Comedy Picks of the Week ft Alex Edelman, Bethany Black, Nish Kumar + Steve Bugeja

Vince Atta and Bethany Black | The Railway, West Didsbury | Mon 8 Jun | 7.30pm | £5
Another top line-up at Didsbury’s finest makeshift comedy club in The Railway Inn. Secreted behind a curtain at the end of the bar, Tony Basnett’s reputation for running a damn fine gig is well earned as he makes this erstwhile den into a raucous room fit for any level of performer. Sliding behind the curtain partition this month are Bethany Black, of Banana, Cucumber and Tofu fame, and Vince Atta, who has amassed quite the fan base with his infectious charm and enthusiasm for the night put in front of him.
www.wegottickets.com

Alex Edelman | The Pub/Zoo | Tue 9 Jun | 7.30pm | £5/£3
Last year’s winner of the Best Newcomer award at the Fringe, Alex Edelman has since been weighted by increased expectation. So he’s written a show about it. Well, kind of. Taking on the twinned youthful problems of responsibility and being overwhelmed, ‘Everything Handed to You’ is sure to be one of the big hits at this year’s Fringe – and you can see it for cheap at XS. Also on the bill are two of the UK’s brightest hopes in the quickfire lunacy of Adam Hess and the thoughtful wordplay of Jake Lambert.
www.wegottickets.com

Nish Kumar & Matthew Crosby | Tiger Lounge | Thu 11 Jun | 7.30pm | £5
Group Therapy’s Edinburgh preview series started last week with the absolute gangbuster double bill of Carl Donnelly and Will Franken, with Tiger Lounge marking itself out as a perfect place for live comedy. Descending the steps in to the popular dive bar is like entering a New York comedy club in which you’re not certain what you might find. Here, however, you should be aware you’ll be getting more top-notch Edinburgh fare in GT favourite Nish Kumar and member of sketch heroes Pappy’s Matthew Crosby.
www.seetickets.com

Steve Bugeja & Lou Conran | Kings Arms | Fri 12 Jun | 8pm | FREE
Winner of last year’s BBC New Comedy Award, Steve Bugeja is a name to watch out for – and this summer will be attempting his first hour-long Edinburgh show called ‘Day Release’. Centred around the time he had to pick up a father-of-the-bride as a favour, things take a turn when discovers he’s got to pick him up from prison. Released after 18 years inside and now on a road trip with the delightfully awkward and perennially nervous Bugeja, this should prove to be an Edinburgh show that’s pretty original. Also road testing her new material for a show about clairvoyance in a carvan is Lou Conran. It’s a fantastic double bill of comedy for the price of a handshake.
www.facebook.com

New Stuff | The Comedy Store | Sun 14 Jun | 7.30pm | £4/£2
There’s no better time to go to a new material night that in the lead up to August. The two months before the Fringe are crucial for those acts heading up to Edinburgh in order to get everything right for their forthcoming show. Toby Hadoke hosts this installment of The Comedy Store’s New Stuff, and will be inviting some of his comedy pals to test their newest material in the hope that it’s all not terrible.
thecomedystore.co.uk

Thanks to @johnwinsagain