Aside from being a talented and influential singer/songwriter, Loudon Wainwright III has become a hip household name for his sense of humor. From the road where Loudon is polishing his new Netflix special, he confesses, “I’ve always liked making people laugh, if possible. I have friends that are comics and I certainly have watched a lot of stand up. When I perform, I have a guitar that acts as a fig-leaf and as a shield for protection—so I’m relaxed.”

With 23 albums under his belt, appearances on TV—including M.A.S.H and Judd Apatow’s underrated Undeclared—and a hilarious role as an irreverent …

David Spade is not just one of those guys that used to be on Just Shoot Me or SNL, he’s definitive, original and a huge influence on the zeitgeist of 2018. From a hard scrapple upbringing to a huge star in his twenties, Spade not only entertained us, he redefined what comedy is. You can trace the snarkiness that permeates the 21st Century to Spade’s “Hollywood Minute” segment during SNL news in 1992. Spade’s contribution to the world of comedy can’t be overlooked.

(Quick sidenote: there might be 6 degrees of separation between me and Kevin Bacon, but there’s only …

Big goings on for the 4th annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival on Saturday October 28th (and beyond).

It’s a SPOOKY Comedy Festival w/comedians from Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, Conan, Letterman, Better Call Saul and MORE!

ON Saturday October 28th 60 comics run around 10 venues in downtown Santa Cruz. Pick your favorite free venue and or see a ticketed show like:

David Liebe Hart (Tim and Eric Awesome Show) headlines The Atrium with Nervous Energy and DJ Real. With host Samantha Gilweit. Tickets here: http://www.catalystclub.com/event/1549075-david-liebe-hart-santa-cruz

Everyone deserves to laugh. So get out the door and downtown.

ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 28th

Free Comedy …

The big man will be at the Food Lounge on Saturday April 15th

Tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2922415

A brief bio of Barry Crimmins looks like this: Former Air America Radio writer and correspondent, internationally renowned political satirist and author of the acclaimed Seven Stories Press book Never Shake Hands With A War Criminal helped bring the Boston Comedy scene into the modern age when he founded two of Boston’s most fabled clubs: The Ding Ho and Stitches. Such acts as Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait, Kevin Meaney, Jimmy Tingle and many, many others cut their comedic teeth in the rooms …

Piff the Magic Dragon is a once in a lifetime experience. Before he was hatched as Piff in 2006, the man behind the dragon, John van der Put, studied Shakespeare and was a theatrical director.  Performing magic in the UK, Piff’s incredibly sardonic personality was born. Opening for Mumford and Sons and appearing on season 10 of America’s Got Talent, as Piff, solidified this comedy/magic act as gold. Cantankerous with a definite slant on the world, Piff is refreshing, candid and amazing.

See him at The San Jose Improv on November 4th, 5th and 6th Tix here: http://tinyurl.com/zfnt9uv

Did you start off …

The Third Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival returns with comedy shows at The Poet, The Kuumbwa, The Blue Lagoon, Rosie McCann’s, Metavinyl, 99 Bottles, The Rio Theatre, Streetlight Records and more.

On Saturday, October 15th, 75 comedians race around downtown Santa Cruz dropping hilarious sets at multiple venues. This is a unique fun festival for fans and comics. Tix for All Star Show at Kuumbwa here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2599184

Friday October 14th Neptunes Kingdom 7pm HIGH Stakes Comedy Min-Golf Tournament $10 Contact votedna@gmail.com to register

Saturday October 15th 10 Venues Dowtown* 75 Comics*

Headliner show at The Kuumbwa 8pm http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2599184

Pure Pleasure All Ladies Line …

Join us on April 23rd and 24th in Chico, California for another round of Comedy Festival excitement and laughter.

The festivities kick-off at 6pm on Saturday April 23rd with a FREE show in the Downtown Park Plaza. 35 comedians from all over California will attempt to make you laugh for 3 hours straight. Also featuring, skits, sketches and raffles this is a unique chance to share laughter with your community.

Then during the night of Saturday April 23rd comedians will be wandering around performing at different venues. Catch them starting at 9pm at B Street, Duffys Tavern and starting …

Barry Rothbart’s latest comedy album dropped several months ago and has a brand new Comedy Central special that airs September 5th. One of the original writers for Adam Devine’s House Party and a cast member on Punk’d, Rothbart appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street and has a new feature coming out at Sundance that is Demetri Martin’s directorial debut called Dean which stars comic Rory Scovel and actor Kevin Kline. The dude’s got chops and is appearing at The Crepe Place on August 27th. Check out the event page and attend: http://tinyurl.com/qcbvzhu

SUSC: What was your earliest comedy experience?

Barry: I’m from …

11 venues + 60 comics + 1 funny night . . .   at the 2nd Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival on  Saturday, October 10, 2015!

Be prepared to hop around downtown between 8:30-10:30pm for the simultaneous laughter happening at restaurants, bars, and retail shops throughout Santa Cruz at one of our free events … OR … plan in advance to park it at one of our ticketed boutique events at Kuumbwa Jazz Center or Pure Pleasure.

TICKETED BOUTIQUE EVENTS

“Next Wave of Comedy” All-Star Showcase at Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Bring your laughter and your appetite for fresh pie and a comfortable seat …

DNA’s Pop Up Comedy Club is coming to downtown Santa Cruz in July at the Center Stage Theatre from 7/18–8/1!!

All shows are appropriate for ages 16 and up and tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com

The series kicks-off on Friday, July 17 with a live recording session featuring The Santa Cruz Comedy Coalition, a troop of 30 local comedians who will perform their best five minutes of stand-up during two shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. A CD of the performances will be released later this year. Tickets are $10 at the door!

On Saturday, July 18, Larry “Bubbles” Brown takes …