GRINSTOCK COMEDY CLUB - April 11th 2019

Grinstock brings you a night of comedy like no other for miles around, now with our double headliner shows that started last month and continue for the rest of the season. April 11th see's two international comedians filling our DOUBLE HEADLINER slots at this month, firstly the incredible Mark Palmer, one of South Africa's most in demand comedians comes to the UK and graces the stage at Grinstock, "clean, classy and clever" Mark Palmer is an comedian act not to be missed.  

Our Second Headliner this month is the truly awesome and legendary American Comedian Al Lubel, Al's comedy CV is amazing in itself, having supported none other than Jerry Seinfeld on tour. As well as being one of the last comedians to appear on the Tonight Show with  Johnny Carson (making six more appearances with Jay Leno and five appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman). 

A regular at the world famous New York Improv Comedy Club, Al's a true comedy great and we're super excited to have him perform with us. On top of that we have the awesome Russell Hicks, one of the hottest comedy talents in the UK right now, as our resident MC. 

Lastly but by no means least we have Brighton based female comedian Janet Garner, regarded by Russell Kane as "the bollocks" (excuse the phrase, it's not what we said). Janet Garner is a fast rising new comedian who's been getting huge reviews all over the country with her no-nonsense, down to earth style, Janet turns preconceptions about 'the older lady' on their head. This woman is laugh out loud, spill your drink funny.

It's an incredible night and one truly not to be missed, we've 10 years of comedy behind us and over 300 shows, for us this really is one of the  most exciting shows we've done. 

Doors: 7pm (Get in early it's a busy night with over 200 per month through the door)

Comedy Starts: 8pm 

Please see below for all the info on all the acts performing.

MC RUSSELL HICKS

Guest Appearance on NBC’s “Before The Morning After”

One of the ‘Top Six Comics to Watch’ by LA’s Stand Up Talk Magazine

Appearances on LA based panel show Direct TV’s ‘What’s News?’

A regular guest on hit podcast -Talkin’ Sh*t with Eddie Ifft.

One of the most exciting comics to come out of America, Russell Hicks is branded one of the 'Top Six Comics to Watch' by LA's Stand Up Talk Magazine. He has appeared on LA based panel show Direct TV's 'What's News?' and is a regular guest on hit podcasts such as Talkin' Sh*t with Eddie Ifft.

Headlining the nationally acclaimed student circuit in the United States, Russell regularly takes his hour long solo shows across the country to the biggest universities. Prolific and consistently delivering quality new work, audience members are often compelled to return for two nights in a row. Fast and loose, no two shows are ever the same.

He really is a force to be reckoned with, he holds a unique ability to perform with no prewritten material or jokes, a true master of comedy and an electric performance is always assured whenever he performs.

What the press have to say:

"Hicks has a sharp wit.. the pessimism of Jack Dee mixed with the deadpan aggression of Denis Leary. A rip roaring night of tough love from a witty comedian ****", Broadwaybaby.com - Aug-2014

“Russell was great last night in Cranbrook – doing a middle spot between Gary Delaney and Bob Mills was a tall order but he carried it off with aplomb. Given his performance I would be happy to have him at any of my clubs anytime” Lonestar Comedy

"Russell Hicks was a surprising highlight for me – American standup who wove wide-ranging improvisation and interaction with the crowd with deprecating jokes about American stereotypes and a wry swipe back at British culture... very funny.", Ashbourne Voice - Jul-2014

"Russell Hicks is Amazing", Comedy Palace

 “a gift – very funny” Stand Up Talk

“Russell Hicks is Amazing” ADN

“He had us in stitches.. nonstop laughs” NoFrillsThrills

“One of the Top Six Comics to Watch” Stand Up Talk Magazine

JANET GARNER (Newcomer)

“If Eastenders was anything like this, we'd all be watching it.” - Comedy store Manchester

“Janet is the bollocks.” - Russell Kane

Well on her way to being a staple act in UK comedy – Little Smash Comedy

With her no-nonsense, down to earth style, Janet turns preconceptions about 'the older lady' on their head. This woman is laugh out loud, spill your drink funny. Her voice has been described as “a beautiful reminder of a London that's all but disappeared,” but her comedy is contemporary and relevant.

Since giving stand-up comedy a go in 2014 and deciding she liked it, Janet has performed in such far-flung, exotic places as Southend on Sea, Brixton and Salford A force to be reckoned with, she is building up an unstoppable momentum. If you've already seen her...then you'll know what the buzz is all about.

If you haven't seen her... then do it... you'll find out.

