News

Lounge On The Farm Announce Comedy Line Up

• 20th May 2010

Lounge on The Farm's musical line up is already causing a stir with the legendary Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Toots & The Maytals, Courtney Pine, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Fionn Regan, Tunng, Erland & The Carnival, Slow Club, and Silver Columns amongst many others set to keep you rocking all weekend long. But Lounge on the Farm has much more to offer than its incredible music; The Playhouse set in Merton Farm's Meadows will be a hive of comedy and cultural delights with a daytime programme that pays homage to music hall, carnival, fairgrounds all with a sprinkling of British holidays by-the-sea and a dash of school fetes.

Headlined by Howard Marks on Saturday night, Phill Jupitius and his Impro Allstars on Sunday and three hours of stand-up on Friday night featuring a fine crop of raw comic talent from the University of Kent, there'll be observational comedy, surrealism, satire, scatology and, er, ukuleles. Laura Lexx (“next-generation Lucy Porter” – Chortle) will introduce seven cracking acts including 'the wonderful' Nicola Bolsover (Whitstable Imp) all curated by Oliver Double the University of Kent's professor of comedy, Lounge on the Farm has a rib tickling selection of the finest comics currently strutting their stuff every night in The Playhouse.

With Mr Nice himself Howard Marks in attendance on Saturday night you can be sure of some jaw-droppingly amazing anecdotes from one of the world's greatest ranconteurs. From being top of the FBI's most wanted list to running for Mayor of London Howard has a treasure trove of tales to draw upon and simply can't be missed. Sunday will see Never Mind The Buzzcocks regular, QI favourite and all round comedy colossus Phill Jupitus bringing his Impro All Stars to Merton Farm for some side-splitting unscripted shenanigans. One of the country's favourite comedians Phill is a master at work who alongside his Impro team will make sure that Lounge on the Farm ends in side-splitting style.

Other highlights from the comedy line up include Andre Vincent who started his career stateside, once opening for the iconic Bob Hope before returning home to conquer the comedy circuit of the U.K. His individual style has taken him across the scope of the performance medium: a Saturday night show on Channel 4, three sell-out runs at the Edinburgh festival, countless radio shows, presenter of two award-nominated television programmes, a regular face on daytime panel games and even an appearance as himself on the children's drama 'Byker Grove'.

Marty Mclean has been touring across North America and Europe for the past 11 years with his observational (and sometimes quite dark) blend of humour. He has performed at the Improv, the World famous Comedy Store in Los Angeles and has also made two memorable appearances at the Edinburgh Comedy festival, storming stages at both Maxwells Fullmooners and Late n Live. He is now a regular performer on the UK circuit and making his mark in clubs across the country.

Carl Donnelly started performing stand-up regularly in 2005 and quickly established himself as one of the most exciting new comics climbing the comedy ladder. Despite being a relative newcomer, his conversational style and silly sense of humour have seen him win a host of awards and become a regular act and MC at clubs all over the country (and the world having also performed in Singapore, Dubai, Oman, The Netherlands and France among others!).

Pete Cain's dark comedy is irresistibly funny. He tackles sensitive subjects with a sledgehammer. Blessed with a knowing look and a cheeky grin he makes people laugh against their will at the things they know they shouldn't. He skilfully pulls the rug from beneath the audiences' pre-conceptions, laughing them into a different way of thinking. Pete has been a regular on the comedy circuit since 2002, after his second ever gig saw him into the semi-finals of Channel 4's “So You Think You're Funny” competition. Since then he has appeared at every major u.k comedy club, supported Lucy Porter on her national tour, featured on Radio 4's “Political Animal”, warmed-up at the BBC for “That Mitchell & Webb Look” and is a favourite on the summer festival circuit.

Tiernan Douieb has been doing the stand-up thing for a little while now. In that time that he's graced many a stage with his beardy face, playing gigs all over the UK and abroad. Douieb's friendly manner and fast paced gags have made him a highly sought after compere and act on the circuit. Tiernan's took his debut solo show '28 Years Later' to the Edinburgh Festival 2009 where he had several sell out crowds and great reviews for his tenuously zombie linked rant about kidulthood.

Josh Widdicombe Since his first gig in 2008 Josh has had a remarkable impact on the comedy circuit. In just two years he has been named Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2010 and just after a handful of gigs made it to the finals of the prestigious 'So You Think You're Funny' final at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008. Now regarded as one of the best up-and-coming acts on the UK circuit Josh is in constant demand at clubs and theatres the length and breadth of Britain.

Keith Farnan is the latest in a long tradition of great Irish comedians. With a flair for combining intelligence, charm and sharp writing, his TV Credits include the Irish Stand-up shows, the “Liffey Laughs” for RTE as well as “One Night Stand” for BBCNI television. He has written and performed for the show “Sweet” on Irish Television and recently wrote for the Topical Panel show, “That's all we have time for”. For Radio, he has written and performed his own comedy pilot, “The Insomniac Club” for BBC radio as well as co-hosting and featuring on a variety of Arts Programs on Irish Radio.

The daytime schedule for the Playhouse will be non-stop enlightening entertainment kicking off on Friday 9th July with Kent Youth Theatre who will be running Drama Workshops @ Little Lounge and will be returning on Sunday morning too. Plus there will be The Adventures of Colonel Crab and Captain Cockle, Etheric Tales by Conversions Dance Theatre collaborating with The Dealers and Danny's Incredible Balloon Show. Entertainment for Saturday 10th July includes Cosmic Shimmy with their Adult Belly Dancing Workshop, Beyond Boundaries by Eximo, Humorous Speeches by Canterbury Communicators, Bingoing Crazy bySarah Davies, Death of the Unicorn by Wet Concrete Theatre, Physical Theatre from Glad-Rags, Vintage Dancing Medley by The Hells Belles and a Magic Show by El Baldiniho! Sunday 11th July has a brand new addition for 2010 with the PANeK Showcase Sunday and there will be more fun with Take The Pose by What's Coming out of the Box?, Wide Eyed Theatre who will be holding Storytelling Workshops, Dizzy O'Dare Presents…The Tiny Travelling Tightwire Show!, Accidental Collective, Poetry to the People by Dan Simpson, Operation Greenfield by Little Bulb Theatre, Tortoise by Shanty Fiasco (PANeK) and the UKC Graduate Show. Also, recent Marlowe Artist Development (MAD) winners will be giving Lounge on the Farm a sneak preview of their work commissioned for the Herne Bay Festival and Whitstable Oyster Festival.

Galloping Cuckoos with HUGe Nest: housed in their lifesize, fully mobile willow birdcage, four cuddly and huggable bird girls are searching for the perfect nesting site around the streets and sites of Kent and are on a mission to bring a smile to your face and, ultimately, hug you.

Jacqui Johnston with Crystal Ball: A young couple meet at a fairground and a deaf girl becomes enthralled by the music of a talented Jazz musician. The couple express themselves through movement, music and sign in this heart-warming duet of love and communication.

Watch out for these roaming performance pieces around the festival site on Sunday 11th July.