Latitude Additions: Janeane Garofalo, Dave Gorman & Jo Brand

• 5th Jun 2009

The pioneering, award-winning Latitude Festival returns to England’s Sunrise Coast for another spectacular year. Taking place on 16th – 19th July, near Suffolk’s stunning seaside town of Southwold, organisers Festival Republic are promising Latitude will be the perfect British summer destination.

Now in its fourth edition Latitude continues to inspire and innovate offering the very best from the worlds of music, film, comedy, theatre, cabaret, dance, poetry, literature and art. With stunning individual performance spaces dedicated to each of the arts, the arenas are treasure troves of talent, with open doors and inviting atmospheres. Sit back and be entertained by over 700 performers or participate and learn a new skill in the many workshops on offer, there are new experiences round every corner. Latitude encourages you to open your mind, embrace the unknown and try everything; a fun-filled, cultural adventure by the sea; the ideal weekend away.

COMEDY ARENA

Welcome to one of the biggest and best comedy festival in Britain positioned on the hill overlooking the luscious landscape of the Latitude site. The Comedy Arena is one of the biggest draws of the weekend; bursting at the seams as everyone sits back and enjoys the stellar stand up performances from the cream of the comedy circuit. A programme of the biggest names and the newest rising talent will ensure continuous laughter throughout the weekend.

Britain’s best female comic Jo Brand is the latest addition to the all-star Comedy line-up at Latitude Festival. Brand rose to fame in the ‘80s pioneering the burgeoning alternative comedy movement. Her stand-up routines, delivered in her distinctive monotone drawl, poked fun at her weight and men, a self-deprecating style with radical feminist tendencies. Although her humour has slightly softened her explicit over-sharing honesty is still her trademark and has helped earn her the inclusion in the Observer’s 50 funniest acts in Britain and a must-see contestant in everything Comic Relief throws at her. She has been a guest on Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and is a regular on the fantastic panel show QI; as well as hosting her own TV programmes including ‘Jo Brand’s Commercial Breakdown’.

Film-maker, presenter, writer and of course stand-up comic, Dave Gorman joins the comedy line-up. Famed for his award-winning previous shows, ‘Are You Dave Gorman?’, ‘Googlewhack Adventures’ and ‘America Unchained’, he has just finished a stint on TV with his brilliant ‘Genius’ show which was transferred from BBC Radio earlier this year. But it’s a return to the more traditional stand-up routine that will keep Gorman busy this summer and through to next year. After showcasing his new routine at Latitude he will then begin the first part of his tour travelling to and from each gig around the country on his bike taking in 32 venues.

Once the world record holder for most jokes told in an hour (499) Tim Vine is a master at word-play, puns and quick-fire one-liners. He has performed many times at the Edinburgh Festival as well as his own shows such as ‘Tim Vine – Live In Concrete’ at Shepherd’s Bush Empire and appeared regularly on TV including BAFTA winning The Sketch Show, Mastermind, Countdown, Spelling Bee and Comic Relief Does Fame Academy.

Hollywood film and TV star, political activist, writer and stand-up comic Janeane Garofalo is bringing her observational wit, fire and passion to the Comedy line-up. Her strong, left-wing, atheist beliefs have led her to take part in many marches, debate shows and co-host The Majority Report on Air America Radio Network. Famed not only for her film and screen roles in Reality Bites, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, 24, The Larry Sanders Show (for which she won two Emmys) to name but a few – Garofalo first started out as a stand-up comic emerging in the late 80’s – early 90’s alternative comedy scene in L.A. A rare and wonderful outing for this phenomenal comic before her London show in September.

British stand-up comic and comedy circuit favourite, Stephen K. Amos will be coming to Latitude. He has performed at Edinburgh Festival every year since 2003 and has also appeared on Live At The Apollo and the 2007 Royal Variety Performance as well as TV shows Mock The Week, The Wright Stuff and Have I Got News For You. His amiable style has earned him a Time Out Award for Comedy in 2004 and a Chortle Award for Best Compere three times, in 2004, 2007, 2008.

Canadian comic, singer-songwriter and actor Phil Nicol was first known as the guitar playing member of top musical comedy trio 'Corky and The Juice Pigs'. Phil's solo performances have earned him huge critical acclaim and many awards. He is a Tasmanian devil with a guitar, wickedly funny songs and superb improvisational skills that will be showcased in a string of dates in Edinburgh and at the London Comedy Store before he joins the Comedy Arena at Latitude.

Having been in the entertainment industry since a young age, Charlie Baker's experience shines through with his energetic and irrepressible show. This versatile star, with enthusiastic audience banter and interaction, plus a hidden wealth of musical talent as an accomplished, highly acclaimed Jazz singer and musician (solo, and with The Charlie Baker Band) is set to rise fast.

Kids may know him as Archie the Inventor in Balamory but Miles Jupp is also an award winning funnyman with live performances and appearances on Paramount Comedy TV’s ‘The World Stands Up’. He won two new act competitions in 2001 – Channel 4’s ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ and the Leicester Festival of The Year Award and in 2003 he was nominated for the Perrier Best Newcomer for his show ‘Gentlemen Prefer Brogues’.

Youthful and witty, Matt Kirshen is best known for his appearance as one of the top 10 finalists on the NBC talent show ‘Last Comic Standing’ and for his hilarious breakthrough Channel 4 show ‘RudeTube’ – a six-part guide to the wonderful world of the web. But it’s the perfectly timed gags and sarcastic sense of humour that is his winning formula.

Brighton-based newcomer Seann Walsh is already building up a strong profile after being proclaimed Winner of the Leicester Comedy Festival in 2009 and runner-up in the ‘So You Think You're Funny?’ New Act Competition in 2008. Walsh has the special talent of delivering punchy fresh humour with a natural and appealing charm prompting Time Out to declare: “Walsh is this generation's Dylan Moran, with the looks, gags and charm to become something quite special.”

These additions join an incredible comedy line-up that includes Ed Byrne, Mark Thomas, Adam Hills, Sean Lock, The Early Edition hosted by Marcus Brigstocke, Sean Hughes, Andrew Lawrence, Rufus Hound, Jon Richardson, Russell Kane, Shappi Khorsandi and Jessica Delfino ~ plus many, many more.

Weekend tickets £150 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £60 plus booking fee.
Weekend ticket prices include car parking and camping • Days include car parking only.

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