It’s that time of year again to head to Glasgow for their comedy festival, it’s my second trip up and despite those cold temperatures, the laughter will warm your cockles! Some of our favourite comedians are performing at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival this year, check the link for the full lineup. After this year the festival will have been running for 13 years and this year will run from the 12th-29th of March with over 400 shows in 46 different venues throughout the city.
Easiest way to travel up there is train, treat yourself to first class and you’ll be glad you did, we went up on Virgin Trains and had great service and really comfy seats with lots of space. From London it only takes 4hr 35mins and you can sit back, relax and prepare for your visit to Glasgow by looking through the programme to pick your shows.
Big names to step on the stage this year include, Al Murray, Jimmy Carr, Rich Hall, Christian O,Connell, Ellie Taylor and Dylan Moran.
Our highlights for this year’s festival, these are a combination of some bigger and smaller names to check out during the festival.
Where: Garage
He’s always funny, I like him on chat shows and he’s very likeable in his stand up, def one to grab a ticket for.
Saturday 21st of March – 7.30pm £12/£10
Where: The Stand Comedy Club
This one is a bit of a punt, but they’ve had some really good names from Letterman and SNL in previous years, and here’s your chance to see some stand up you wouldn’t normally see in the UK.
Saturday 18th of March – 7.45pm £12/£10
American- The Bill Hicks story
Where: The Govanhill Baths
Bill Hicks is a hugely influential and iconic comedian who sadly died way too young and this looks like a brilliant tribute to him. Wonder if they will allow the smokes…
Friday 13th of March – 10.00pm £6/£5
Where: Grosvenor Cinema
Catch one of the brilliant Robin Williams films that are showing over the festival, always so entertaining. Birdcage and Mrs Doubtfire are also playing.
Wednesday the 18th of March – 8.30pm – £7 -£27.50
Ashley Storrie – A Very Tall Storrie
Where: Blackfriars Basement
We had the pleasure of our own personal stand up comedy show with Ashley on our Virgin Train on the way up and she was very funny, I would definitely recommend going to see her. Don’t even think about heckling, she IS funnier than you & quicker.
Friday 20th of March – 7.30pm – £8/£6
Where: The Stand Comedy Club
I saw Brendon Burns in Montreal at their Comedy Festival a few years ago and he had us roaring with laughter, his energy fills the room, he is very loud but fun. A real pro in the comedy circuits, grab a ticket for this one if you get the chance.
Friday 13th of March – 7.45pm – £12/£10
Gilded Balloon Comedy At Drygate
Where: Drygate
Always a good line up with the Gilded Balloon, one to go an explore and see some emerging talent.
Friday 13th March (8pm), 20th March (8pm) and 27th Marcg (8pm) – £12.50-£11.50
Where: Tron Theatre
Nina has become a household name with her unique comedy partner, a puppet. Super clever and really funny.
18th March (7pm and 9pm), 19th March (8pm) £14/£12
Virgin Train Details: For advanced standard tickets its only £21.00 and first class is £51.00, plus you get 20% off on all Virgin Trains to Glasgow around festival time. There are two trains every hour from London and one train every hour from Birmingham to make it feel a bit easier.
Disclosure* I travelled up to Glasgow courtesy of Virgin Trains, Thank you Mr B.