Ringside laughs

if you’re under the impression there’s something funny going on, you’d be correct. The YYComedy Festival kicks off next week. It’s the fifth anniversary of the fest, which was founded by Calgary comedian Cory Mack (she’s also performing this year) and they’ve scored some impressive marquee names for 2016, including Janeane Garafolo, Brent Butt and Todd Barry. The 2016 fest is also bringing in three of five Kids in the Hall—Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald and Scott Thompson—who will be performing solo as well as in collaboration as hosts of the gala night on Oct. 1. In addition to the big-ticket shows, the festival also taps into Calgary’s comedy scene, showcasing Iocal performers, clubs and nights, and improv institutions like Loose Moose Theatre and Dirty Laundry.

They’ve also tapped into Calgarians’ long-held love of wrastlin’ by bringing Ring A Ding Dong Dandy to town. Created and hosted by Vancouver comics Ryan Beil and Graham Clark (with a name cribbed from a catchphrase by the legendary late Stampede Wrestling announcer Ed Whalen), the show screens clips of circa-1980s wrestling to which Beil and Clark provide their own hilarious commentary. If you’ve ever procrastinated by watching ringside interviews with the Ultimate Warrior on YouTube then you know that this is a premise for a highly entertaining evening, even moreso when you add in the fact that it takes place in a bar (the basement rock tavern Vern’s—622 8th Ave. S.W.—to be exact). Beil and Clark have been doing the show for a few years now, but the YYComedy slot on Wednesday, Sept. 28 will be the first time they’ve Ring A Ding Dong Dandied in Calgary. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10.