Currently on Tour:
Artist: Scared Weird Little Guys
Where: Australia Wide
Info: The Scaredies website
Now Happening:
Artist: 2011 Raw Comedy Heats
Heats are now on Australia Wide
Info: The MICF website
About The Groggy Squirrel
The Groggy Squirrel is an independent publication which provides a free comprehensive listing of live comedy in Australia. At its inception at the beginning of 2005, The Groggy Squirrel began life as a comedy guide to Melbourne. 2007 saw The Groggy Squirrel expand to cover nationwide listings and features. The Groggy Squirrel also incorporates articles and features relating to live comedy in Australia. Published and updated on an ongoing, daily basis on the internet, The Groggy Squirrel is an invaluable resource to those who want know what’s happening in the Australian comedy scene. The Groggy Squirrel has gained a reputation within the industry for being the most comprehensive comedy listing guide in Australia.
Contributing to The Groggy Squirrel
The Groggy Squirrel will run a variety of articles in each edition which will cover a range of topics related to comedy in Melbourne. The Groggy Squirrel invites comedians and writers to contribute articles/editorials/comments to be published in The Groggy Squirrel. Unfortunately The Groggy Squirrel cannot pay writers due to the fact that The Groggy Squirrel does not advertise or produce any revenue. If you are interested in contributing a written piece to The Groggy Squirrel please contact editor@thegroggysquirrel.com for more information. Please note that unsolicited pieces will not be accepted without previous correspondence with the editor.
The Groggy Squirrel requires that any person who makes a submission to this publication must freely declare any links or associations that they may have with any particular comedian or venue. The Groggy Squirrel prioritizes material that is related to comedy in Australia or to comedians who work in Australia, but will accept other material if it is deemed relevant. Inclusion of material in The Groggy Squirrel is at the discretion of the editor and no correspondence will be entered into.
The Groggy Squirrel Team
While The Groggy Squirrel accepts contributions from many writers, a few key players keep the content coming week after week:
VICTORIA
- Annette Slattery (Squirrel Visionary)
- Lisa Clark (Co Editor)
- Caitlin Crowley
- Erin Davidson
- Jayden Edwards
- Colin Flaherty (Co Editor)
- Dan Nicholls
- Elizabeth Redman
- Daniel Sheppard (Webmaster Extrodinaire)
ADELAIDE
- Darren Freak
UK
- Ron Bingham
The Groggy Squirrel Awards
Since its inception The Groggy Squirrel has been awarding Melbourne Comedy Festival shows each year. Past winners are:
2005
- TGS Critics Award – Tim Minchin, Darkside
2006
- TGS Critics Award – Winner: Sam Simmons, Tales from the Erotic Cat – Nominees: Damian Callinan has Spaznuts; Judith Lucy – I Failed; Michael Chamberlin and The Ten Commandments; Sammy J’s 55 Minute National Tour
- TGS Readers Award – Andrew McClelland’s Mix Tape and Sammy J’s 55 Minute National Tour.
2007
- TGS Critics Award – Winner: Justin Hamilton, Three Colours Hammo – Nominee: Lawrence Leung, Lawrence Leung Learns to Breakdance
- TGS Readers Award – Daniel Kitson – It’s the Fireworks Talking
2008
- TGS Critics Award – Winner: The Hounds of The Baskerville (Adam McKenzie, Rob Lloyd, Tegan Higganbotham), Every Film Ever Made – Nominees: Bec Hill, If You Can Read This My Cape Fell Off; Justin Hamilton, The Killing Joke; Sammy J and Heath McIvor, Sammy J In the Forest of Dreams; Sam Wills, The Boy with Tape on His Face
- TGS Readers Award – Sam Wills, The Boy with Tape on His Face
2009
- TGS Critics Award – Winner: Denise Scott, Number 26 – Nominees: Celia Paquola, Am I Strange; Lawrence Leung & Andrew McClelland, Time Ninjas; Heath Ivor, Randy’s Postcards from Purgatory; The Bedroom Philosopher, Songs from the 86 Tram.
- TGS Readers Award – Karin Muiznieks, World War Wonderful.
- TGS Critics Award – Celia Pacquola, Flying Solos.
- TGS Readers Award – Heath McIvor & Sammy J, Ricketts Lane
Advice For New Comedians
We get a lot of requests from new comedians asking us how to get started up in comedy. Here are a few things you can do.
Check out the Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy page. Every Year the MICF runs a nationwide competition for new comedians. This page has advice for new comedians and you can join their mailing list to get extra info on heats etc. Being part of the Raw competion is a great way to get to know other new comics in your area and get yourself some stage time and be seen by the public.
In the meantime, go to gigs. The best way to get to know whats happening in your area is to turn up to local gigs and start chatting to some of the other comedians on the bill. Use The Groggy Squirrel website, street press and local papers to find out what gigs are going on in your area.
Another option for aspiring comedians, especially in regional areas where there might not be too many gigs around, is to get together with like minded friends and start your own gig. Approach your local venues about putting on a night of entertainent, be it purely comedy or a mixture of comedy, music, open mic, etc. Always remember to get the word out, submit your listing to The Groggy Squirrel at gigs@thegroggysquirrel.com and be sure to use your local press, free listings guides in your area, local University newsletters and fliers to make sure people know its on.
Links
For links to individual comics, go to the Comics A-Z
The Groggy Squirrel on Facebook
The Groggy Squirrel at Myspace
Australian and New Zealand Comedy Festivals
- New South Wales
- Big Laugh Comedy Festival
- Syndey Comedy Festival
- The Armidale Women’s Comedy Festival
- The Big Joke Bangalow Comedy Festival
- Northern Territory
- Darwin Fringe Festival
- South Australia
- Adelaide Fringe Festival
- Western Australia
- Wild West Comedy Festival
- New Zealand
- New Zealand International Comedy Festival
International Comedy Festivals
- UK
- Brighton Comedy Festival
- Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- Gilded Balloon
- Miller Glasgow International Comedy Festival
- Leicestor Comedy Festival
- Newbury Comedy Festival
- America
- Funnyfest � Calgary Comedy Festival
- Las Vegas Comedy Festival
- Montreal Comedy Festival
- New York Comedy Festival
- New York Underground Comedy Festival
- South Africa
- Cape Town Comedy Festival
Comedy Publications
- Beat Magazine – Melbourne Street Press
- Chortle – UK comedy website
- The Pun – comedy festival review street press
Other Comedy Links
- Adelaide Comedy – online Adelaide comedy site
- Entertainment Depot
- GORSKYS.COMedy
- In Joke comedy on Syn FM
- MOSH!! – Australian comedy forum
- New Zealand Comedy Guild
- Over the Fence Comedy Film Festival
- The Scriveners Fancy
- Lime Champions comedy on 3RRR FM
- Token – comedy management
- Wombat – photography
