Here's one of those list things all about July. It's the month formerly known as Quintilis. It starts on the same day of the week as April each year (no imagination). It's the warmest month in the northern hemisphere (someone might like to tell Yorkshire that). It's the month of the year with the most Edinburgh previews in it. There's loads of comedy in it. So that's enough July lists, here's some comedy.
Luisa Omielan, City Varieties, Fri July 3, £14.10
Omielan takes 'Am I Right Ladies?', her sass-tastic follow up to her critically acclaimed international hit of a début show What Would Beyoncé Do?', on tour. Omielan's Beyoncé show began life in a small upstairs room of a pub on the Free Festival at the Edinburgh Fringe, so when she followed it up a couple of years later she decided to perform it in a larger room in the upstairs of a pub with the same free model. The queues were out the door.
Chris Ramsey, The Wardrobe, Fri July 3, £10, £8 conc.
Doesn't seem like five minutes since the star of BBC's 'Hebburn' and a 'Celebrity Juice' regular was plying his trade on the comedy circuit. Here he is warming up to a national wide tour which includes an 11 night run at the Fringe in a big theatre – as opposed to a full month in a cupboard. It's a mark of success – you could say he's 'All Growed Up.'
Jimmy Carr, Leeds Town Hall, Fri July 3, £25
The Carr juggernaut rumbles on. Here he is with another date from his latest tour 'Funny Business'. Expect tidy one liners, downright cheekiness, an excessively neat hair do and some paid tax bills. You can't say you weren't warned.
Comedy Sessions, HiFi Club, Sat July 4, £10 - £14
Another fine line up at The HiFi. This week there's Manchester's own cheeky chappy Justin Moorhouse who's come along way since his visual gag involving a tiny T-shirt. Then there's inherently funny Canadian ex-pat now in the UK John Hastings and ebullient Scouser Brendan Riley – if you're lucky he'll call you 'sausage.'
Comedy Cellar, Verve, Tue July 7 (and every Tuesday), Free
You know the drill by now, grab a beer, take a seat and check out the stars of the future. Or some guys who probably have no chance of making it as a pro comic but are having a whale of a time regardless. Lend them all your support.
Sitting Room Comedy, Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen, Thu July 9, £10
Tom Taylor's fine comedy nights on tour from his native Harrogate. This month the wonderfully idiosyncratic Harriet Dyer takes on the compering honours and introduces the Glasgow born but Yorkshire bred storyteller Alun Cochrane, cheeky geezer with some solid gags Paul McCaffrey the delightfully giddy Brennan Reece who's surely set for a bright future.
Kevin Precious and Alfie Moore, Carriageworks, Sat July 11, £10.50 (£8.50 conc.)
A double header of problem solving Edinburgh preview shows from the pair. In 'Gecko', former RE teacher Precious has a falling out with a Brighton new age type, muses on a Facebook request from a comedian associate who's doing very well and conjures a possible metaphysical solution to his woes. Meanwhile copper on sabbatical Moore is spending his time coming up with ideas to solve the police force's problems in 'A Fair Cop Stands Up.'
Alan Carr, Grand Theatre, Sun July 12, £33
Carr's 'Yap, Yap, Yap' tour continues. He may be most famous for being able to talk the hind legs off the proverbial donkey but there's far more to Carr than that. From day one he was a natural comedian, jokes tumbling out at a breathless old rate. Gone are the routines about Eastenders' Ethel's dog for a hat and a trip out on the Jesus Army bus but he's still got glorious silliness in shed loads.
Comedy Kaiju, Wharf Chambers, Wed July 15, Free
Special guest MC Catherine Scott presents the last of the special Edinburgh preview nights. This month it's the turn of Peter Brush showcasing his 'Older Than the Oldest Dog That Ever Lived'. Plus performances from resident MC Dave Rivers and Lulu Reubens.
Scottish Falsetto Socks, Carriageworks, Fri July 17, £10.50 (£8.50)
Who knew there'd be so much anarchic, shambling fun in a pair of socks with ping pong balls for their mad staring eyes. A regular at the Edinburgh Fringe, indeed something of an institution these days, the footwear duo have had many adventures over the years but this year they play pun homage to Dennis Potter (of course, who else?) with 'The Minging Detectives'.
Jongleurs, Tiger Tiger, Fri 17 & Sat 18 July, from £16.50
A fine line up from Jongleurs settling into to their venue. Tim Fitzhigham truly is one of the last great British eccentrics having sailed the Channel in a bath, Robert White fizzes with energy and there's a flying by the seat of his pants quality, Nick Page is a disgraced former TV presenter and if you're lucky he'll tell you about it plus Eddy Brimson who certainly knows how to work a crowd.
Sitting Room Comedy Edinburgh Previews, Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen, Sun July 19, £5
Two Fringe preview shows from two great stand ups. Canadian Tony Law delighted on the circuit with his crazy farm boy comedy for a fair few years before the comedy establishment caught on, now he's considered one of the best – and still just as mad, thankfully, in 'Frillemorphesis'. Paul Sinha was producing thought provoking shows before he got his big break from an unexpected source – he's The Chaser in the white suit on the ITV quiz show. But he's still a stand up at heart - here he presents 'Postcards From The Z List.'
Manford's Comedy Clubs, Pryzm, Fri 24 & Sat 25 July, £15
This weekend at Jason Manford's comedy club Chester comic Danny McLoughlin introduces the acts. Benny Boot has a deliciously crazed air about him - bug eyed and gesticulating. The winner of the prestigious Chortle Student Comedian of the Year last year Jamali Maddix plus seasoned Geordie gagster Gavin Webster with a great laid back drawl.
Comedy Sessions, HiFi Club, Sat July 25, £10 - £14
Comedy Session has been running at the HiFi Club since 2001, booked by House of Fun Comedy over the years it's seen many pass through included some now household names like John Bishop, Russell Howard and the aforementioned Manford. This week there's another face seen on the telly - BBC Hebburn's writer and star Jason Cook plus Newcastle based rising star Tony Jameson and a special guest.
Kill for a Seat, Seven Arts, Wed July 29, £11 (£9 conc
Another Leeds outing for Canadian John Hastings at this lovely gig. Performing for almost a decade now Hastings is a vibrant skilful comedian who a fine improviser too. Seasoned Australian comedian and writer on 'The Last Leg' Adam Vincent also performs plus guests and of course your compere, the wonderful Silky.
Words: Marissa Burgess