From July 8-12 Bristol's picturesque Queen Square will be hosting five nights of laughs, revelry and bewildering performances out on the lawns. Bristol Comedy Garden is set to return for its fifth year and this year it's a gathering full of wonderfully weird delights, drawing comedy lovers and – hopefully – some sunshine. Here's our pick of the talents that will be gracing the garden:
Aisling Bea, Wed Jul 8
Aisling Bea's high-energy performances animate her life with a touch of blunt whimsy. After graduating with a degree in French and Philosophy, Bea has gone on to appear in ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ and to write for radio and television.
Follow Aisling's amusing musings on Twitter @weemissbea
Mark Watson, Sat Jul 11
Mark Watson, with his self-interrupting style, delivers punchlines so naturally they seem spontaneously improvised. A home-grown Bristolian (doing a Welsh accent) Mark tells quirky tales of the awkward situations he gets into.
Follow Mark Watson on Twitter @watsoncomedian
David O'Doherty, Fri Jul 10
A tiny keyboard is David O'Doherty’s calling card and his songs are well established both in the UK and across the pond. It’s near impossible to hear his monotone verse without relating to the stories they tell.
Follow David O’Doherty on Twitter @phlaimeaux
Doc Brown, Thu Jul 9
Doc Brown started out on the UK underground grime scene and quickly became recognised for his cheeky, witty style. His skill lies in his ability to make the most mundane aspects of day-to-day life hilarious. He finds the funny side of social ills but leaves you with something to think about, so it's no surprise that he got behind Lowkey. For another taste of Doc Brown, check out his guide to rap slang.
Follow Doc Brown on Twitter @docbrown88
Katherine Ryan, Wed Jul 8
A fledgling on the comedy scene, Katherine Ryan first stood behind the mic in her late teens whilst studying city planning and working at Hooters. Her mischievous parodies of pop culture are a tribute to the celebrity world she's entered, with great comic timing. She’s sunny and sweet on the outside, but her performances show her devious side.
Keep up to date with Katherine’s adventures on Twitter @kathbum
Other unmissable acts include Time Out Comedy Award-winner Stephen K Amos, Stewart Lee, Sean Locke, Adam Buxton, Sara Pascoe and Shappi Khorsandi.
What else?
Not only will there be a delightful gaggle of comedy's wittiest lads and lasses, but between giggles the Comedy Garden will provide scrumptious street food, live bands and, of course, plenty of Magners cider to wash it all down.
Need more comedy in your life? Our Time Out London colleagues have a guide to Udderbelly in London this summer.