In the weeks building up to Edinburgh, there are OVER NINE THOUSAND comedy previews a day. Finding the best ones can be difficult. So it's a good job that Londonist knows its comedy! Go to at least four of these shows this week:
Monday 14th: This Sketch Show Belongs to Lionel Richie proved themselves expert at guerilla advertising at the Fringe last year, when hundreds of stickers bedecked lampposts, toilets and vending machines declaring that Lionel Richie owned them. Their comedy is every bit as creative and original. They even host a dial-a-sketch show - phone them, and they'll travel to you to perform! Fans of cutting edge comedy will have great fun at this Camden preview. Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, Camden, NW1. 7.30pm, £6.50.
Tuesday 15th: Girl and Dean (pictured) play in Little Venice tonight. This two-piece sketch act are every bit as twee, lovely and funny as you could ever hope for an act to be. Their shows feature plenty of hand-made props, knitted beards, and intelligent sketches which all fans of indie comedy will enjoy immensely. Expect to leave the venue with a warm heart and a skip in your step. (Girl and Dean on YouTube) Canal Cafe Theatre, Delamere Terrace, Little Venice, W2. 7.30pm. Tickets: 0207 289 6054.
Thursday 17th: A very strong double-bill of previews tonight, firstly from Stuart Black, with his show "Pale and Confused". Stuart is a dark, sharp and highly witty stand-up who will greatly appeal to fans of Bill Hicks and Lenny Bruce. We've already seen this preview once, and are happy to confirm that it's a genuine treat. Joining him are Two Episodes of Mash, who present a gloriously shambolic array of belly-laugh sketches. The duo features Diane Morgan and Joe Wilkinson, two Hackey Empire New Act winners who have been generating a lot of interest on the circuit. (Stuart on YouTube, Joe on YouTube) The Red Hedgehog, 255-257 Archway Road, Highgate N6. 8.30pm, £7.
Friday 18th: Danny Robins is an exposer of psuedo-science, tricker of TV execs, Radio 1 DJ, Culture Show reporter and all-round Funny Man. Tonight in Camden he previews Dannyfest, his own one-man indoor music festival. It sounds like Glastonbury but with less mud and less Jay-Z, which has to be good news. Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, Camden NW1. 9pm, £7.50.
