Welcome to Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023

It’s that Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Comedy Christmas!! Melbourne is chockers full of comedians and comedy fans all excited about the three weeks to come.

It’s hard to recommend shows, as everyone’s taste will vary, but I assure you that the Festival will have something to make YOU laugh, there are over 600 shows to choose from! You just have to find Your thing and that is part of what we Squirrels are about, helping you have a great night out. Our reviews can give you an idea if a show might be for you. Sometimes I can even read a negative review and think, no actually, that one might just be my cup of tea. That’s why it can also be great to take a punt on something new if it piques your interest.

I can definitely see a mini trend of musical comedy being back So I thought I might focus on this genre of comedy and list some acts that I can honestly recommend to you as astonishingly talented and funny performers. They have to be brilliant musicians, singers AND Comedians to really pull off Musical Comedy well and they can come at it from different perspectives be they political, geeky, storytelling, raunchy or just plain silly.

Recommended Musical Comedy Shows at MICF 2023

I’ll start with the well known superstars of Musical Comedy: Tripod, Sammy J – Good Hustle, Geraldine Quinn – Broad, Gillian Cosgriff – Actually, Good, Die Roten Punkte – Otto & Astrid’s Joint Solo Project (directed by Neill Gladwin and Dramaturg Casey Bennetto), Andrew Hansen –Is Cheap [The one from The Chaser who sang the songs]. (Do Lano & Woodley count as musical comedians? I have a CD of their songs….so maybe.) You just cannot go wrong choosing to see any of these amazing accomplished performers.

Newer local upcoming stars that everyone was talking about at last year’s festival include Reuben Kaye – doing 2 shows this year; Live and Intimidating and The Kay Hole, Michelle Brasier – Legacy, Gabbi Bolt – Odd Sock and Jude Perl (with Nina Oyama) We should Hang Out –[ it is Sold Out right now, hoping for an extra show]

There are also Cabaret Showcases such as Ali McGregor’s Late-Nite Variety-Nite Night, Josh Earl’s 100%Hits and of course Haus Party at The Festival Club where the cream of the musical comedians (and other comedy stylings) will be turning up for spots.

Overseas musical comedians who may be new to you are visiting our shores in Festival season, here are some who are really worth checking out: UK’s Huge Davies [he’s dry and super cool, and part of New Order], Jordan Gray – Is It A Bird? [Ed Fringe Nominee pipped out of the top prize by our own Sam Campell] and Laurie Black – Dystopiano [doing feminist post punk synth comedy], I’ve seen them all, they’re great.

New Zealand’s Two Hearts We’re Pregnant and The Baby is Music, I think I’ve enjoyed them at a Festival Club….

Then there is Ned Kelly The Big Gay Musical by Kaine which is the only one I’m recommending that I’ve seen this before, but it looks like it might be jolly fun.

Other comedy at MICF.

Older school comedians coming to the Festival who you may not have seen do a show in a few years include Ed Byrne, Dylan Moran, Kyle Kinane, and our own Paul McDermott, Tony Martin, Bev Killick, Brad Oaks & even Akmal is back.

Political Comedy is popular too with Tom Ballard doing 2 shows, A Rational Fear doing 1 big show and Sammy J doing it via character comedy. Melissa MGlansey’s The Briefing (About maddening US politics – which is awesome, check it out). Osher Gunsberg Night Time News Network National News, is a curiosity we’re all wondering about, will it be political comedy? Or just a news lampoon, anyway it involves impro. Ben Russell, Greg Larsen & Friends are laying their politics out there with Election Results (Not Satire), they couldn’t be clearer, could they?

In Other News

European Bier Cafe has been renovated, re-named and is now called Morris House.
Some shows are already sold out or selling fast, new shows have been added for Sam Campbell, Tony Martin and Maisie Adams.
Cancelled shows are listed at the top of the list of shows on the MICF website.

If you know of shows cancelling or selling out, feel free to let us know on the socials or by email.

5 Good Reasons To See Laurie Black: Space Cadette

1. Sick Beats
As well as being a classically trained pianist, I incorporate synths and drum machines into this space themed cabaret show.  Described as “dark electropop cabaret” or “the potty-mouthed love-child of Victoria Wood and Gary Numan”, this is new-wave neo-cabaret!  Original live music and comedy in the atmospheric setting of the legendary Butterfly Club.
2. Feminism
Space Cadette is about one little alien’s journey and ambition to be the first woman on the moon because, believe it or not, in the 50 years its been since man set foot on the moon, not one woman has set foot (or stiletto heel) there!  It’s literally the most exclusive gentlemen’s club in the world – and it’s not even in the world.  By watching this show, written and created by a woman, you are supporting a woman in the arts and everyone knows that every time you buy a ticket for a woman’s show, a moon cup grows its wings… Or something.
3. It’s LIVE
Because being out in the real world is a really good thing to do, and much better than sitting at home looking at screens.  If you disagree, it’s only an hour – you can go back home and watch Netflix and order Uber Eats later… but supporting the arts, independent artists, venues and the comedy festival itself enriches all of us.  Come sit in a room with some strangers and watch real life entertainment – Laurie Black paints herself green! – anything could happen! – this is the real life, no second chances or rewinds.  Get amongst it.
4. Award Winning
Last year I won Emerging Artist of Adelaide Fringe, along with a Weekly Best Music award… plus my mum says I’m great.
5. It’d be rude not to
I’ve traveled all the way from the UK (via outerspace) to perform for you gorgeous Melbournites at your comedy festival, so it’d be rude not to come along and see what the fuss is about.  In the meantime, you can listen to my tracks on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer etc by searching Laurie Black, or watch some videos on YouTube.  It’d be nice to see your face there, and maybe you can help me run away to the moon?
Laurie Black performs Space Cadette at The Butterfly Club Apr 5 – 11