We know a thing or three about karaoke here at Londonist. We've lost count of the number of times we've drunkenly decided that, rather than fighting for a space in a crowded late-night boozer, we'll settle for a seedy Soho sing-me-up. And it's always great fun, but the venues themselves often leave a lot to be desired. We could do without the room turning into a sauna, the loveless decor, and the genuine fear... [continue]

The entire capital weeps today, as Londonist presents its final round-up of the week's best Edinburgh Festival previews. You can show your respect by going to these shows and seeing some great comedy at super-cheap prices: Monday 21st: A free gig tonight, from four superlative new comics. In their show Homework for Heroes, they discuss acts of heroism in everyday life, and play with interactive games to create a heart-warming night of comedy. The... [continue]

In the weeks building up to Edinburgh, there are OVER NINE THOUSAND comedy previews a day. Finding the best ones can be difficult. So it's a good job that Londonist knows its comedy! Go to at least four of these shows this week: Monday 14th: This Sketch Show Belongs to Lionel Richie proved themselves expert at guerilla advertising at the Fringe last year, when hundreds of stickers bedecked lampposts, toilets and vending machines declaring... [continue]

The London comedy scene is vast and multifarious at any time of the year, but during the run-up to Edinburgh it explodes beyond all comprehension. Luckily, we - and only we - know what the best shows of the week are. Cancel even the most essential of intrusive surgery to attend any of our recommendations. After all, laughter is the best medicine!! (citation needed) Monday 7th - Dan Antopolski may have crafted the most... [continue]

Here's week four of our Edinburgh Festival preview recommendations. This isn't just a random list of events scraped from listings magazines and press releases - this is a genuine list of acts we adore, and that you should definitely see, especially while the price is nice. If you go to just one of these shows this week, we guarantee you'll come away feeling happy. Monday 30th - The Free Fringe has hosted hundreds of... [continue]

Here's week three of our pick of the week's best Edinburgh Festival previews, where big name-acts charge small prices while they try out new ideas. Embrace London's comedy scene in June and July like you would embrace your dearest friend, or a delicious pineapple, and see as many shows as you can while the price is "right". You'll do well to start with these four: Tuesday 24th - Top Islington club Fat Tuesdays hosts... [continue]

Meet Todd Barry, a deliciously dry American comedian who is making a long overdue trip to London this week, for a five-night run at the Soho Theatre. His biting, sarcastic outlook on life and deadpan audience banter have lit up comedy festivals around the world. Although some Brits might not recognise the name, comedy fans will know him from Flight of the Conchords as the bongo player that almost split up the band in... [continue]

Don't Ever Heckle is a column where Londonist gets drunk with has a chat with the most exciting up-and-coming comedians, who are generating a buzz on the London comedy circuit. Nat Luurtsema is a Londonist favourite - half of the staff here have seen her live at least three times, and with good reason. She's silly but thoughtful, scatty but charming, well read, self-deprecating, twee and whimsical, dark and disturbing, and very funny indeed.... [continue]

By the time the Edinburgh Festival rolls around, the 2,000 shows on offer will have been proof-read, practised and polished to perfection. But how do the shows get to be so good? We'll tell you but how - by using Londoners as guinea pigs! We jest, of course. The next six weeks are a fantastic time to see brilliant comedians experimenting with new ideas at super-cheap prices. Here's our second week of recommendations for... [continue]

The Edinburgh Festival lasts for three weeks, but we Londoners get two months worth of previews with vastly cheaper ticket prices. Therefore, London wins. Take advantage of this epic victory by going to one, some, none or more of the following: Monday 9th - Andrew O'Neill's Totally Spot-On History Of British Industry promises to be packed full of truth and facts as he re-tells the history of this glorious era. There'll be surreal and... [continue]

Resonance FM are putting on a days worth of fund-raising this Sunday at the Arts Theatre, near Leicester Square, with afternoon comedy and evening music. Londonist's favourite radio station is always in need of funds, and is run almost exclusively by volunteers, so we'll be going to support the charity just as much as we'll be going to see the acts. In there afternoon, there's a comedy gig with a very strong bill of... [continue]

This Saturday might well be your last chance to catch Missed Connections, the supremely heart-warming, twee, and utterly hilarious show by Terry Saunders. Terry is a stand-up storyteller whose gentle, melancholic and spellbinding stories can make you laugh, cry and laugh again, all in one breath. He's also one of the brains behind laughterinoddplaces, which we recommended in the olden days. Londonist is a big fan of Terry Saunders, and so should you be.... [continue]

Imagine a style of comedy which combines a love of life with a quick wit, booming voice, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of every single movie that has ever been made, ever. For many years, people would have chased you out of the city for proposing such a ludicrous paradigm. But we've come a long way since the 70s. Thank goodness that, now we live in more enlightened times, one man has dared to bring... [continue]

Don't Ever Heckle... is a new column where Londonist interviews some of the most exciting and original comedians currently working on London's live comedy circuit. Don't ever heckle them, because we think they're great. Our second interview is with James Kettle, who in the past few years has taken his bitter, pessimistic anti-humour and frequently disturbing take on life to all the best clubs in London, as well as the Edinburgh Fringe, and even... [continue]

Don't Ever Heckle... is a new column where Londonist interviews some of the most exciting and original comedians currently working on London's live comedy circuit. Don't ever heckle them, because we think they're great. As we're massive comedy geeks, we'll be digging deep, asking why they perform, how they write, what inspires them, and why on earth they do it in the first place. To launch this new column, we talked to Gerry Howell,... [continue]

We wanted to promote tomorrow's charity comedy night for War on Want at Shepherds Bush Empire for two reasons. Firstly, because it is going to be a spectacular night, with some remarkable comedians, in aid of a very good cause. And secondly, because their press release contains a line which, lacking as it is in context, had us giggling like children for far longer than is socially acceptable: "Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller, with... [continue]

One of the most thrilling aspects of live comedy is surely its intimacy. When you watch a big act in a small room, a charming comic can make you believe that they are there just for you, as if the jokes they tell were being told exclusively for your pleasure. There's a new club in town that is trying to go one step further. Anthology is a night in Portabello Green W10 which does... [continue]

Hello Jeff! Ho ho ho and a bottle of rum - it's Christmas time! Happy Saint Jesus Day, to almost all of you! And what an event it is - a time for giving, sharing, and taking; a time for thinking about the past, as well as looking forward to the future, all the while contemplating the here and now; a time of remembrance and joy, coupled with inebriation, rage, and light misogyny. And... [continue]

Hello Jeff! But don't bother opening your mouth to reply, because I haven't got the time to listen; I'm too busy celebrating! No no, don't worry, you haven't missed St. Satan's Day. I'm celebrating because it's been a year since I started doing stand-up! You'll have to forgive me, as this may be quite a self-indulgent post. But I can scarcely believe I've managed to persevere for this long! You see, I'm a notoriously...... [continue]

We think Josie Long is magic. Like, properly magic. With spells and prestidigitation and conjuration and that. This is the only way we can explain how she is able to perform to sell-out crowds at a venue as large at The Bloomsbury Theatre, but still totally capture the spirit, warmth, friendliness and intimacy of a small, lo-fi indie comedy gig. When we saw her earlier this year at Stewart Lee's fund-raiser to release a...... [continue]