Laughs guaranteed at Stockton Weekender as comedic acts confirmed

Festival stalwarts The New Rope String Band and Perrier nominated comedian Alun Cochrane have been added to the bill for this years Stockton Weekender, Fri 3 – Sun 5 August.

The two acts are the first to be announced from the brand new Tees Active Cabaret Tent bill. The tent will feature a mixture of comedy, music and a few other surprises too.

Saturday’s Tent headline, The New Rope String Band, capture the essence of the tent entirely, combining superb musicianship with side-splitting comic genius, they are truly unique entertainers.

Elements of circus, clowning, vaudeville, slapstick and sheer inspired silliness are spliced with beautiful acoustic music from various world traditions, in precision-honed yet uproarious performances that have delighted audiences from Borneo's Sarawak rainforest to the Shetland Folk Festival.

From musical tennis to deconstructed nursery rhymes, Python-esque absurdism to pyrotechnics and live, interactive film, expect the hilariously unexpected.

Sunday night sees the Perrier award nominated and Edinburgh Fringe favourite Alun Cochrane headline the tent, adding his surreal and observational hilarity to proceedings.

Alun is known from TV including BBC One's Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Have I Got News For You, BBC Two’s Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Mock The Week, Channel 4's 8 Out Of 10 Cats, and headlining Live At The Comedy Store on Comedy Central.

Alun is an Edinburgh Festival regular and after a barrage of four and five star reviews at last years run he has been touring the UK with his show ‘Moments of Alun’ to packed crowds. "A master storyteller, holding the audience before dropping an exploding but simple punchline..." Metro

Festival organiser Paul Burns said “We’re delighted to confirm these acts for Cabaret Tent. The New Rope String Band are a festival favourite across the world, and perfectly capture what the tent is all about, and Alun Cochrane has real pedigree and keeps the tradition of top comedians at the festival going.”

More acts have also been confirmed for the music stages. Headlining the Second Stage on Saturday 4 August is Sheffield 4 piece, and 6Music favourites, The Crookes, with Willy Mason set to perform just before them.

Teesside heroes Young Rebel Set are also added to the Main Stage bill on Saturday, alongside The Pogues, We Are Scientists and The Go! Team.

More local talent gets an airing on Sunday as the luscious Cattle & Cane are set to woo crowds. Soulful rockers The Milk have also been confirmed to play on Sunday 5 with acts James, Simon & Oscar of Ocean Colour Scene and Hyde & Beast.

Tickets available from here