MESSAGE FROM MY BRAIN

I have three outstanding benefit shows to do this year, and an obligation, but I am not doing a new stand-up show until the Autumn of 2019, which will then tour, far less than usual, until Spring 2020 and then it’s done.

(I do not intend to ever do the numbers I did for the CONTENT PROVIDER tour again. In the next 18 months I may do some odd support slots of my 1988/89 try-out spot material for someone else, tba. I am also trying to get a music documentary off the ground with a fan-beloved comedy director.)

I need to do a year or so of dad stuff at home, see some music and comedy and films and hills and rivers. & get fit. & thwart intestinal fate. & I need to have a think about where to go with s-up with me in my 50s as the ’70s/’80s cultural consensus that shaped me dissolves and the darkness rises.

CONTENT PROVIDER was filmed by the brilliant SLCV team in Southend in the lovely Palace Theatre, by the way, and will be available in some form in the near future via the BBC, maybe as a pill you can eat, or as an emollient.
It is a full length 2 hr recording w interrogator inserts (not Chris Morris or Armando), like a massive episode of SLCV. I look a right mess in it though.

SLCV4 was the most extreme thing I ever did in s-up, and the CONTENT PROVIDER tour arguably the most accessible, with the support of my promoters, my agent, and the tour manager James. I don’t know in terms of tone and content what to do next.
I have an idea about sharks, and an idea about a standard lamp and a piano. I have 4 minutes of quite good material about jazz I had to cut from the film of CONTENT PROVIDER. That’s all.

Thank-you for your continued support in numbers I never dreamed of, and for your kindness and politeness after the shows, in theatre foyers and nearby pubs.
The last fourteen years has changed my life. Back in 2004/5 I had literally no idea how I was going to live. The 1960s Shropshire orphanage is a distant memory now, and I know at last that I am never going back there.

“Though I love you all, I cannot embrace you all. With this kiss, remember me. Goodbye, my soldiers. Goodbye, my sons. And goodbye, my children.”

BENEFIT SHOWS

18th May – Benefit gig in aid of Action on Hearing Loss, with Samantha Baines and Tom Gockelen-Kozlowski. London’s Museum Of Happiness holds 80 people.
Tickets here.

13th June – Hilarity for Charity, Leicester Sq Theatre, London. Stewart Lee returns to the Leicester Square Theatre for a third year running to head up a comedy night in aid of community charities North London Cares and South London Cares.

He’ll be joined by Carl Donnelly, Athena Kugblenu, Arnold Brown and Bridget Christie, with further acts to be announced, including a really famous bloke who has been in films.
https://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873584617

8th July – The Secret Spy Cops’ Ball – Rob Newman, Evelyn Mok, Mark Steel, Stewart Lee, Jackson’s Lane, London. For women tricked into relationships w undercover police. Most of the performers on the bill are adopted orphans, oddly.
https://www.jacksonslane.org.uk/whats-on/the-secret-spycops-ball

CAPRIE-BATTERIE W STEWART LEE

You can buy Bristol Fashion, an industrial jazz album which we improvised in an hour, here for &pound7.

https://capri-batterie.bandcamp.com/album/bristol-fashion

Shirley Collins interviewed by Stewart Lee – Hay On Wye Lit Fest, 2nd June

ALL IN THE DOWNS: REFLECTIONS ON LIFE, LANDSCAPE AND SONG

5.30pm Venue: Baillie Gifford Stage. A legendary singer, folklorist and music historian, Shirley Collins has been an integral figure in the English folk music scene for more than 60 years.

In her autobiography, All in the Downs, Collins tells the story of that lifelong relationship with English folksong – a dedication to artistic integrity that has guided her through the triumphs and tragedies of her life.
She will also be attempting to better Evel Knievel’s 1975 motorcycle jump over 13 single-decker London buses. £8

https://www.hayfestival.com/p-14077-shirley-collins-talks-to-stewart-lee.aspx

I Arrogantly Recommend

1) May 1st – Lorre Lixenbourg/Rhodrhi Davis/Richard Dawson – Cafe Oto.