What the press have to say:

"In an industry dominate by white, middle-class males, Janet is a complete breath of fresh air. With an instant likability and East end-esq charm that can't be taught, she can control a room better than some of the most established club comics I've worked with. I have no doubt that Janet is well on her way to becoming one of the staple acts on the UK comedy scene, sooner rather than later." - Ross McGrane. Little Smash Comedy

“Janet strolled onto the stage with confidence, armed with gags galore, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand and left to a huge applause. A bright career in comedy surely beckons.” - Jimmy Bird-Promoter Birdies Comedy

MARK PALMER (Headliner 1)

One of South Africa’s most in demand comedians

‘Clean, Classy & Clever’ – Cape Argus, South Africa

‘Highlight of my night’ – Josh Greer, Stroud News

Mark Palmer is one of a rare breed of comedians: he can make you laugh without having to pepper his routine with expletives or venture too far below the belt. He’s great at slice-of-life comedy, and deftly gives a wide range of subjects a sharp nudge in the ribs…

For 12 years Mark Palmer built up a reputation as one of South Africa’s most in demand comedians for three main reasons, being “Clean, classy and clever” (Cape Argus).

With a comedic voice heavily influenced by Jerry Seinfeld, Mark’s ability to blend a theme or topic with one of today’s funniest comedy routines is unparalleled. His smart, sometimes loud and often opinionated brand of comedy has made him an audience favourite wherever he performs.

As Jerry Seinfeld said, “Funny is funny. Clean humour, if it’s good, works anywhere.” It doesn’t matter that Mark Palmer happens to be clean. He’s funny. And funny is the thing that matters when you’re watching a comedian. And having a comedian that is both clean and funny is a rare thing. But you are thinking it must be difficult to work clean all the time, right? “Clean comedy is easy. Funny comedy is hard.” Mark is both.

 ‘Clean, classy, clever … a genuinely likeable guy … his delivery smooth and well-pitched’ - Cape Argus

‘South African comic Mark Palmer proving the highlight of my night. His jokes were told as part of a story and each segued perfectly into the next – some audience members were laughing so much they actually had to leave the room to recover’ - Josh Greer, Stroud News & Journal

AL LUBEL (headliner 2)

‘One of the best jokes I have ever heard’ - Jerry Seinfeld

‘A terrifically funny comedian’ - David Letterman

Amused Moose Judges Prize Winner 2013

‘The most original 10 minutes I’ve ever seen’ – Adam Bloom

Winner of the Amused Moose Judges Prize for his 2013 Edinburgh show, yet one of the last comics to appear on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (making six more appearances with Jay Leno and five appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman), Al Lubel daringly straddles the worlds of quirky and original material lapped up by critics and TV-ready comedy watched by millions. He’s supported Jerry Seinfeld, who kindly mentioned “Al has one of the best jokes I have ever heard” and recently fellow comic Adam Bloom gave him high praise by saying Al had “the most original first ten minutes of comedy I’ve ever seen.”

Al Lubel became a lawyer to satisfy his mother. He then quit the law and became a stand-up comedian to satisfy his need to disappoint her. Al practiced law during the day and comedy at night. Getting stage time is hard for a new comic so Al would suddenly stand up in the middle of restaurants and do his act. And as he says, “I almost always got big laughs because I had everyone’s complete attention because everyone was scared that I might hurt them.” Al gradually began getting work at comedy clubs and within a year he won the $100,000 Comedy Grand Prize on television’s Star Search.

Al’s solo show, Mentally Al, won the Amused Moose Award Judges Prize as the best one person show in the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Two years later he was nominated for best performer of a solo show by the Barry Awards at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Doing the Tonight Show was a childhood fantasy, so Al auditioned and became one of the last comics to appear with Johnny Carson. He went on to make six more appearances with Jay Leno and five appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman. Al was the subject of the documentary, A Standup Life, directed by Peter Lydon for the BBC. A documentary about American stand-up comedy, it features Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Hope, Mort Sahl and Joan Rivers. Al has played an attorney on the Blake Clark HBO Comedy Hour. He has also played played Bill Walton’s sidekick in the the ESPN series, Bill Walton’s Long Strange Trip.

What the press have to say:

Unimaginable neuroses, spiralling self-reflection, towering mother issues … all your favourites. But boy does he bring it all together into one truly brilliant comedy show. Paul Fleckney, London Is Funny

Al Lubel takes all of the attributes that gave his 2013 show such cult appeal and does more of them, marrying existential angst, metaphysical enquiry and lexical mischief for a performance quite unlike anyone else at the Fringe. - Jay Richardson, Scotsman

‘A cult superstar in the making’ - Bruce Dessau, Beyond the Joke/Evening Standard