‘The only time I wanna see ‘big break’ and ‘Stewart Lee’ in the same sentence, will also involve his spinal column’ – Centerist Thug, Twitter

WOKE SO-CALLED ‘COMEDIAN’ T-SHIRT

There has never been a wokier time to own a wokely fabricated Stewart Lee ‘Woke so-called ‘comedian’’ leisure garment.
Woke so-called’ ‘comedian’ ‘Stewart Lee’ says – “As all alt right journalists know, the best way to invalidate a word is to put it in inverted commas.
But if I was Vladimir Putin I’d want my money back! Celebrate the paucity of traditional alt right arguments against woke comedy with this irksome ‘so-called’ comedian shirt, manufactured in the wokest way possible with the wokest materials available.”

Available from this link from May 1^st…

https://wax-face.com/stewart-lee

Made on Anthem Organic Tee Shirts who are a UK based ethical tee shirt manufacturer. They cost £20,00 each and will start shipping from 2022. Content Provider facemasks cost £15 each and are in stock and shipping now! Hoodies of Content Provider and All The Cheeses are also in stock and shipping now. They cost £35 each.

WOKE T-SHIRT OFFER CLOSES END OF MAY SO ORDER BEFORE THEN OR FACE A DELAY AS THE BLOKE MAKING THEM GOES OFF ON TOUR WITH A PSYCHEDELIC BAND

‘Woke’ Burgundy Front

‘Woke’ Charcoal Front

‘Woke’ Navy / Mustard Front

‘Woke’ Burgundy Back

‘Woke’ Charcoal Back

‘Woke’ Navy / Mustard Back

2. BASIC LEE

I will be launching a new Stand-up tour, BASIC LEE, in the Summer/Autumn of 2022.
Edinburgh previews (Aug), London (Sept – Dec) and 2023 dates on sale – more touring dates to be added.

LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE

Tues – Sat from Sept 20th to Dec 17th 2022

(EXCEPT Oct 18th – 29th and Nov 11^th)
7pm (4pm performance Saturday 12^th November

After a decade of ground-breaking high concept shows involving overarched interlinked narratives, massive sets and enormous comedy props, Lee enters the post-pandemic era in streamlined solo stand-up mode. One man, one microphone, and one microphone in the wings in case the one on stage breaks. Pure. Simple. Classic. Basic Lee. “The world’s greatest living stand-up comedian.” The Times

LEICESTER SQUARE TICKETS HERE

First touring dates scheduled below – some onsale already.

Thursday 26th January 2023 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Friday 27th January 2023 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Monday 6th February 2023 – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – TICKETS

Tuesday 7th February 2023 – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – TICKETS

Wednesday 8th February 2023 – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – TICKETS

Thursday 9th February 2023 – DeMontfort Hall, Leicester – TICKETS

Friday 10th February 2023 – DeMontfort Hall, Leicester – TICKETS

Saturday 11th February 2023 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool – TICKETS

Wednesday 22nd February 2023 – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Thursday 23rd February 2023 – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Monday 27th March 2023 – The Lowry, Salford Quays – TICKETS

Tuesday 28th March 2023 – The Lowry, Salford Quays – TICKETS

Wednesday 29th March 2023 – The Lowry, Salford Quays – TICKETS

Thursday 30th March 2023 – The Lowry, Salford Quays – TICKETS

Friday 31st March 2023 – The Lowry, Salford Quays – TICKETS

Saturday 1st April 2023 – The Lowry, Salford Quays – TICKETS

Thursday 4th May 2023 – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – TICKETS

Friday 5th May 2023 – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – TICKETS

Saturday 6th May 2023 – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – TICKETS

3. EDINBLUR 2022

Two shows, on sale March 3^rd. A w-i-p at 10 am and a final go on the Snowflake half of Snowflake Tornado at 1.50pm

Basic Lee (Work In Progress)

Stand 1, 10am (10.00hrs) – 3^rd – 27^th August (days off 15^th & 16^th Aug)

Early morning work-in-progress towards the 2022/3 stripped-down, mobile, reactive new stand-up show. One man. One mic. And another mic in the wings in case the stage mic goes down.

BASIC LEE (Work In Progress) TICKETS HERE

STEWART LEE: Snowflake

The Stand’s New Town Theatre (Grand Hall), 1.50pm (13.50hrs) – 3^rd – 28 August (days off 15^th & 16^th Aug)

Snowflake. Last chance ever to see the culture-war themed second act of the Snowflake Tornado double bill that toured 2019-2022. The other half, Tornado, played the same venue in pre-pandemic 2019. Satire! Swearing!! Retching!!! And a song!!!!

