The nominations have been announced and the competitive end of the festival is here.  Here’s the low-down.
The Barry Awards – 2009 Nominees

Tim Minchin (AUS) – Ready For This?
Rich Hall (USA) – Otis Lee Crenshaw Featuring Special Guest Rich Hall
Wilson Dixon (AUS) – Wilson Dixon Rides Again
Sarah Millican (UK) – Sarah Millican’s Not Nice
Asher Treleaven (AUS) – Open Door (Moosehead Award Recipient)
The Pajama Men (USA) – Versus vs Versus
Henning Wehn & Otto Kuhnle (DEU) – 1000 Years of German Humour
The Golden Gibbo – 2009 Nominees

Heath McIvor – Randy’s Postcards from Purgatory
Rob …

In no particular order, here are our Top 5 suggestions for shows which break out of the stand-up mould to offer you something a little different.
1. Denise Scott – Number 26
Sit back, relax and put your metaphoric comfy nightie on so you can join Scott in her jaunt down memory lane.  Part stand-up, part storytelling with a dash of showbiz thrown in, this show is one you’ll remember long after you’ve rushed off to the next gig.
2. Wilson Dixon Rides Again
If you haven’t seen a Wilson Dixon show before, you’ll …

If there’s one issue that gets comics hot under the collar as a collective group, it’s reviews and reviewers.  As the festival begins, they’re keen to get media outlets into the audience in order to get a review.  After the reviewer has been and the review is written, often their attitude can change significantly.  The same performer once complaining that nobody will come review their show can now be found spilling bile and hatred for reviewers one-and-all.  It’s a phenomenon that is pretty unique to comedy, and as somebody who …

PiP is the young creative genius behind the shows Hypnolarious and The Funny Side of Prestidigitation, which are an exhilarating blend of comedy, magic and hypnotism. The Pun’s Kym Poxon caught up with him at Glitch bar, an intimate venue perfect for a magic extravaganza and home to his show The Funny Side of Prestidigitation.
Where did you grow up, and when did you start performing?
I am a Sydney boy, growing up just south of the inner city. I pretty much have been doing something in the performing arts my whole …

In no particular order, here are the Top 5 Australian television personalities it’s worth shelling out your money to see live.
1. Adam Hills
Don’t get us started on Adam Hills.  We’re fans.  Big fans.  While he sometimes cops it for being “too nice”, Hills is a rare comic.  He remains relevant, likable and cheeky in just the right doses.  His many years of performing to live audiences all over the world have helped him become one of the most consistent, crowd-friendly shows you’ll find in the festival.  Never failing to meet …

Festival Club is a place of magic.  We won’t run you through the folklore of previous years to make you jealous over what you missed, but we will mention that they include nakedness, manic sing-alongs and your favourite headliners cutting loose both on stage and on the dance floor.
This year Festival Club also has some exclusives to offer.  Each week a new headline act will take the stage for four nights only, traveling all the way from America to make us laugh.  And you won’t see them anywhere else.  Week …

The first in our series of Top 5 recommendation series, this year we begin with the ladies who will make you laugh.
There are some damn funny ladies who perform in this country.  In no particular order, we suggest:
1.    Upfront
Previously known as Upfront 8 (owing to the fact that eight performers usually graced the stage), Upfront is testament to the breadth of female talent in comedy.  No longer a show featuring eight comics, it has now expanded to offer more ladies and more laughs.  A great opportunity to see a range …

Only one big sleep until the Melbourne International Comedy Festival officially begins.  Luckily for us, we’re starting our festival by seeing a preview show.  Preview shows are a great way to see an inexpensive performance and get your festival started with a bang.  Luckily for you, and us, we’ve scored you some free tickets for preview shows.  The only thing better than a good show is a good free show!
For those interested in free tickets or special offers, you should be checking us out on twitter, which is where we …