Having bagged yet another belly busting line-up of award winning comedians for this year’s Comedy Club, Larmer Tree Festival can now announce the full Comedy line up. The four sterling headliners for this year’s Larmer Tree Comedy Club are: Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner 2010 Russell Kane; British institution and everyone’s favourite Grumpy Old Man Arthur Smith, the enthusiastic and mischievous Phil Nichol and the sparky and endearing wit of Andi Osho. In addition to the comedy line-up announcement, Larmer Tree have another truck load of new artists to reveal including, energetic Malian guitarist  Vieux Farka Touré, icons of the ska revival The Selecter with Pauline Black, New Zealand’s psychedelic pop troupe The Phoenix Foundation and the prince of British Bangra Jassi Sidhu, plus many more. 

With a Comedy Club that has seen the likes of Rich Hall, Sean Hughes, David O’Doherty and Russell Howard take to the mic and bring the house down, Larmer Tree Festival has gained a reputation over the past few years of having one of the best comedy line-ups on the festival calendar, and 2011 backs up this accolade! 

The first headliner to be announced for 2011 is Russell Kane, a multi-talented writer and performer who has firmly established himself as one the best comics in the UK today. Currently on a sell-out national tour with his award winning show, Russell has been described as “Probably the most exciting comic discovery of the year” by Chortle and “a performer with the instincts of a rabble-rouser" by Time Out. Next on the bill is national treasure Arthur Smith. Often found spread across the BBC on TV and radio shows like QI, Have I Got News for You, Grumpy Old Men and many more, Arthur is a comedian, writer, broadcaster and all-round British institution. Known for his sublime playfulness he is bursting with jokes, anecdotes, short stories, poems and songs. Accompanying Arthur Smith and Russell Kane as headliners for the rib tickling pleasure of the Comedy Club’s audience are two other truly unique performers; Phil Nichol, an acclaimed actor, award winning comedian, producer, presenter, writer and musician, there is just no end to this man’s talent!  With a surreal edge to some of his mischievous rantings, he always brings something new to the stage with his keen sense of fun and eye for the shocking and absurd. Lastly but by no means least, is the cheeky, quick witted and effervescent Andi Osho, winning the prestigious Nivea Funny Women award in 2007, she has since then made a big splash on the comedy scene.  As well as an established performer on the stand up circuit, Andi is a popular guest on radio and TV. “Translating Osho’s words to the page doesn’t do her proper justice… her work is visual, narrative and pivots on her perfect delivery.”  The Guardian.

Additional acts in the bag for this year are; multi award-winning Scotsman Phil Kay with his marvelous freewheeling stand-up; Yorkshire funny man Tom Wigglesworth; guitar-playing comedian Rob Deering; nominee for Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award 2010 for Best Newcomer Gareth Richards. The Awesome winners of the Chortle Award for best sketch show 2011 Late Night Gimp Fight; 2010 Winners of The Hackney Empire New Act of the Year and the Musical Comedy Awards Abandoman; Major break-through comedy actress and emerging queen of the sitcom Sara Pascoe and finally, the big characters, inventive sketches and fast-paced fun of Wittank. All will be held together by the up and coming young comperes; James Acaster, Iain Stirling, Fergus Craig and Joel Dommett.

On top of announcing the first wave of comedy gold to grace the gardens of Larmer Tree, there are also some new exciting acts to unveil! Joining Seasick Steve, Imelda May, Asian Dub Foundation, Stornoway and many others on the eclectic and hand-picked line up for 2011 Larmer Tree are pleased as punch to announce the appearance of Vieux Farka Touré. The son of one of the uncontested trailblazers of African music, the late Ali Farka Touré, and a major artist in his own right Vieux has earned himself the nickname of ‘the Hendrix of the Sahara’ and played to millions worldwide when he was invited to perform at the World Cup opening concert in South Africa in 2010. Another new addition the ever expanding Larmer Tree line up are two-tone ska funksters The Selecter. With the full band line up reuniting in the summer of 2010, Pauline Black regrouped with Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson as The Selecter for the 30th Anniversary of their no. 5 UK album "Too Much Pressure". Get ready for hits such as Gangsters vs. The Selecter, On My Radio and the ska anthem Three Minute Hero. Also added to the bill are; New Zealand’s The Phoenix Foundation with their psychedelic pop that has been described as Byrds meets the Beach Boys with a bit of Fleet Foxes’ haziness. British Bhangra sensation Jassi Sidhu joins the line up alongside the eccentric and flamboyant spectacle of Gabby Young and Other Animals who fuse gypsy, folk, jazz and rock. Honorary member of the large Larmer family, Legendary DJ Derek will be on hand to hypnotise the peacocks and patrons alike with his patois banter and epically large ska and reggae funk trunk! 

With all of this (and much more) packed into five days of pure discovery and escapism, Larmer Tree HQ have been working hard to ensure that the first day’s activities set the standard! On the opening day of the festival, Wednesday 13th July, Jools Holland and his 24 piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with his very special guest Sandie Shaw will be joined by: the funky voiced Hannah Williams with her soul infused Tastemakers starting and ending the evening to ensure it’ll be a night to remember for all the right reasons; Scoundrels, a young London based blues band who are already well on the road to future stardom;  the fantastic C W Stoneking who began playing guitar at the age of 11, and during his teens soaked up pre-war acoustic blues, jazz and calypso to create his own unique style - and he’ll be doing two sets; finally, don’t miss the juggling beatboxer sensation that is Vid Warren!


FULL MUSIC LINE UP SO FAR:Seasick Steve, Jools Holland and his R&BO with special guest Sandie Shaw, Imelda May, Ozomatli, Asian Dub Foundation, Bellowhead, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Seth Lakeman, Stornoway, Show of Hands Vieux Farka Touré, Caitlin Rose, The Selecter with Pauline Black, Batucada Sound Machine, C W Stoneking, The Phoenix Foundation, Watcha Clan, Jassi Sidhu, Spiers and Boden, Heidi Talbot, Krystle Warren, Gabby Young & Other Animals, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, GaBLé, The Coal Porters, 3 Daft Monkeys, Muntu Valdo, The Staves, Delta Maid, Mama Rosin, Cosmo Jarvis, Alejandro Toledo & The Magic Tombolinos, Penny Black Remedy, The Dodge Brothers, Boppin'B, Allo Darlin', Sheelanagig, Skinny Lister, Pete Lawrie, Moscow Drug Club, Buffalo Gals, Emily Portman, Derrin Nauendorf, DJ Derek, My First Tooth, Rory McLeod, Matthew and the Atlas, Polly and the Billets Doux, Kalakuta Millionaires, Kidnap Alice, Goodnight Lenin, Rosie Doonan, ahab, Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin, Megan Henwood, Ruth Theodore, Barnaby Keen Band, Baila la Cumbia, Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers, The Bamana Project, Scoundrels, The Gramophone Party, Police Dog Hogan, City Stereo, The Joker & The Thief, Vid Warren, Kitty Macfarlane, Tinderbox, Fearne, The Mopes, Disco's Out (Murder's in)

COMEDY LINE UP SO FAR:Comedy Line up: Russell Kane, Arthur Smith, Phil Nichol, Andi Osho, Phil Kay, Tom Wrigglesworth, Rob Deering, Gareth Richards, Late Night Gimp Fight, Abandoman, Wittank, Sara Pascoe, James Acaster, Iain Stirling, Fergus Craig, Joel Dommett