Sam Simmons Wins Top Melbourne Comedy Festival Award

Local comedian Sam Simmons has been recognised as the best performer at this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Simmons has won this year's prestigious Barry Award for his Spaghetti For Breakfast show which was described as "the perfect mix of absurd comedy and astute social commentary".

Simmons himself admitted he was trying to create a show that would stand out amongst the "vanilla" world of modern stand-up.

Other award winners announced by Festival organisers today include:

Golden Gibbo Award — Laura Davis (Ghost Machine)
Best Newcomer Award — Corey White
Director's Choice Award — Matt Okine (reviewed here)
People's Choice Award — Will Anderson
Piece Of Wood Award — Anne Edmonds (reviewed here)
Funny Tone — Sarah Trevarthen

The Barry Award is decided by a panel of judges and has been handed out since 1998 (although not called the Barry until 2000). Past winners include The Boosh, Ross Noble, Demetri Martin, Daniel Kitson, Sammy J & Randy and Denise Scott.