Michael Winslow Guest Blog

Every time I think about Scotland wonderful and colourful pictures and memories overwhelm my head. That's the very reason why the Americans built a Harry Potter theme park, complete with Hogwarts Castle to size, in Florida. It still does not compare, even though it is huge.

To get the chance to play Scotland is another one of those ultimate bucket list things people have for those who have never been there. My first experience was to go to Glasgow to the University, where the students and staff are absolute Police Academy and Space Balls fans, and made my visit and show a smash success. Even though it was a one-show stop, I realised that everyone went to great lengths to show my wife and myself great hospitality.

The only issue for me was how to be able to even try to match the quality of the fish and chips and batter that we were served in that restaurant down and around the corner from the university, whose name escapes me, in the building from the 1540s or earlier. It haunts me to the point where I have no choice but to return for more.

I saw a news travel article a while ago where the reporter was picking on Glasgow, and I beg to disagree. I have had such a great time here that I get the reason why people want to make movies there, which explains why Brad Pitt was there recently. Perhaps that unnamed critic should try his luck at the MMA dojos and learn a few things, then join me for dinner.

Glasgow makes you pay attention. The taxi driver was an excellent stand-up comedian himself, explaining why the Scottish accent was better than everyone elses... "Aye, but watch the @!**#% road mate, don't wanna die laughing!"

Thanks for sending us Craig Fergusson. No, really. We Americans watch him every night knowing full well that it is all off-the-top-of-the-head-without-a-net-below. Other stand-ups would kill to be able to do that.

The other thing is, I look forward to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer for my second time, complete with the Castle and 1500s building designs. Walking through the college there, I finally understand why J.K.Rowling wrote Harry's stories that way. I get it J.K. Brilliant. Just one thing though; I am not good with freezing weather, and need to eat more steaks to build up. The coldest winter ever for me was the summer I spent in beautiful bonnie Scotland. Sorry folks, but I got thermals under me Kilt. Keeps my whisky flask warm under there.

Massive respects to ya, Scotland :-)

Michael Winslow: The Man of 10,000 Voices is at the King's Theatre on Thursday 22 March

Howard Read (aka Big Howard) Guest Blog

As a stand-up comedian it’s always great to play Glasgow, and as a festival performer, it’s always lovely to go to Scotland and come home with your shirt.

My festival act, Big Howard and Little Howard, is almost exactly the same age as the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.  Both started ten years ago and both seemed like a ridiculous idea at the time: Glasgow was trying to start a comedy festival in Scotland that wasn’t the Edinburgh Fringe, and me trying to make a cartoon perform stand-up.

Over the years Their Stupid Idea has always been incredibly supportive of My Stupid Idea. The GICF (not sure I should call it that; sounds like a porn acronym to do with gimps) has always given me a stage to play on, paid me (which is surprisingly rare in the business of comedy festivals) and come up with great ways to let people know my show is on. 

Last time we came, the GICF Team arranged to for us to appear on STV’s The Hour (I can confidently say I’m the only cartoon boy Michelle McManus has ever interviewed) and this year they’ve come up with a doozy.  To celebrate the Glasgow International ComedyFestival’s 10th birthday and Little Howard’s 10th 6th birthday (it’s complicated) we’re doing something really cool at 10am on the 10th of March at the Apple Store, with my 10-year-old 6-year-old cartoon boy, and 10 ten-year-olds.  Full details aren’t confirmed yet but we did a test-run last week of the various ground-breaking bits of technology involved, and it worked a treat.  I’m actually looking forward to that stunt almost as much as I’m looking forward to the show itself, which is on the 24th of March at the King’s Theatre.

If you haven’t seen Little Howard have a look at www.littlehoward.co.uk, for kids we’ve done three series of Little Howard’s Big Question for CBBC and for adults we’ve been on The Royal Variety Performance, This Morning and Jay Leno amongst other things.

Little Howard will be recording a special Video Diary for the festival every week running up to our appearance.  The first one is here: 

Little Howard's BIG Question will be on at the King's Theatre on 24 March at 2.30pm. For more information and to book tickets, click here or call 0844 395 4005.

Get Set, Stand Up!

