I’m a Joke and So Are You – Robin Ince & Stewart Lee, London King’s Place, Thursday Nov 1st

Join us for a very special live event to celebrate the launch of Robin Ince’s new book I’m a Joke and So Are You: A Comedian’s Take on What Makes Us Human.
Robin’s book is about why we become the humans we are and how best to cope with that, using himself and other comedians, including Tim Minchin, Noel Fielding, Sarah Kendall, Nina Conti, and many others, as the test subjects. It deals with birth, death, social anxiety and creativity among much more.

Also through further conversations with therapists, neuroscientists, geneticists and anyone who really came within reach, he picks apart our existence. In this very special one-off show, Robin will be performing stand-up based around these ideas and will be joined by some very special guests. Robin will be in conversation with both acclaimed comedian Stewart Lee and psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry live on stage, and there will also be performances from both his Book Shambles co-host, comedian Josie Long, and singer-songwriter Grace Petrie.

‘A funny, honest and heartwarming look at the anxious phenomenon known as human existence. Robin’s curiosity and fascination with his own and other humans’ foibles make this book a very funny education.’ – Matt Haig

Ticket includes a &pound3 discount off the cover price of the book if purchased at the event.
Robin will also be signing copies after the show which runs until 9pm.

TICKETS

CAPRI-BATTERIE W STEWART LEE, CAFE OTO, DALSTON, 2PM NOV 4TH

&pound12, &pound10 ADVANCE, &pound8 MEMBERS
Please note that this is a matinee show – doors will open at 2pm and the performance will start shortly after.
In this rare performance to support the release of their collaborative album, Bristol Fashion, Capri-Batterie and Stewart Lee will present a selection of instantaneous compositions crafted on the spot for direct consumption.
‘The shape this ship is in suggests that life-jackets might be advisable………a recording of astonishing originality.’ – Evan Parker

CAPRI-BATTERIE. A trio comprised of Kordian Tetkov on drums, Tim Sayer on trumpet and electronics and Matthew Lord on Bass and Saxophone. With an unrestricted approach to improvisation that embraces the philosophy of ‘freedom’, as an affront to oppression in all its modern day manifestations, this is music making unafraid of ideology and charged with abstraction. The intensity levels achieved by Capri-Batterie are uncharacteristic for a small ensemble and the belligerent and anarchic fervour with which they coalesce the aesthetics of industrial rock, free jazz and noise art render their performances a highly energetic and intense undertaking.
TICKETS

Josie Long

The brilliant comedian, and noughties S Lee tour support act, Josie Long is touring screenings of her first full length film, Super November, in Nov and Dec, mainly in Scotland, with director Douglas King.

Josie Long stars in the mumblecore comedy meets socio-political drama as a romance obsessed librarian in Glasgow.
In the midst of an exciting new relationship she almost forgets about the mounting political turmoil and potential right wing coup. An exhilarating and ambitious debut for director Douglas King and writer Josie Long. Described by Sight & Sound as a “portrait of the harshness of the abruptly changing world we live in.”
The evening will begin with a brief introduction by Director Douglas King and writer / star Josie Long – and after the film Josie will perform a short stand-up set, before Douglas returns to the stage with her to partake in a Q&A.

November 11th – Dunoon Film Festival – TICKETS
November 25th – Prince Charles Cinema, London – TICKETS
November 26th – Glasgow Film Theatre
November 27th – Filmhouse, Edinburgh
November 28th – Eden Court, Inverness
November 29th – DCA, Dundee
November 30th – MacRobert Arts Centre, Stirling
December 1st – Hyde Park Picturehouse, Leeds

Bridget Christie

My wife continues to be the most critically acclaimed British stand-up of the 21st century, while I am in painful and obvious decline.

November

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
Tuesday 27th – WHAT NOW? – The Junction, CAMBRIDGE – 8pm – 01223 511 511 – TICKETS

December 2018

Monday 3rd – WHAT NOW? – Playhouse, NORWICH – 8pm – 01603 598598 – TICKETS
Tuesday 4th – WHAT NOW? – Playhouse, NORWICH – 8pm – 01603 598598 – TICKETS
Saturday 8th – WHAT NOW? – Minerva (Festival) Theatre, Chichester – 8pm – 01243 781312 – TICKETS

Meanwhile, I Arrogantly Recommend

1) Damo Suzuki.
Nomadic Can vocalist’s endless improvised tour continues. Nov 2nd – Bristol Exchange, 3rd – Lewes, 4th – London Lexington, 6th – Cardiff Moon, 9th – Newcastle Cluny.