SNOWFLAKE TICKETS HERE

4. THE SNOWFLAKE/TORNADO TOUR

After the abrupt end of the covid-cancelled sell-out tour of Snowflake/Tornado in March 2020, Stewart Lee, “the world’s greatest living stand-up” (Times), returns to more than 60 towns and cities in the UK.

The tour, a double bill of two 60-minute sets, back-to-back nightly, will include new material for 2022.

The Snowflake half has been heavily rewritten in the light of the two years the show has been laid off, looking at how the Covid-Brexit era has impacted on the culture war declared on lovely woke snowflakes by horrible people.

The Tornado half questions Stew’s position in the comedy marketplace after Netflix mistakenly listed his show as “reports of sharks falling from the skies are on the rise again. Nobody on the Eastern Seaboard is safe.”

All shows are 14+ apparently. If you are under 14 you are too immature to enjoy my swearing and farts.

ALL REMAINING SNOWFLAKE/TORNADO DATES ARE ONSALE HERE.

5. KING ROCKER DVD/SCREENINGS

Our critically acclaimed doc KING ROCKER is available on DVD, and the s/track is out on various formats too.

https://www.firerecords.com/product/king-rocker-ost/

Following the huge recent success of ‘King Rocker’, spotlighting The Nightingales as one of the best bands in Britain, comes the soundtrack and DVD to one of 2021’s break-out films. This special ‘King Rocker’ bookback DVD/CD deluxe package includes the full length feature film with over 90 minutes of extras and unseen footage alongside the soundtrack.

This collector’s edition is beautifully encased with 20 pages of unreleased behind the scenes photos and liner notes from Michael Cumming and Stewart Lee.“Lee tells Lloyd’s story with skill, passion and verve” The Times. Comedian Stewart Lee and director Michael Cumming (Brass Eye, Toast Of London) investigate a missing piece of punk history. Robert Lloyd, best known for fronting cult Birmingham bands The Prefects and The Nightingales, has survived under the radar for over four decades. But how, if at all, does Robert want to be remembered?

The anti-rockumentary ‘King Rocker’ weaves the story of Birmingham’s undervalued underdog autodidact into that of the city’s forgotten public sculpture of King Kong, eschewing the celebrity interview and archive-raid approach for a free-associating bricolage of Indian food, bewildered chefs, vegetable gardening, prescription medicines, pop stardom and pop art.

All of the highlights from the film are here, along with rarities which won’t appear on any of the deluxe reissues of the Nightingales’ catalogue, among them 7″ versions of “Use Your Loaf”, the Bob Luman hit “Let’s Think About Living” and “Black Country”, a glam remix of crowd favourite “Thick And Thin” and a version of Christy & Emily’s “Ghost” which rivals the Nightingales’ take on TLC’s “Unpretty” for sheer beauty.

The only act with roots in the punk era that have gone on to make records more captivating, cutting and entertaining today than at any point in their past; 2022 will be a busy year for the Nightingales, with months of live dates planned, a limited edition remix 12″, deluxe reissues of both ‘Hysterics’ and ‘In The Good Old Country Way’, and a hardcover book collecting Robert’s lyrics.“An inspiring comeback story that feels profoundly necessary” The Quietus

I will be hosting a number of screenings of the film this Summer, including at some festivals:
Bluedot (21^st-24^th July https://www.discoverthebluedot.com) w Bjork Sugarbabe, The Mogwais, Spiralized 3, Bionic Radio Workshop, Adam Bufftone, Andrew O’Neil’s History of Metal, Kiri Te Pritchard-Mclanna, Robbie Nince, David Olusoga, Ahir Shah, Garrett Millerillerick, Tim’s Twitter Party, Ardman Animatronics, Clangers, and Delia Derbyshire O’Day
Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham Thurs 28^th July https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/king-rocker-q-a
Deer Shed (29^th – 31^st July https://www.deershedfestival.com) w Dry Cleaners, Billy NoMates, Treeboy & Archie, Yard Actors, Snapped Angles, The Love Eggs, and David O’Doherty

6. SAVE THE WYE

Please save the Wye from pollution as it is my favourite river.

https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/86529/action/2

7. I ARROGANTLY RECOMMEND SOME 2022 HAPPENINGS/THINGS

Daniel Kitson. The elusive comedy wunderkind has dates a-plenty.