Jerry Springer The Opera soprano and Stockhausen’s singer of choice plus Anglo-Welsh avant-folk-drone.

2) Yo La Tengo. The ’80s Velvet Underground, 29 years since I first saw them.

May 1st – Birmingham Town Hall, May 3rd – Church, Leeds. May 4th – RFH London.

3) Gabriel Naim Amor. Filmic French Americana exponent.

May 3rd. Slaughtered Lamb, London.

4) The Stems. Australian power pop veterans.

May 6th, 100 Club, London

5) Iva Bittova. The Czech violin Bjork.

Rich Mix, London, May 9th.

6) Ruts DC. Punk-dub veterans.

12th May – Islington Academy, London. 25th – 26th May – Waterfront, Norwich.

7) Robyn Hitchcock – Post-punk Syd Barret.

Tuesday 08 May McHughs (Basement Bar), Belfast.
Friday 11 May Club Academy, Manchester.
Saturday 12 May – Ulu Live StudentCentral, London, UK.
Tuesday 15 May Fat Lil’s, Witney, UK.
Wednesday 16 May 2018 The Louisiana, Bristol.
Thursday 17 May Unitarian Church, Cambridge.
Friday 18 May Unitarian Church, Cambridge.
Saturday 19 May Kino-teatr, St Leonards.
Tuesday 22 May FRUIT, Hull.
Wednesday 23 May Music Room, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
Thursday 24 May Oran Mor, Glasgow.
Friday 25 May The HUBS.
Saturday 26 May More Music, Morecambe.
Tuesday 29 May Kingskerswell Parish Church (St Mary’s), Newton Abbot
Wednesday 30 May The Brook, Southampton, UK .
Thursday 31 May Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate.

8) Fallen Leaves – Mod punk survivors.

May 19th, Half Moon, Putney.

9) Pere Ubu – Cleveland Punk pioneers.

May 19th, Lexington, London.

10) Evan Parker – Free jazz originator.

May 24th, Vortex, London.

11) Bevis Frond – Lo-fi psychedelic DIY legend.

27th May – 100 Club London

12) The Oblivians – garage punk veterans.

29th May, ULU, London.

13) The Scientists – Australian proto-grunge swamp-denizens.

May 31st – Borderline, London. June 1st – Crypt, London. June 2nd – Cluny, Newcastle. 3rd June – Prince Albert, Brighton.

14) Space Shambles – Royal Albert Hall, June 15th.

Science, music, comedy, poor time-keeping and wonder collide in Space Shambles, presented in association with The Cosmic Shambles Network™ ®.
Part of the Festival of Science: Space.
Legendary astronaut Chris Hadfield™ and Robin Ince ® (host of Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage) are your hosts for the evening, plus an eclectic mess of surprise special guests for comedy lovers, music fans and science enthusiasts alike.

We are excited to announce that the first headliners joining us in June include Apollo™ ® astronaut Rusty Schweickart, theoretical physicist Jim Al-Khalili and science-comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd!

In the tradition of Nine Lessons and The Christmas Compendium of Reason, these huge shows have included guest appearances from Professor Brian Cox, Professor Alice Roberts, Charlotte Church, Skeletal Family, Hugh Grant, Dr Spunkfield Leominster, Pristeen Vagamutt, King Tinkale Omoono, Apollo™ ® astronaut Randy Vanwarmer, Sproutmaster Sprat, Dripknob The Weeping Physicist, The Drunken Astronomers, Laika and Uranus, The Gay Space Mice, Blind Lemon Jefferson, The Mad Aryabhatas, The Metaphysical Circus, Schooly D, Principal Ince’s Magic Theatre, Mike Peters & The Alarm, Albert’s Wanking Rocket Monkees, The Astronomers Royale, and Dara O’Briain.

