the tallest black comedian in Edinburgh to have a law degree. His debut show is about class and belonging, with proceeds going to three local charities including one that works with child refugees. ‘Clever, a bit cheeky and bloody funny’ (Angela Barnes).
Sweet Holyrood, Macdonald Hotel, Holyrood Rd, 10pm

Louise Reay: Hard Mode
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/louise-reay-hard-mode
An immersive comedy show where the audience experiences life in an authoritarian regime. Yay! Based on a dialogue with Ai Weiwei and featuring a team of masked police, this provocative show explores censorship and surveillance.
The Stand 3 & 4, 5.55pm

Sean McLoughlin: You Can’t Ignore Me Forever
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sean-mcloughlin-you-can-t-ignore-me-forever
Always a powerhouse at the Fringe – it was a firm favourite last year.
Come witness the astonishing resurrection of ‘the best comedian you haven’t heard of yet (Time Out). ‘One brilliant punchline after another… staggeringly high success rate’ **** (List). Support act for Ricky Gervais for his 2017 Humanity tour.
Laughing Horse @ City Cafe, 6.45pm

Also funny and highly recommended:

The HOT ticket, one night only, 15th: The Wrestling
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/wrestling

Sweary, possibly musical comedy with the man from Uncle: Nick Helm: Masterworks in Progress – from the 14th
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Nick%20Helm%3A%20Masterworks%20in%20Progress%20’17%22

Children’s: Jo Neary & Jody Kamali: Topsy Turvy Hotel
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/topsy-turvy-hotel

Theatre: Bone Wars by Keiron Nicholson and Nicholas Cooke
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bone-wars

Clowning and general awesomeness: Spencer Jones: The Audition
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/spencer-jones-the-audition

Top Picks for the Best Comedy at #Edfringe 2016

Hello Edinburgh! Here are my Comedy Top Picks for the 2016 #EdFringe, in alphabetical order:

Adam Hess: Feathers – I haven’t seen this show yet, but it already has great word of mouth and I love his poster if it’s the same one from Facebook posted a few months ago. He’s a superfast gagsmith – just as well it’s earlyish.  Heroes @ The Hive (Venue 313), 16.10

Cheekykita: Tittitutar Town – everyone laughs a bit of horror. This mad Mighty Boosh-style clown spits bits of The Exorcist as she takes you into a weird world of crab families, singing spiders and little men. A Prague Fringe award-winner, NATYS finalist and Colchester New Comedian of the Year, she’s one to watch. Sweet Grassmarket (Venue 18), 15.50 – from the 15th August only.

Fraser Geesin: Jack of All Polymaths – thoroughly enjoyed the Preview and has several brilliant gags worthy of #Dave’sBestJoke. With added Powerpoint. Laughing Horse @ 48 Below (Venue 146), 20.45

Joanna Neary Does Animals and Men – one of the most underrated comedians in the UK. Deservedly, she was in the shortlist for Leicester Comedy Festival’s Best Show 2016. The Stand 5&6 (Venue 319), 14.30

Lucy Porter: Consequences – an amazing live stand-up. Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33), 17.30

Mark Watson’s EdinbrOlympics – it’s the Olympics! It’s a late show so try not to clash with Usain Bolt or the tennis. Martin Mor is also doing an international LOlympic event at The Stand in the Square (Venue 372). Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33), 23.00

Nick Helm: Nobody Likes Me (Work in Progress) – yup, the unmissable Edfringe legend is in Edinburgh for one day only. It’s not on the Festival website, you can only book through the Pleasance. Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33), 20 August, 16.00

Q. What chocolate would Nick Helm choose for his Sunday brunch? A. Grenada Chocolate Company Saltylicious

Phil Jerrod: Hypocrite – the difficult second show from a man who makes it look easy. Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33), 18.00

Sean McLoughlin: Kamikaze – pure stand-up. Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33), 20.30

Spencer Jones Presents: The Herbert in a Proper Job –  back again, this time at the Underbelly. A hysterical clown to bring out the kid in you – and possibly your kids.  Underbelly (Venue 61), 17.20

Spencer Jones Presents The Herbert in Eggy Bagel – his new show, still excellent but cheaper. Heroes @ The Hive (Venue 313) 20.50

SuZanna GonZo: Dark Lady – more female character clowning (a bit of a trend this year) from this hugely optimistic Texan cruise ship entertainer – aka award-winning comedy actor, Crystal Maze Master and Secret Cinema Dirty Dancer, Katie O’ Brien. Just the Tonic at the Mash House (Venue 288) ,15.00.

S&M Masterclass: Seann Walsh and Mark Simmons – brilliantly physical floppy-haired observationist meets brilliant one-liner merchant. And it’s FREE. Start queuing now. Banshee Labyrinth (Venue 156), 15.10

Zoe Lyons: Little Misfit – she’s talking about bins. Get in! Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14), 19.00 & 22.45

Also highly recommended: Barbara Nice RAFFLE!, Evelyn Mok, Glenn Moore, Grainne Maguire, Jenny Collier, Joel Dommett, John Gordillo, Joz Norris, Kate Lucas, Katie Mulgrew, Pat Cahill and Stephen Carlin.

And from the Brighton massive: Aidan Goatley, Jane Postlethwaite, Louise Raey, Russ Peers, and Sam Savage.

And you MUST go to the Iraq Out & Loud: Reading the Chilcot Report in Full. Organised by Bob Slayer it’s properly important. It might be boring, if anything on Bob’s Blunderbus can be boring, but maybe you’ll get a good bit. Readers include Omid Djalili, Stewart Lee, and me.  Heroes @ Bob ‘s Blunderbus (Venue 212), 24-7 till it’s done.

Thanks to Ed Moore for many of these photos. Here’s one of mine; a cocktail designed for me at my favourite foodie haunt, The Kitchin in Leith:

JUSTICE JACK 50ml Jack Daniels
50ml fresh orange juice
25ml fresh lemon
20ml sugar syrup
6 raspberries, muddled

Happy Fringe and good luck to all the comics! And remember, I’m always here to help with your marketing and PR, whether it’s social media, chasing up the press, or organising a reprint of your lovely, lovely flyers!

Kerry x

PS. These are my genuine, entirely subjective recommendations as a result of seeing loads of comedy in Leicester, Brighton, London and a field in Wiltshire. As always, sorry to those I’ve forgotten or missed out.

These are just my opinions based on what I find funny. It’s always worth going to several random Fringe shows to find out what YOU like. You’ll be amazed at the variety and how quickly you learn what you hate! (I hate young men taking their clothes off – mainly in comedy shows. I saw 6 in Leicester, though the last one started off naked and put his clothes back on. That was the only joke in the show. I didn’t look for another. Orlando BOOM!) #OrlandoBloom

And do let me know who you’ve loved or loathed in the 2016 Edinburgh Festivals – I love a gossip! You can find me on Facebook, on Twitter @kerryherbert007 or in the Library Bar. Cheers! x

Kerry and the tardis, Edinburgh 2007