MAY 23rd, 24th, 25th – The Old Mill – Stillington, North Yorkshire;
29th – Thorington Theatre – Thorington, Suffolk.
JUNE 7th, 8th, 9th – The Old Mill – Stillington, North Yorkshire;
17th – Midlands Arts Centre Outdoor Theatre – Birmingham;
18th – (Afternoon) – Melbourne Hall, Walled Garden – Derby;
19th – Regents Park Open Air Theatre – LondON;
22nd, 23rd –Lawrence Batley Theatre Courtyard – Huddersfield;
JULY 6th – Compering Mixed Bill – Brighton Comedy Gardens;
17th – Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre – Chester;
18th – Midland Arts Centre Outdoor Theatre – Birmingham;
20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd – Windmill Hill City Farm – Bristol;
24th – Regents Park Open Air Theatre – London;
AUGUST 21st –Regents Park Open Air Theatre – London

Until June 5^th. Last chance to see Laura Knight & Caroline Walker – A Female Gaze at Nottingham Castle Art Gallery, most notable for displaying loads of Laura Knight pictures from private collections, and displaying them with real sensitivity in a biographical/thematic timeline, alongside other loans from galleries and from the Castle’s own collection, in a way that makes the genius of this pioneering woman utterly undeniable. https://www.nottinghamcastle.org.uk/whats-on/laura-knight-caroline-walker-a-female-gaze/

Earl Okin.

MAY 11^th Les Crazy Coqs, 20, Sherwood Street., London, W1F 7ED. 9pm;
12^th ‘Jazz & Tapas’, 50 Kirkgate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS27 3PD. www.tapasandtunesotley.co.uk;
13th – Seven Arts, 31a, Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 3PD www.sevenleeds.co.uk;
29^th – Ronnie Scott’s, 47, Frith Street, London, W1D 4HT, 1pm;
JULY 1st – The Terrace, 2, Church Plain, Loddon, Norfolk, NR14 6EX. www.shaftofwit.com/music
2nd – The Secret Garden, Mile Tree Lane, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE 13 4TR. www.shaftofwit.com/music;
16th – The Corner House, 116, Douglas Road, Surbiton, KT6 7SB;

SEPTEMBER 2022
11th – Charity Jazz/Cabaret Show, Norwich Playhouse, 42 – 58 St George’s Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1AB, Booking line: 01603.63000

The Bohman Brothers Various outgrowths of the fabulous surreal sound-artists The Bohman Brothers are suddenly active. You must see them at least once in your life.
MORPHOGENESIS – ORIGINAL LINE-UP OF ART NOISE LEGENDS June 12^th Café Oto London

Stiff Little Fingers Still impossibly inspiring NI punk survivors – AUGUST 4^th Blackpool Rebellion, OCTOBER 1^st– 2^nd Sheffield Academy

Ben Moor. The storytelling surrealist is out and about in many different iterations.
Tuesday 12^th & Weds 13th July 2022 19.30 PRONOUN TROUBLE

HEN AND CHICKENS THEATRE BAR, HIGHBURY, LONDON N5

An Edinburgh slot for my “lecture” about cartoons, friendship and lectures has yet to be confirmed at time of writing, but if you haven’t seen it, these dates offer you a chance to embrace the offbeat.

Thursday 14th July 2022 19.30 WHO HERE’S LOST?

HEN AND CHICKENS THEATRE BAR, HIGHBURY, LONDON N5

An Edinburgh preview show at this lovely pub theatre.

Friday 15th July 2022 19.30 COMEDY DOUBLE BILL – WASP IN A CARDIGAN & WHO HERE’S LOST?

HEN AND CHICKENS THEATRE BAR, HIGHBURY, LONDON N5

Another Edinburgh preview, this time in a Double Bill with the wonderful Joanna Neary and her fantastic show full of characters, song and dance and delight.

Saturday 16th July 2022 18.30 BOOKTALKBOOKTALKBOOK

HEN AND CHICKENS THEATRE BAR, HIGHBURY, LONDON N5

Described by Stewart Lee as “a book talk that swallows itself in a hall of mirrors full of Russian dolls,” this is also hopefully on its way to the Edinburgh Fringe – more details to follow.

Nish Kumar Bread roll obsessed, woke so-called ‘comedian’ hits the road.
MAY 17TH Oxford New Theatre More here.

