It's going to be a quiet one this month with half the comedians in the country up at the Edinburgh Fringe and a few clubs taking a break until next month. But Leeds, don't worry there's no need to resort to to watching re-runs Mock The Week on Dave there's plenty of live comedy to be seen this month by those not stopping because the month begins with the letters Augus...
Manford's Comedy Club, Pryzm, Sat Aug 1, £15
Jason Manford's nationwide comedy club continues to thrive in Leeds. Little brother Colin Manford takes the reins and introduces sets from Carl Hutchinson and Barry Castagnola. Geordie Hutchinson is an affable presence on the stand up scene who's supported the likes of Chris Ramsey and wrestler Mick Foley on tour. Meanwhile Barry Castagnola former member of spoof eco-warrior dance-music act Cyderdelic has more recently been seen climbing Kilimanjaro with Rhod Gilbert.
Comedy Cellar, Verve, Every Tuesday, Free
Regardless of big festivals going on north of the border the open mic night carries on its weekly residency at Verve. No excuses this month – get checking out the fresh new talent on the Leeds scene and those that are probably never going to make it but are giving it a shot regardless. So get down there and support your local comedy night.
Comedy Sessions, HiFi, Sat Aug 8, £10-£14
Dan Nightingale introduces the line up at the HiFi this weekend. Malawian comedian Daliso Chaponda is based over here but is so versatile an act that he's gigged not only in Canada where he lived for a while but in various countries in African including his native Malawi and a recent stint in Kenya. Andrew Bird meanwhile is a bankable presence on the circuit who in recent years has returned to the countryside of his youth.
Roger Monkhouse, Manford's Comedy Club – Pryzm, Sat Aug 1, £15
Monkhouse (no relation to Bob) is one of those comics who really should be better known than he is. Instead he's a crusading stalwart of the comedy circuit; place him in any room with any audience and he'll entertain them. In front of connoisseurs he's intelligent and innovation yet equally he can tame a bear pit of a room without too much compromise.
Jongleurs, Tiger Tiger, Fri 14 & Sat 15 Aug, from £16.50
Mid month line up at Jongleurs – bit white male heavy but check out this lot. Lovable Lancashire (don't hold that against him Yorkshire) comedian Mike Wilkinson, Welsh comic Tom Price as seen as a copper on Torchwood, the wide ranging John Newton and the live wire energy of Gordon Southern.
Comedy Sessions, HiFi, Sat Aug 22, £10-£14
Another fine line up at the HiFi. This week with Mickey Hutton and Bethany Black. If you're plenty old enough and happen to be a fan of the work of professional Geordie Jimmy Nail you'll probably recognise Hutton from his role as the potato-y monikered Spud Tate in Spender. Meanwhile Black was recently the first transgender woman to play a transgender woman in Russell T Davies' trio of series Cucumber, Banana and Tofu.
Kill for a Seat, Seven Arts, Wed Aug 26, £11 (£9 conc)
A double header with Dan Nightingale returning to Leeds alongside Robert White. Nightingale sprang onto the comedy scene firstly in Newcastle then Manchester and rose through the ranks fast – no surprise given his exuberant stage presence and ability to work a crowd. White has Asperger's giving a wonderful literal aspect to his comedy, he'll probably be playing the keyboard and insulting the front row and you'll love it. Eddie French guest comperes as KFAS's Silky is in, yep you guessed it, that there Edinburgh.
Jongleurs, Tiger Tiger, Fri 28 & Sat 29 Aug, from £16.50
Final weekend of the month at Jongleurs sees a performance from the highly camp and most often seen hanging about in bondage gear… Topping and Butch. Musical humour from the one with the ostentatious eyebrows and the cute one. Also on the bill are funny Brummie Andy White, the formerly Cyderdelic Barry Castagnola and local Dewsbury lad Craig Murray.