Melbourne’s best live comedy nights
Get your chuckles on the cheap at these regular gigs. By Alex Ward
AS A COMEDIAN, I am often asked if there’s much on outside of the Comedy Festival. The answer is yes, you can see comedy every night of the week. I don’t recommend going every night – spend time with your family – but if you are wanting to rotate through the best weekly comedy rooms, here’s the info you need.
MONDAY Comedy at Spleen
This room attracts big names wanting to try their new stuff, and it’s worth getting along just to see who might drop in. If you want a seat, you’ll need to get in early, but there is a live feed to the TV at the bar for those who can’t quite get a full view of the stage. This dive bar offers burgers, fries and dawgs. The only thing hotter than the dawgs is the comedy and the only thing cheesier is our jokes.
àspleen Bar, 41 Bourke St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9650 2400. www.comedyatspleen. com. Free, donations accepted. Mon 8.30pm.
Local Laughs
Local Laughs is the best room on the south side, hands down. It takes place at the Local Taphouse – a European-inspired tavern specialising in craft beer. Catch some of the best Australian comics plus the occasional international too, with upwards of five acts every night. àthe Local Taphouse, 184 Carlisle St, St Kilda East 3183. 03 9537 2633. thelocal.com.au. $12-$15. Mon 8.30pm.
TUESDAY Lido Comedy
The small soundproof room makes Lido the best intimate comedy night happening in Melbourne at the moment. Each week features two brackets with Melbourne’s best comedians. The cinema serves wine, beer and tapas-style food. The room maxes out at about 60 people, so get in before show time to get a seat. àlido Cinemas, 675 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn 3122. 03 8658 0000. www.lidocinemas.com.au. Free, donations accepted. Tue 7.30pm.
Catfish Comedy
This comedy night hosts some of the best headliners and up-andcoming acts from Australia. It’s always a hot line-up, with about ten acts each night, and it’s seen its fair share of international drop-ins. The band room bar offers $4 pots and $7 pints. It serves a famous Philly cheesesteak. àthe Catfish, 30 Gertrude St, Fitzroy 3065. 03 9417 6420. www.thecatfish.com.au. $12. Tue 8pm.
WEDNESDAY Crab Lab Comedy
This is one of the best free comedy
rooms in Australia. If you can’t see a free seat keep looking, there are nooks and booths that you can squeeze into. The night consists of two brackets of newcomers and pro comics jumping up to try their newer gear. Crab Lab is in the heart of Chinatown, so there is no shortage of post-show, late-night food options. àhouse of Maximon, 16-20 Corrs Ln, Melbourne 3000. 03 9650 3050. www.houseofmaximon.com.au. Free. Wed 8.30pm.
THURSDAY Thursday Comedy Club
It too has an awesome headliner every week. The room has an entry price because it books acts that you would normally be paying $35 a pop to see, so you better believe you are getting value for money. The other big plus for this venue is the incredible European beer range on tap. àeuropean Bier Café, 120 Exhibition St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9663 1222. europeanbiercafe.com.au. $13. Thu 8.30pm.
Rochey Comedy
In the colder months the gigs take place in the room upstairs at the Rochester Hotel, but come summer the comedy is moved to the outdoor courtyard. Comedians have been known to smoke on stage… Smoking kills, but so do these sets. In terms of food, there are bar snacks and a great South Indian restaurant downstairs.
àthe Rochester Hotel, 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy 3065. 03 9419 0166. rochey.com.au. Free. Thu 8.30pm.
FRIDAY Comedy at the Coopers Inn
With different line-ups every week, showcasing the best stand-ups from Melbourne, interstate and abroad, this is the perfect way to kick off your weekend. The pub has great food and a pool table to keep you occupied until show time.
àcoopers Inn, 282 Exhibition St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9639 2111. coopersin.com.au. $15. Fri 8pm.
SATURDAY Basement Comedy Club
This is the only comedy night worth visiting in the city on a Saturday night. Seen them on the Gala? See them here, headlining IRL.
àeuropean Bier Café, 120 Exhibition St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9663 1222. europeanbiercafe.com.au. $20. Sat 8pm.
SUNDAY Stay Gold Comedy
This early show is held in one of Melbourne’s coolest new live music venues. Stay Gold Comedy takes over the front bar every week and offers $5 tinnies, with the restaurant serving up modern souvas and charcoal chicken.
àstay Gold, 133 Sydney Rd, Brunswick 3056. 0488 787 524. facebook.com/staygoldcomedy. Free. Sun 6.30pm.
Club Voltaire Comedy
Every Melbourne list has a laneway venue, and this is ours. Located in a laneway off Errol Street, Voltaire is an intimate theatre space. This weekly comedy night in North Melbourne showcases the city’s newest stand-up stars.
àclub Voltaire, 14 Raglan St, North Melbourne 3051. 03 9326 3006. facebook.com/clubvoltairecomedy. Free, donations accepted. Sun 7.30pm.