Fifteen can’t-miss acts at the 2014 Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival
April 23, 2014 The Laugh Button Staff Features, Festivals, Lists, Moontower Comedy Festival
Austin is ready for some of the biggest names in comedy to take over this weekend April 23-26, at the Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival. A great comedy festival currently celebrating its third year in existence.
With an unforgettable and original lineup of over 100+ acts performing at ten different venues it’s tough to make a schedule. Try to mix it up, see some names you know. Catch a new face or two. Maybe some improv to go with your stand-up? It’s a tough decision to make. So, in an effort to help you out, here’s a list of fifteen comedians you don’t want to miss. If you don’t recognize a name or two have some faith in the power of comedy.
Hannibal Buress is known for winning Comedy Central’s award for Best Club Comic in 2012 and the networks show Broad City. Buress has recently been signed to headline his own comedy tour and has been featured on many late-night shows including the Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the Late Late show with Craig Ferguson.
Catch Him:
April 23, 9:30pm – Paramount
Demetri Martin is best known for his Comedy Central show called Important Things with Demetri Martin where he produced, wrote, and starred in himself. He’s also known for his written work for Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and for making his own comedy CD, These Are Jokes and his self-titled DVD.
Catch Him:
April 23, 7:00pm – Paramount
Mike Birbiglia has made a name for himself in comedy by appearing in over 40 network TV shows and for releasing four original albums. USA Today and The Onion both said his 2012 album, My Secret Public Journal Live, was the “Best Comedy Albums of the Decade.”
Catch Him:
April 25, 7:00pm – Paramount
Kids in the Hall– This Canadian sketch comedy group is reuniting after their cult sketch comedy show ended in 1995 and they’re performing twice at The Paramount.
Catch Them:
April 25 – 9:30pm – Paramount
April 26 – 7:00pm – Paramount
Fred Armisen w/ Ian Rubbish – The SNL and Portlandia star is headlining and you won’t want to miss his special appearance as Ian Rubbish. Armisen has acted in many popular films and is now the bandleader for Late Night with Seth Meyers as “The 8G Band.”
Catch Him:
April 26, 9:30pm – Paramount
Rory Scovel has appeared in several podcats such as Comedy Bang Bang and was also named in the “10 Comics to Watch” in Variety Magazine. Scovel has opened up for big comics such as Louis C.K., Daniel Tosh and Nick Swardson and is now sharing the stage with many others as he performs four show times this weekend. He also just released a new comedy album on Jack White’s Third Man Records.
Catch Him:
April 23, 7:15pm – Parish; 10:00pm – Stateside
April 24, 7:15pm – Parish; 10:30pm – Speakeasy
Bridget Everett is known for her rolls on film and television, such as Two Broke Girls, Sex And The City. Everett has opened up and has also been the closing act for Amy Schumer. Time Out said “Everett is one the funniest people in New York.” Her band Tender Moments is also touring sold-out shows all around the U.S.
Catch Her:
April 23, 9:15pm – Parish
April 24, 10:45pm – NY, NY
April 25 & 26, 9:30pm – Velv Comedy Lounge
Chris Cubas – This stand-up comedian is an Austin native and is performing every night of the festival. The Austin Chronicle called him “One of the funniest and most cogent people you’re ever going to witness.”
Catch Him:
April 23, 9:30pm – Velv Comedy Lounge
April 24, 10:00pm – Parish Underground
April 25, 10:30pm – Cap City
April 26, 10:30pm – Speakeasy
Dan Soder is featured on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and The Half Hour. Soder is also known for his commentary on MTV’s Guy Code and as a regular on the YKWD podcast.
Catch Him:
April 23, 9:30pm – Paramount
April 24 & 25, 7:00pm – Velv Comedy Lounge
April 25, 9:45pm – The Hideout
April 26, 10:30pm – Cap City
AC Lerok – Austin Duos, John Buseman and Rob Gagnon make up AC Lerok. The two are famous for their sketch improv and stand-up in Austin. Also not bad that they got their name from a character made famous by the band The Get Up Kids.
Catch Them:
April 23, 8:00pm – The New Movement
Mac Blake won the “Funniest Person in Austin” contest and has toured all over performing at comedy festivals such as SXSW Comedy, Just for Laughs Montreal, the San Francisco Comedy and Burrito Festival, and Moontower.
Catch Him:
April 23, 10:00pm – Parish Underground
April 24, 7:00pm – Paramount
April 24, 9:45pm – The Hideout
April 25, 10:00pm – Velv Comedy Undergound
Ari Shaffir has been touring nationally with comedian Joe Rogan and is best known for his work on The Amazing Racist, playing off the reality show The Amazing Race. He has appeared on HBO’s Down and Dirty with Jim Norton and TBS’ Minding the Store.
Catch Him:
April 23 & 25, 7:15pm – Parish
April 24, 10:00pm – Parish Underground
April 26, 8:00pm – Speakeasy
April 26, 10:45 – NY, NY
Michael Che is known for his work writing on Saturday Night Live and was also named one of Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch as well as just taped a half hour. Che has also appeared on Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam, and IFC’s comedy game show Bunk.
Catch Him:
April 24, 8:00pm – Cap City
April 25 & 26, 8:00pm and 10:30pm – Cap City
Brody Stevens is best known for his appearances in a plethora of comedy shows and podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience, The Naughty Show with Sam Tripoli, and his own HBO series called Brody Stevens: Enjoy It! Stevens has toured the country performing on the Oddball Comedy Tour with Dave Chappelle.
Catch Him:
April 24 & 25, 8:00pm – Speakeasy
April 25, 9:15pm – The Parish
April 25, 10:30 – Speakeasy
April 26, 7:00pm – Velv Comedy Underground
Cameron Esposito is a regular on Chelsea Lately and is a stand-up podcast comedian. The AV Club says she is known for her “effervescent storytelling.” Jay Leno and Craig Ferguson called her “the future of comedy” and was also mentioned in LA Weekly and Time Out Los Angeles Comedy as the “Act to Watch.”
Catch Her:
April 23, 7:30pm – Parish Underground
April 24, 7:15pm – The Hideout
April 25, 7:00pm – Velv Comedy Lounge
April 26, 10:00pm – Parish
April 26, 10:00pm – Parish Underground