Selling Out.

Tonight, I thought I'd share the press release I wrote for next week's Mostly Comedy; partly as it may be of interest, but mainly because it's getting late, and I feel that going to bed would be more beneficial than staying up to write a blog post about today's adventures (which included a spot of dog-walking, a little writing and going out for a drink with my co-In-Your-Inner-Ear host Steve).

So here it is, in all its comedy club-promoting glory. Pray silence for pure, unadulterated information:

Press Release – 18.03.16

mostly comedy

a monthly comedy and music club, at the sun hotel in hitchin

While 31^st March’s instalment of Doggett & Ephgrave’s Mostly Comedy is officially sold out, there’s still a chance to snap up return tickets on the night. This month’s line-up includes stand-up from JAMES ACASTER and DOGGETT & EPHGRAVE and music from The Bluetones’ frontman MARK MORRISS.

JAMES ACASTER has come a long way since appearing at the second ever Hitchin Mostly Comedy back in November 2008. He has since been nominated for Best Show at the prestigious Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards on four separate occasions (formerly the Perrier’s) and once for Best International Show at the 2013 New Zealand Comedy Festival. His three previous solo shows toured the UK to widespread critical acclaim (“deliciously whimsical, deliciously daft” - Evening Standard; “Beautifully constructed, ‘art of stand-up’ stuff” - Sunday Times; “curious, original and immensely enjoyable” - Telegraph). Recent appearances on BBC1’s ‘Have I Got News For You’ and ‘Live at The Apollo’, BBC2’s ‘QI’, ‘Mock the Week’ and ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’, BBC3's 'Russell Howard's Good News', ‘Josh’ and 'Dave's One Night Stand', along with support slots on both Milton Jones and Josie Long's UK tours, have served to boost James’ reputation as one of the most hotly-tipped young comedians in Britain. He’s also had his own radio series, ‘James Acaster’s Findings’ for BBC Radio 4. He’ll be previewing his new hour-long solo show ‘Reset’ at Mostly Comedy, prior to a run on the Melbourne Fringe in April.

Can it really be twenty years since MARK MORRISS first shimmied into our lives as singer with The Bluetones? Apparently so. But after thirteen hit singles (including 1996’s Britpop anthem ‘Slight Return’), three Top Ten albums and a collaboration with David Walliams, his ability to sieve poetry from the colander of every day life still remains unique.

“I always try to add little things that most songs wouldn’t use,” he says of the lyrics on his remarkable first solo album ‘proper’, A Flash Of Darkness.

“If I can squeeze a mention  of Bergerac into a song (as he does in surefire smash  ‘Consuela’) then  I’m happy.”

In the 12 months since the release of his 2015 album A Flash Of Darkness, Mark has been busying himself with some of his other side projects and collaborations, including playing rhythm guitar for The Maypoles, the studio and touring band of Matt Berry (IT Crowd, Toast Of London, House Of Fools) as well as recording a new album (The Taste Of…) for Acid Jazz Records. In April, his band The Bluetones hit the road with a tour to celebrate their twentieth anniversary, culminating at The Roundhouse on 5^th May.

The show will be emceed by the “polished, natural comedians” (Camden Fringe Voyeur) DOGGETT & EPHGRAVE. It takes place at The Sun Hotel on Thursday 31st March. Tickets are £11.00. Doors open at 8:30pm, with the first act on at 8:30pm (a later time than usual). A waiting list for returns will be taken from 7:45pm, with any available tickets sold on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Date:              Thursday 31^st March 2016

Venue:           The Sun Hotel

                        Sun Street

                        Hitchin

                        Hertfordshire

                        SG5 1AF

Time:              Bar open all day. Doors at 8:00pm. First act on at 8:30pm             

Admission:   £11.00