2) Fallen Leaves.
Gentlemen Mod-Punks in ongoing demonstration of passionate precision. Nov 17th – Railway Hotel, Southend, 24th – Hope & Anchor, London.

3) Neko Case.
Spellbinding country singer tours “hope you like our new-direction” type new album. Nov 6th – Dublin Vicar St, 7th – Leeds Brudenell, 8th – London Barbican.

4) Linder Sterling.
I think Friday 9th of Nov is the day that Linder Sterling’s new piece opens at Southwark Underground Station in S London. “Feminist and established figure of the Manchester punk and post-punk scene, Linder will create a major new commission on a street-level billboard at Southwark station. It will launch alongside a cover commission for the pocket Tube map, placing contemporary art into the hands of millions. Linder is known for her collages created from images lifted from pornography, women’s fashion, and domestic magazines.”

5) Darren Hayman.
2 dates from the indie-auteur on the back of the latest instalment of his Thankful Villages series. Nov – 10th (lunchtime) Union Chapel, London. 17th – Brighton West Hill Hall.

6) Endless Boogie.
Statuesque blues conceptualists play one UK date. Nov 16th – London Moth Club.

7) Primevals.
Glaswegian Garage rock survivors. Nov – 16th Northampton Lab, 17th – London Hope & Anchor.

8) Dave Kusworth.
Keith-fixated nearly-man of ’70s Birmingham punk scene’s album launch. Nov 4th – London Hope & Anchor.

9) Archie Shepp.
Jazz musician in Jazz festival appearance shock. Nov 19th – London Barbican.

10) White Teeth.
Kiln Theatre, London. Oct 26th – Dec 22nd. Stephen Sharkey’s new adaptation of the Z Smith novel. You’re in Kilburn.
Melting pot where nothing’s actually melted. It’s all just kinda stuck together at the bottom in a gooey mess. Rosie Jones, the Iqbal twins, their parents, their grandparents, Mad Mary and an avalanche of other characters who make up the everyday chaos of Kilburn High Road come together in an extraordinary revelry of NW6. An epic comedy with music and dance, this theatrical rollercoaster takes us on a fast-paced journey through history, different cultures and chance encounters.
Zadie Smith’s breakthrough novel is adapted for stage by acclaimed playwright Stephen Sharkey and directed by Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham in a major world premiere. TICKETS

11) The Wave Pictures.
Indie classicists one-off date. Nov 22nd – London Koko.

12) David Thomas Broughton.
Flambouyant and bold outsider artist’s rare appearance. Nov 23rd – London St John’s Bethnal green.

13) Blue Orchids.
Martin Bramah’s psychedelically-skewed Manchester post-punk veterans. Nov – 22nd Cardiff Moon, 24th – London Dublin Castle.

14) Dan Stuart.
Former Green On Red frontman, hard-bitten novelist, and compelling solo performer in soul-bearing country-blues mode. Nov – 21st Nottingham Running Horse, 22nd – Sheffield Greystones, 25th – Glasgow Hug & Pint, 28th – London The Islington, w Sid Griffin, 29th – Bristol Hen & Chicken, 30th – Bedford Ent Shed, Dec 2nd – Brighton Prince Albert. I have written the intro for his new novel.

15) Mudhoney.
Trump-hating grunge pioneers. Nov – 28th Brighton Concorde, 29th – London Electric Ballroom, 30th – Leeds Beckett Uni, Dec 1st – Glasgow St Luke’s.

16) Fleshtones.
US Garage veterans. Nov 30th – London Nambucca

17) Evan Parker.
Free improvisation inventor. Nov 15th – London Vortex.

18) Shopping.
Angular afro-pop inflected post punks. Dec 1st – Hackney Arts centre.

19) The Heads.
Bristol’s undisputed overlords of heavy-psyche. Nov 30th – M’cr Deaf Institute, Dec 1st – London 100 Club.

20) Bevis Frond.
Lone local album launch show from overlooked national treasure Nick Saloman in his contradictory sensitive-songwriter/crazed guitar wrangler combo. Dec 8th – Hastings Blackmarket.