As the show comes to the Royal Albert Hall for the very first time, expect an impressive collection of familiar faces – there’s no telling who else might show up in this secret stew of stars.
https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2018/robin-ince-and-chris-hadfields-space-shambles/

15) Bridget Christie – What Now? (New stand-up show)

April 2018

Friday 27th – WHAT NOW? – (W-I-P) Museum Of Comedy, LONDON – 8.30pm – 020 7534 1744 – TICKETS
Saturday 28th – WHAT NOW? – Old Vic, BRISTOL – 8pm – 0117 987 7877 – TICKETS

May 2018

Thursday 3rd – WHAT NOW? – The Dukes, LANCASTER – 8pm – 01524 598500 – TICKETS
Friday 4th – WHAT NOW? – The Lowry, SALFORD QUAYS – 8pm – 0843 208 6000 – TICKETS
Saturday 5th – WHAT NOW? – The Lowry, SALFORD QUAYS – 8pm – 0843 208 6000 – TICKETS
Wednesday 9th – WHAT NOW? – Festival Marquee, Custom House Square, BELFAST – 8pm – 028 90 246609 – TICKETS
Thursday 17th – WHAT NOW? – Truck Theatre, HULL – 7.30pm – 01482 323638 – TICKETS
Friday 18th – WHAT NOW? – The Dome, BRIGHTON – 7.30pm – 01273 709 709 – TICKETS
Sunday 20th – WHAT NOW? – Courtyard, West Yorks Playhouse, LEEDS – 7.45pm – 0113 2137700 – TICKETS
Monday 21st – WHAT NOW? – Courtyard, West Yorks Playhouse, LEEDS – 7.45pm – 0113 2137700 – TICKETS
Tuesday 22nd – WHAT NOW? – Derby Theatre, DERBY – 8pm – 01332 593939 – TICKETS
Thursday 24th – WHAT NOW? – Sherman Theatre, CARDIFF – 7.45pm – 029 2064 6900 – TICKETS

June 2018

Saturday 2nd – WHAT NOW? – Hay Festival, HAY – 9.45pm – 01497 822 629 – TICKETS
Monday 4th – WHAT NOW? – Crucible Theatre (Studio), SHEFFIELD – 7.45pm – 0114 249 6000 – TICKETS
Tuesday 5th – WHAT NOW? – Crucible Theatre (Studio), SHEFFIELD – 7.45pm – 0114 249 6000 – TICKETS
Saturday 9th – WHAT NOW? – Comedy Hall, TIVERTON – 8pm – 07443 502523 – TICKETS
Monday 18th – WHAT NOW? – The Stand, NEWCASTLE – 8.30pm – 0191 300 9700 – TICKETS
Tuesday 19th – WHAT NOW? – The Stand, NEWCASTLE – 8.30pm – 0191 300 9700 – TICKETS
Thursday 21st – WHAT NOW? – Playhouse, NOTTINGHAM – 8pm – 0115 941 9419 – TICKETS
Wednesday 27th – WHAT NOW? – Picturehouse, HEBDEN BRIDGE – 7pm – 01422 842807 – TICKETS
Friday 29th – WHAT NOW? – Playhouse, OXFORD – 7.30pm – 01865 305305 – TICKETS
Saturday 30th – WHAT NOW? – Playhouse, OXFORD – 7.30pm – 01865 305305 – TICKETS

September 2018

Monday 10th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Tuesday 11th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Wednesday 12th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Thursday 13th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Thursday 20th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Friday 21st – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Saturday 22nd – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS

October 2018

Tuesday 2nd – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Wednesday 3rd – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Thursday 4th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Friday 5th – WHAT NOW? – Theatre Royal, WINCHESTER – 8pm – 01962 840 440 – TICKETS
Saturday 6th – WHAT NOW? – Corn Exchange, EXETER – 7.30pm – 01392 665938 – TICKETS
Tuesday 9th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Wednesday 10th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Thursday 11th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Friday 12th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Tuesday 30th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Wednesday 31st – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS

November 2018

Thursday 1st – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Friday 2nd – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Saturday 3rd – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Tuesday 6th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Wednesday 7th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Thursday 8th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Friday 9th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Saturday 10th – WHAT NOW? – Leicester Square Theatre, LONDON – 7pm – 020 7734 2222 – TICKETS
Saturday 24th – WHAT NOW? – Nuffield Theatre (NST City), SOUTHAMPTON – 7.30pm – 023 8067 1771 – TICKETS