'What do you mean I get to stand on a stage and people have to listen to me? No matter what? ...cool!'

Giving teenagers free reign with a microphone can be a rollercoaster ride, but it's always worth the trip. Impact Arts are delighted to be working in partnership with the Glasgow International Comedy Festival for the third year running to provide young people aged 14-19 with the opportunity to break into comedy.

Currently in Scotland you may think that our young people don't have a lot to laugh about; high unemployment, lack of training and lack of opportunity dominates the newspaper  headlines. They could let this doom and gloom get to them, but that's not the Scottish spirit is it? No, not when we can make a sarcastic quip or spin a yarn about the 30th trip to the job centre. Smile and the world smiles with you. Impact Arts - Get Set, Stand Up workshops focus on introducing young people to stand-up comedy, boosting their confidence and giving them the opportunity to try something new - and who knows, perhaps the next Kevin Bridges or Daniel Sloss will be discovered.

The free workshops are tutored by Jay Lafferty, who was nominated for Best New Scottish Comedian at the Scottish Variety Awards in 2011. Jay says 'tutoring the Get Set, Stand Up workshops is one of the biggest highlights of my year - teenagers telling it like it is... how they see the world, no holds barred. The emotions are raw, they are very truthful and truth is far funnier than fiction. It's brilliant to be able to work with the participants building their confidence before seeing them get on stage for their first gig.'

Alongside Jay there will be a host of guest comedians dropping into the workshops, including Capital Radio's Des Clarke and the author of The Top 50 Greatest Scots Of All Time Ever Vladimir McTavish.

Last year 16-year-old Ryan Hughes took part in the course: 'Comedy has always been close to my heart and to get the chance to do it with Jay and the guys at Impact Arts was a chance I had to take. I'm so glad I did because it's helped me in so many ways; comedy has given me the chance to prove to audiences that the stereotypical view of someone being in a wheelchair isn't true. When I began the course it opened my eyes; here was something I could enjoy doing whilst learning new skills and making new friends. Basically comedy is now a big part of my life, I wouldn't have it any other way.'

This year's course starts on Thursday 1 March and runs every Thursday until the showcase performance on Thursday 29 March. For more information, or to apply, please contact msummers@impactarts.co.uk.

Mark Nelson Guest Blog

Every single year Scotland hosts a festival which showcases the biggest names in comedy from Britain and worldwide, attracts thousands of punters and is widely regarded as the finest festival comedy has to offer. Then in August, there's something on in Edinburgh as well apparently.


This will be my 8th year experiencing the Glasgow International Comedy Festival either as a performer or audience member. Doing the festival is far and away my favourite thing to be involved in as a comedian. Unlike Edinburgh I am not forced to live the rest of the year eating from bins because I have spent £92,000 hiring a sweaty basement for that oh-so-lucrative 2.15pm slot. Unlike Edinburgh I am not pacing around with insomnia, worrying that I'll be reviewed by some media degree w****r who, despite only doing it as work experience, actually holds my career in his hands. Unlike Edinburgh I can have a drink and a chat with people in the industry who I like, rather than every conversation being reduced to 'how's your numbers?'


Comedy should be fun and that is what makes Glasgow so unique; it is immense fun. The city prides itself on its sense of humour and this shines through at gigs. People often exaggerate about how hard a Glasgow crowd is and tell horror stories of even the best in the business dying in Glasgow. Rubbish. If you are funny, you will not receive a better reception from any other crowd in the world. Over the years I have literally every comedian of note perform at the festival, and every single one I have spoken to has loved it.


I've lived in the city for over 10 years now and it still excites me. The things which are intrinsic to Glasgow are what I love about it most. I like the mental boozers. I like the fact that drunken fools take the time to put a traffic cone on a bloke's head. I like salt and vinegar on my chips. That's why I think it's brilliant that it is host to not just the biggest, but by far the best, comedy festival in the world.


This year I will be performing my solo show at Oran Mor. As always it won't really be about anything in particular; it'll just be me having a laugh and saying funny things about what's been going on in the past 12 months. I'll see you there.


Catch Mark Nelson: Live and Unleashed at Oran Mor on Friday 30 March. For more information click here.