Comedy: Anarchy and fun rules at Gittins To Know You

Anarchy and fun rules at Gittins To Know You

T here’s an off-the-beaten-comedy-track night that’s very much worth popping onto your radar. Deep in the heart of the Lanes, the traditionally music-led venue of Sticky Mike’s Frog bar turns into a comedy emporium for one night only each month, as the character of Brian Gittins hosts proceedings coupling a big (and we do mean ‘big’) name headliner with support from an off-the-wall established act, and open spots for some of the best rising local comics. This is Gittins To Know You.
First off, Brian Gittins is a marvellously unpredictable force of nature. You might have caught him previously on support dates for Ricky Gervais’ 2009 tour, spearheading anti-comedy at various gigs around town over the years, and generally prompting cheek-aching laughs at his misanthropic yet endearing persona. No one else is likely to introduce a ‘Live At The Apollo’-profile headliner with an impromptu ‘Who’s Got A Dead Mum’ straw poll of the audience, or pre-empt a support act introduction with an instantly created gameshow of ‘What’s That Up There?’. It’s all marvellously bizarre and random – and that’s something to know before you even step foot across the threshold of this club night.

Headlining this month’s line-up will be John Kearns, whose absurdist comedy won him the 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award, a year after being named best newcomer – the first act to achieve that in two consecutive years. He was also nominated for the Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Barry award in both 2014 and 2015. Utterly and completely different from anyone else around, and a real treat to catch in Brighton.
Previous headline acts have included Stewart Lee, Al Murray, Kerry Godliman, Greg Davies and Cardinal Burns. All under the radar. In fact, the best way to know about what’s coming up is to join the Gittins To Know You Facebook group. With promises of this year’s big name acts including Sam Simmons, Paul Foot, Stewart Lee and Brett Goldstein, you’d be mad to miss any of them.
Gittins To Know You, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Thursday 18 February, 7.30pm, £8, www.wegottickets.com