Manchester Comedy of the Week ft. Rob Auton, Gein’s Family Giftshop & more

Gein’s Family Giftshop | Mon 5 Sep | Kosmonaut | 8pm | FREE
After a self imposed fallow year at the Edinburgh Fringe Gein’s Family Giftshop are now gearing up for next year’s festival and ‘Volume 3’ of their strange, scatological sketches. Although Gein’s as a unit were not up in Scotland’s capital this year two members (Kiri and Jim) had their debut hour long solo shows and understandably received stellar reviews so their post fringe edition of their ‘Bargain Basement’ at Kosmonaut should be a nice celebration when joined by fellow Edinburgh soldiers Peter Brush and Rachel Fairburn. A cracking line up and all for zero pounds, it’s what Monday nights were made for.
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Ivo Graham and Matt Green | Tue 6 Sep | The Pub/Zoo | 7.30pm | £5/3
Though most stand up nights took a break over August due to the Northern migration of comics, there’s no rest for the wicked awesome and XS Malarkey are unable to stop putting on great show every week. Tonight they have a double headline spot from self confessed ‘posh boy’ Ivo Graham and the highly rated Matt Green. In support you’ll also find Rob Rouse and Jenny Collier who would just as ably headline were the names switched around. For just a fiver (£3 for members and students) it really is excessive in spoiling you.
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Comedy Balloon | Wed 7 Sep | The Ape & Apple | 7.30pm | FREE
Buoyed by a month at the fringe, or by seeing a lot of amazing stand up, there’s arguably no better time to head to see the up and coming acts at Comedy Balloon than right after the Fringe. Exhaustion and excitement in equal measure permeate the performances and you’ll be watching young comics form the bridgework that may seem them go on to great things at the annual arts festival. Always a top night and very supportive of all comedians be they fresh faced or old hands this is the place for comedy lovers in Manchester.
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Rob Auton | Fri 9 Sep | The Lowry | 9.30pm | £5
One of the most original voices on the British comedy scene, Rob Auton’s ruminations on the basics of life have so far taken in the colour yellow, the sky, faces, water and now with ‘The Sleep Show’ he takes another universal trait of human beings. Breaking down the idiosyncracies of routines or concepts we take for granted Rob reaches for a strange truth that will definitely change your way of thinking about the mundane. It’s also hilariously funny.
www.thelowry.com