Comedy Picks of the Week ft. Vikki Stone, Noel James, Laugh Local & Trevor Noah

Comedy Crèche | Sandbar | Mon 6 Jan | 8pm | FREE
A new year of Dead Cat Comedy’s takeover of the Manchester scene begins with their comedy crèche, which ushers in new acts for the nicest comedy show in town, as well as featuring  seasoned pros trying new things in front of a discerning yet forgiving crowd. Red Redmond welcomes a wealth of Manchester comedy talent on to the stage at Sandbar for an easygoing night of green material for a brand new year.
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Gein’s Family Giftshop | Kings Arms, Salford | Mon 6 Jan | 8pm | FREE
Big things are expected of pitch black sketch group Gein’s Family Giftshop this year, and it’s not hard to see why. Provided, that is, that you’ve seen them and marveled at the lines they’re willing to cross and physical lengths they go to to find what is funny. A location change was due after the Lass O’Gowrie closed down, but they have found a more than adequate home over the Irwell: The Kings Arms in Salford. Be sure to join them at their new venue, particularly as great arts spaces like the Kings are in short supply. Gein’s are joined in their new comedy outpost by stand-ups Lou Conran and Danny Sutcliffe.
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Unicorn Comedy Club ft. Vikki Stone (pictured) | The Unicorn | Wed 8 Jan | 8pm | £3
The first few weeks of January are usually known for their dearth of mirth, a time when people are concentrating on staying in and trying their best to not break that new year’s resolution to stop downing quarts of turps. And establishments duly oblige by offering nothing of worth to a punter that doesn’t exist. Not so at The Unicorn for their now-monthly comedy night, as they welcome brilliant musical comedian Vikki Stone to just their second night at the Church Street boozer. A phenomenal performer and Edinburgh darling, Stone is a talented musician as well as being absolutely hilarious. She is joined by Manchester comedy legend Des Sharples (Looking For Eric and Phoenix Nights), Demetris Deech (Jongleurs New Act Of The Year) and Yorkshire man abroad Jim Bayes, with the night hosted by Kieran Lawless. It’s a spectacular line-up, and if January is anything to go by, this is going to be a stellar year for the Unicorn Comedy Club.
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Comedy at Dulcimer ft. Noel James | Dulcimer, Chorlton | Thu 9 Jan | 7.30pm | £4
Usually a den for folk bands and ale drinkers to while away the hours in the subversive suburb of Chorlton, Wilbraham Road’s Dulcimer is putting on its first comedy night ever, and they’ve got a great line-up to kick off with. Headlining is Welsh surrealist Noel James, a droll gigantic lunatic who will hopefully crack out his blues rendition of Baa Baa Black Sheep (much funnier than it sounds). Ably supported by ‘East Coast Peter Kay’ Sam Harland and hosted by Jonathan Williams, Comedy at Dulcimer will hopefully go from strength to strength as the year goes on.
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Laugh Local w. Justin Moorhouse | Chorlton Irish Club | Fri 10 Jan | 8pm | £10
More comedy in Chorlton, this time from Justin Moorehouse and his friends at Laugh Local. Consistently solid line-ups last year ended with a top bill in December with John Gordillo, Saints of Humour and Junior Simpson, and they have seen fit to go on with just as a big of a line-up for the new year. As ever Mr Moorhouse will guide you through the evening’s frivolities (which also includes a pasty supper!) with help from Andy Robinson, Angela Barnes and rising star Tony Burgess. Well aware that January is a lean month, tickets have been reduced to just a tenner, and with a DJ following the comedy, you’ll be quids in.
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Trevor Noah | The Lowry | Sat 11 & Sun 12 Jan | 8pm | £15
Fresh from a record-breaking season of shows at London’s Soho Theatre, a sell-out season at the Fringe, and being by far the best thing on the ailing 8 out of 10 Cats in December, South African Trevor Noah brings his hit show The Racist to The Lowry. Tickets are in extremely limited supply, so much so you may have to go down to the Quays to check for returns – but this slick, intelligent and most importantly very, very funny show is well worth going the extra mile to see, and even getting the Metro.
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Thanks to @johnwinsagain