This year's Brisbane Comedy Festival is little more than a month away, kicking off at its traditional home of the Powerhouse Theatre on Tuesday, 24 February, and the 2015 celebration of all things stand-up comedy (and associated rib-tickling arts) has shaped up in strong form with an expansive line-up boasting some of the medium's best and brightest.
Among the drawcards on offer during the nearly month-long festival are veteran US comic Sandra Bernhard, New Mexico duo The Pajama Men, Brit comedian Paul Foot, and an A-list offering of locally bred laugh masters such as Celia Pacquola, Chris Wainhouse, Hannah Gadsby, Heath Franklin, Dave Thornton, Harley Breen, Rhys Nicholson, Fiona O'Loughlin, Wil Anderson, Mel Buttle, ex-triple j breakfast host Tom Ballard, current triple j breakfast host Matt Okine, and adoptive Aussie Cal Wilson, alongside many more.
Plus, we'd be remiss to not mention the annual Brisbane Comedy Festival Gala, which this year will be fronted by O'Loughlin, Okine, Ronny Chieng and Dave O'Neil - alongside additional as-yet unannounced acts — for an evening of introducing the hallowed corridors of City Hall to the sounds of laughter and other human emotions. The gala will be held on Saturday 28 February from 7pm, with adult tickets costing $55 (concessions $47).
Of course, there's far more on offer over the festival's three-and-a-bit-week duration — head to the official website for an exhaustive look at all the stand-ups and shows to keep you smiling from late next month.
