Machynlleth Comedy Festival

[Zoo Music Girl]

Couldn't see a thread for this, so thought I may as well start one! I've just bought a camping pitch and a couple of show tickets for this year on a whim and am super looking forward to it. Anyone here been? Any tips?

My main worry is that it will be bloody freezing and wet camping at that time of year, but it was so cheap compared to other accommodation options that I thought worth a shot, especially as we will likely spend a fair bit of time indoors throughout the day anyway.

We will likely go to three or shows a day at the most I reckon so would be interested to hear what the free stuff is like too. And any good eating recommendations.

[Harry49]

Just had a look on website, might give it a try myself. I would recommend Rob Auton from line up at present. Saw him at End of The Road last year and he was fantastic. Funny and very moving at the same time.

[Zoo Music Girl]

10 minutes ago, Harry49 said:

Just had a look on website, might give it a try myself. I would recommend Rob Auton from line up at present. Saw him at End of The Road last year and he was fantastic. Funny and very moving at the same time.

Yeah I was wondering about him myself. Thanks for the recommendation! I've bought tickets for Nish and Rosie Jones so far as I know they will be good (it's a surprise for my partner's birthday so wanted to get a couple booked in early). Will give Rob Auton a look too. Looking at last year (well, 2019) there is a ton more stuff to be added yet.

It does seem like decent value for camping (£40 for three days) so as long as we don't die of hypothermia or get totally flooded then I think we are on to a winner! The option to thaw out in a warm pub does make that side of things seems a bit easier.

Edited January 16, 2022 by Zoo Music Girl

[Homer]

Been meaning to go to this for years but never gotten around to braving the drive! Will have a look at the line-up and (maybe) get my shizzle together this time...

[Zoo Music Girl]

5 minutes ago, Homer said:

Been meaning to go to this for years but never gotten around to braving the drive! Will have a look at the line-up and (maybe) get my shizzle together this time...

We'll be getting the train (not as bad as I thought it would be actually – about four hours or so with a change at Birmingham). There's not much on the line-up yet but apparently an announcement is coming this weekend so hoping they'll add a lot more stuff. I was looking at the programme for 2019 and it was absolutely stacked so there is a lot still to come by the looks of it.

My main worry is the camping aspect, which I couldn't resist for its cheapness! My friend's advice (who has never been to Mach Fest but has camped at various times of year) was to buy thermals. I do think it's just the sleeping bit that will be an issue – most of our time will be indoors and there's the option of hot showers to take the edge off. 

[Zoo Music Girl]

They released a load new names yesterday. Have bought tickets for Colin Hoult as well as love his Anna Mann character but that's all for now. Would suspect a fair bit of stuff still to come.

[Adam Harps]

We have been these a couple of times, loved it.  I think we must have got lucky with the weather, as i don't remember being too cold.

A lovely little town too, and it all becomes the comedy festival. You'll see all the comedians milling around town too

[Zoo Music Girl]

8 minutes ago, Adam Harps said:

We have been these a couple of times, loved it.  I think we must have got lucky with the weather, as i don't remember being too cold.

A lovely little town too, and it all becomes the comedy festival. You'll see all the comedians milling around town too

Ah that's great! I just assumed that Wales at the end of April would be chilly. Did you camp?

Really looking forward to wandering around the town and trying out the pubs as well as watching some comedy. 

Are you going this year?

[Adam Harps]

Cant make it this year. Yes we camped.

the pubs are great and some of the shops as well. Always good to hide in when it rains

[Zoo Music Girl]

7 minutes ago, Adam Harps said:

Cant make it this year. