Comedy night becomes longest-running in town
A Hamilton pub is celebrating hosting the town’s longest-running comedy night.
Junkyard Jokers has been running for more than 18 months in the town’s Junkyard bar in Chapel Street and continues to host a number of big comedy names.
Over and above their weekly comedy nights, comedy lovers can enjoy a monthly special with big acts topping the bill. The comedy nights began with the pub proprietor, Bernard O’neil, wanting to provide his patrons with regular live entertainment that included comedy.
Larkhall comedian Iain Pollock approached event organiser Pablo Serski, with the idea of taking it on.
Pablo said: “I’d promoted comedy nights before and knew the work involved to make them successful and, at the time, I was a little reluctant to take it on. However, after the initial meeting with Bernard, his passion was quite evident and we eventually agreed to set a launch date.
“Over the last 18 months we’ve tried to continue to evolve by tweaking small aesthetics – everything from lighting, providing a purpose-built stage and projecting the comedy into the TV screens in the main bar. We’ve also since added a monthly professional night falling on the first Thursday of every month, where we bring a professional act to do a condensed version of their own tour show.
“We’ve recently had star of Live At The Apollo and Comedy Central, Larry Dead, headlining our regular Tuesday night show. Stephen Buchanan headlined a show earlier in the year and subsequently has gone on to win the BBC New Comedy Award in August.
“We also have Scotland’s Young Magician Of The Year, Brandon Barrett, performing his sold- out Edinburgh Fringe show on November 1, as well as other smashhit Edinburgh Fringe shows Freestyle Comedy on October 11 and Scot Roast on December 6.”
Added to this, Junkyard Jokers have their regular Tuesday night shows.
On October 16 multiple awardwinning comedian Mark Nelson will perform. And there will be two shows in November dedicated solely to the funny women of UK comedy.
All regular Tuesday shows are free entry with a donation bucket at the end and all monthly specials are £3 entry. Pablo added: “We are immensely proud to be the longest-running weekly comedy night in Hamilton and want to thank everyone for their support.”