The second annual Edmonton Comedy Festival slated for October 17 to 21 has a blazing lineup of 20 acts with Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo kicking off the festival at the Maclab Theatre.
Nikki Payne, a finalist for Last Comic Standing, hosts the Unleashed show on Oct. 19 while Saturday Night Live alum Jay Mohr livens up River Cree Casino on Oct. 20.
Presented by ATB Financial, there’s a motley crew of national and international stand-up comics that include Andrew Grose, Atomic Improv, Big Daddy Tazz, Monique Marvez and Derek Edwards.
Even St. Albert’s own Josh Classen pays lip service in the Funniest Media Person along with J’Lyn Nye, Morely Scott, Mike Ross, Chris Scheetz, Mike McGuire and Fred Kroetsch.
New this year is a Young Guns Competition where newbie comics will shoot it out for cash, prizes and a coveted spot at a festival gala show.
All events are staged throughout Edmonton at Citadel’s Maclab Theatre, River Cree, The Westin and Four Points by Sheraton. Unfortunately St. Albert’s Kinsmen Korral was unavailable this year.
“We would have loved to come to St. Albert. We were very successful there last year. However, there was a hiccup and the Kinsmen didn’t hold the date. Someone from River Cree Resort came to the table and offered,” said Andrew Grosse, festival artistic director.
Tickets are now on sale. Although there are a few free events, most tickets start at $25. Check out the official website for specific show costs at www.atbcomedy.com.
The weatherman has promised sun for anyone scoping out the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival now on until July 15 at Sir Winston Churchill Square in Edmonton.
In this zany, colourful world everything is turned upside down and it’s perfectly normal to see safari adventurers, lopsided buskers, rubber-faced clowns, pretzel-like circus performers, sleight-of-hand jugglers and tipsy acrobatics.
There are a handful of artists making their debut. Bendy Em, a world-class contortionist, has performed for Sting, David Blaine and Hugh Jackman. New to the city is Goldie, a whiz juggler using glass balls. Check out Lords of Strut, blending acrobatics and break-dancing into a parody of celebrity culture.
Also new this year is Silent Disco Show, a new concept imported from The Netherlands. A fab DJ plays amazing music while participants are handed headphones. Silent Disco is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Cost is $1.
For more news visit www.edmontonstreetfest.com.
Singer/songwriter Neil Van Dijjk has a knack for strumming his guitar campfire style. And this coming Tuesday at the Barsnbands Open Stage, Dijjk is bringing his freewheeling jamming style of blues, funk, rock to LB’s Pub.
“Neil and I met in school and the first time we got together we started talking about playing music with other school buds,” says Barsnbands co-host Mark Ammar.
Dijjk will spend the first portion of the evening fingering his guitar and later in the night will take over bass duties from Big Daddy.
