THE BIG ONE DRAWS NEAR.

To start this week news of forthcoming shows. First, tomorrow we have a cracker of a night at the Dog and Parrot...

We have the return of the students, so UK Student Comedians of the Year Donnachda O'Connill and Chris Martin will be around, as will multi-talented Kate Fox, Ric Wharton and Paul Gerrard. The theme is 'Primates' - will anyone remember to mention it? Who knows?

But if you only go to one gig in the next fortnight, make it this one...

TUE 17th- Best of Long Live Comedy - your regular hosts Al, Cal and Pete show off their best bits.

This is our Newcastle/Gateshead comedy festival show. It's Cal, Al and I doing 20 minutes each. Given that we've been doing this weekly for a year now, 20 minutes of our best material is as good as anyone's. (Though we'd be stuck if we each tried to do an hour on our own.) So it's not the usual Long Live Comedy show- it's shorter and more expensive. An hour for £5, as opposed to the usual £2 for two hours. But, this is an hour of tried and tested, slick, guaranteed A-grade material. And remember, all our money goes back into the show anyway- buying the PA, giving petrol money to the acts who've driven hours to get there, paying for the competition prizes etc, etc.

And it's not just us, there's a whole week of comedy...

TUE 17th- Best of Long Live Comedy - your regular hosts Al, Cal and Pete show off their best bits.
WED 18th- Steffen Peddie and Chris Martin- One and a Half Man Show.
THR 19th- Bob Doolally's Soccer Balls.
FRI 20th- Vladamir McTavish - A Brief History of Scotland.
SAT 21st- John Scott - A Scott in Newcastle