Wet Leg Sure to be briefly massive, these waspish Amish-styled Boston-indie-circa-1989-sounding barnstormers hit the road APRIL 17^th Edinburgh Mash, 19^th Leeds Brudenell, 20^th M’cr Gorilla, 21^st Bristol Trinity, 23^rd B’ham Institute 3, 24^th Norwich Arts, 26^th London Scala, 27^th Southsea Wedgewood, MAY 28^th Warrington Weekender

The Nightingales Birmingham post-punk leg-ends and stars of KING ROCKER in their biggest ever tour and their biggest ever venues MAY 2^nd Bristol Thekla, 3^rd London Garage, 5^th Leek Foxlowe Arts, 7^th Nottingham Bodega

Flamin’ Groovies – You must see these superb ‘70s American Stones/Byrds/Beatles styled survivors. MAY 3^rd York Cowgirl, 4^th Newcastle Cluny, 6^th Glasgow Room 2, 7^th London 100 Club

Wilkinson Edwards Noble is the greatest current British free jazz trio, and will make instant converts of sceptics. They are at Finch’s Café, 12 Sidworth St in London Fields on May 6t^h and June 3^rd at 8pm for £8.

Chuck Prophet Chiselled guitar gunslinger from another, better time. MAY 26^th Bury Met, 27^th Nottingham Metronome, 28^th Newcastle Gosforth Civic, 31^st Bristol Fleece, JUNE 1^st B’ham Hare & Hounds, 2^nd Thetford Red Rooster, 3^rd London Garage

Peter Case performed the original version of Hangin’ On The Telephone with The Nerves, perfected powerpop with The Plimsouls, and then invented Americana as we know it as a solo artist in the ‘80s. Today he looks and sounds like some ‘60s Greenwich village blues-folk legend and is touring the UK with the country-punk-bluegrassman and former Long Ryder Sid Griffin. MAY 27^th London Water Rats, 29^th High Wycombe Kingsmead House, 30^th Hambrook Village Hall, JUNE 1^ST Leytonstone Ex-Servicemen’s Club, 2^nd Birmingham Kitchen Garden cafe.

RECC’D INTERNETS, YOUTUBES AND PODCASTS

Rosie Holt’s Youtube characters *****
Ogmios School of Zen Motoring *****
Limmy’s review of After Life *****
The Exploding Heads
Alasdair Beckett-King’s various things *****
VonViddy (TikTok)
Eleanor Morton – Jack The Ripper (but shot in portrait!?)
Paddy Young – Posh actor in Northern Film
Dan March – British Tourism films
Tom Little
Sooz Kempner as Nadine Dorries on Twitter

8. IN OUR COVID ERA LAMENTATIONS 2022

Sydney Poitier – woke actor (1927)
Magwa – woke Cambodian landmine hunting rat (2013)
Burke Shelley – bass Budgie (1950)
Ronnie Spector – woke Ronette (1943)
Rachel Nagy – Detroit Cobra (1975)
Robin Le Mesurier – Womble (1954)
Andy Ross – Disco Zombie/nice man of Britpop (1956)
Barry Cryer – King Of Comedy (1935)
Norma Waterson – Mighty Folk Matriarch (1939)
John Nolan – man Behind The Magnolia Curtain (1966)
Betty Davis – She Might Get Picked Up! (1944)
Ivan Reitman – He was not afraid of no ghost! (1946)
Mark Lanegan – Screaming Tree rehabilitee (1964)
Bruce Anderson – MX-80 man (1950)
Anna Karen – ‘70s public transport icon (1936)
Sam Lay – Howlin’ Wolf/Butterfield/Dylan drums (1935)
Mikey Chung – Reggae session regular (1950)
Fred Van Hove – Belgian free-jazz stringbender (1937)
Ian McDonald – Crimson saxophonist King (1949)
Gary Brooker – Synesthesiac Hackney musician (1945)
Nicky Tesco – Suburban soundman/comedy fan (1956)
Dallas Good – Sadies guitar slinger (1974)
Philip Jeck – Art Noiseman (1952)
Margaret Curtis – Callanish visionary (1942)
Jordan – punk fashionista (1955)
David McKee – Then the shopkeeper appeared (1935)
Chris Bailey – Lordly protopunk, wit, raconteur (1957)
Gilbert Gottfried – That ‘Too Soon’ guy (1955)
Audrey Henshall – Scottish Neolithic expert (1927)
Eric Chappell – Rising Damp (1933)
Klaus Schultze – Tangerine Joker (1947)
And finally…
Harrison Birtwistle – When Things Fall Over (1934)