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Thirsk, March 1st 2023
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Hilarity Bites Comedy Club feat. Steve Gribbin, Peter Brush, and host Karen Bayley
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Steve Gribbin
Steve Gribbin is a diminutive guitar-wielding satirist from Liverpool whose scabrous comedy songs and off the wall observations have made him one of the firm favourites of the comedy circuit.
Steve’s original comedy songs combine razor sharp lyrics with tunes that put their foot in the door of your mind and refuse to leave. Firmly based in rock ‘n’ roll and refusing to pull no punches, these are not the ‘oh so witty’ ditties of penguin-suited plink plonk piano playing posh gobs. They are that rarity – comedy songs which are actually funny.
For nine years Steve was the smaller one in the dynamic comedy duo Skint Video, stalwart’s of the Edinburgh Festival, appearing on countless television programmes such as Saturday Live, radio such as The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and their own show in 1992/3 Songlines (BBC Radio 1). Skint Video went their different ways in 1993, since then Steve has been storming across the UK and Ireland as a solo artiste.
“A comic animated by proper passion... a trenchant treat” - The Guardian
“You can count the number of truly imaginative comic singers currently on the circuit on the fingers of one hand. One of this select band is Steve Gribbin” - Time Out
“Satirical songs are hard to pull off successfully, but if anyone can do it, Steve Gribbin can. In fact, he pulls it off with real aplomb” - The Independent
Replacing Sam Serrano:

Peter Brush
A highly distinctive performer and deft writer of finely crafted jokes, Peter Brush unassumingly takes the stage with his slight bespectacled frame and scruffy hair, before consummately conquering it with an arsenal of razor sharp quirky one-liners and peerlessly original routines, all delivered in an amusingly awkward fashion.
Peter performs at all the major clubs across the UK, as well as having done many of it’s biggest festivals, he has also played shows in Switzerland, Norway and Hungary. Formerly a BBC New Comedy Award finalist, he has written for several BBC Radio 4 shows and was the support act for Alexei Sayle’s most recent tour. Other acts he has supported on tour include Jonathan Pie, Jason Manford, Fern Brady, Arthur Smith and Paul Sinha.
“compellingly hilarious... first-class gag writing... an original and achingly funny voice” - ★★★★½ - Chortle
“I love Peter Brush, what a comic” - Jason Manford
“unique observations and connections that stand-ups crave” - The Guardian
“He’s a great comic” - BBC Radio 4 Saturday Review

Karen Bayley
Karen began her comedy career back in 2000 and since then has gone from strength to strength. Her bold, no nonsense attitude strikes a perfect pitch with men and women alike, and she is equally at home compering or performing sets.
Karen is also resident compere of her own clubs in Sutton Coldfield and Solihull, with her claim to fame to date being that she was the first woman (in its history) to win the King Gong show at The Comedy Store.
Karen has also worked in TV and radio, including appearances on the BBC New Comedy Awards (BBC3), The Last Word (ITV1), Sex on the Job (Sky 1), and 100 Greatest Cartoons (Channel 4).
“Laugh out loud jokes and superb audience control” - Chortle
“Likeable headstrong persona- packing a considerable performing punch” - The List
“She blew my socks off” - BBC
Note: Line-ups are subject to change in extreme, and unavoidable, circumstances.
Show may contain strong language and adult themes.
Buy tickets:
Tickets for this show can be bought online at www.ruralarts.org, in person from The Old Courthouse, or telephone 01845 526536.