A new month brings the return of some old faces and a first tour for an up and comer as Manchester’s comedy scene continues to return brighter than ever.

Comedy Balloon | Wed 1 Sep | 8pm | FREE

The original and best open mic night in the city is back and features a couple of familiar faces as well as the best up and comers in the city. Patrons of the Comedy Balloon from days gone by will remember the firebrand that is Liam Pickford who often graced the stage at The Ape and Apple as he crafted his inimitable style back in his salad days. Who knows whether his wonderful meandering mind has been calmed and streamlined by his time away from the Manchester circuit but he’s always a unique performer who’s more than welcome back any time.

Ape & Apple, 28 John Dalton Street, Manchester
A Lovely Time with Chris Washington | Sat 4 Sep | 7pm | £14

Another of the Manchester circuits success stories in Chris Washington will be back this weekend, headlining new(ish) night A Lovely Time at GRUB’s event space Chapeltown Picture House. After a great couple of years where he has appeared on Mock the Week and Live at the BBC, Chris will be joined by Hayley Ellis, Liam Bolton and A Lovely Time host Amy Gledhill (one half of The Delightful Sausage). Read our full preview here.

Chapeltown Picture House, GRUB, 50 Red Bank, M4 4HF
Ignacio Lopez | Sun 5 Sep | 7pm | £10

Social media sensation and Spanish-Welsh comedian Ignacio Lopez is taking his acerbic, hilarious and defiantly anti-English stand-up show on the road. He’ll be stopping at the Frog & Bucket this Sunday to dole out insults so cutting and correct that you can’t help but be in fits of laughter. His videos have racked up millions of views across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and it’s not hard to see why as he so accurately skewers British and Spanish life from both inside and out.

Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, 102 Oldham St, Manchester, M4 1LJ, Tel: 0161 2369805
Wed 1 Sep - Sun 5 Sep
Words:
John Stansfield
Published on:
Mon 30 Aug 2021