Comedy Picks of the Week ft David O’Doherty, free show at Odd + Cassetteboy

David O’Doherty | The Lowry | Mon 3 Feb | 8pm | £18
The self-proclaimed/deprecated ‘Ryanair James Bond’ hits The Lowry in which he ‘Will Try To Fix Everything’ with both talking and songs. More than likely it will quickly descend it to a mess with only O’Doherty’s hunched shape over his casio flinging out tracks about his life and whatever’s the matter with it. An intense and hilarious performer who continues to make good on the promise of his 2008 Edinburgh Comedy Award his shows are fantastically lively and full of wit and the surreal.
www.tickets.thelowry.com

Quippopotamus | Odd Bar | Tue 4 Feb | 8pm | FREE
It’s the first Quip of the new year in the Northern Quarter and to celebrate idiot ringmaster Jack Evans welcomes good friends and alter egos to perform like the chimps that they are, for you, for free. A pretty sweet deal. This month sees the arrival of Manchester’s most sexually confused sketch group Gein’s Family Giftshop. After a stellar 2013 which culminated in a performance at the Palace Theatre in London supporting The Boy With Tape On His Face. Also appearing is David Stanier with his infectious enthusiasm and sideways glance at the world he sees around him, which probably has a few extra colours and unicorns drive taxis. A free evening with surprises galore, Quip is a welcome addition to a burgeoning comedy scene in Manchester’s far too serious Northern Quarter.
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Unicorn Comedy Club | The Unicorn | Wed 5 Feb | 7.30pm | £5
The Unicorn Hotel on Church Street once again offers up a superb line up of stand up on a Wednesday all for just five of your English pounds. A double headline spot is your reward this month with Hebburn’s Barry Dodds and Hospital Radio DJ Ivan Brackenberry sharing the limelight. A real treat for a fiver, the line up also includes Demitris Deech and Jill Bell, with the laconic charm of Adam Rushton on MC duties the Unicorn is proving to be quite the home for comedy in Manchester.
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Cassetteboy | Club Academy | Fri 7 Web | 10pm | £10
The musical enigma that is Cassetteboy crashes its comedy show into Club Academy and aims to dance on the wreckage. A bold statement, but they certainly managed it in Liverpool at Leaf last year and even more so with their critically enthused show at last year’s Edinburgh Festival. Comedy’s equivalent of Daft Punk mash up everything in their arsenal, be it Pat Butcher, Alan Sugar or David Cameron. A sight to behold and a surprisingly good boogie, Cassetteboy hosts a night like no other. Go see what all the fuss is about! Read our full preview.
www.seetickets.com

New Stuff | The Comedy Store | Sun 9 Feb | 7.30pm | £3
Toby Hadoke invites more of his comedic chums onto the stage at The Comedy Store to test their new material in front of a friendly crowd. Well, that’s the idea at least. A chance to see old hands try new tricks ‘New Stuff’ is a good and cheap way to see the best comedians bring the funny and the not so funny new gags they’ve been slaving away at in their bedsits for the last few months. So be nice, but not too nice, or they’ll never learn.
www.thecomedystore.co.uk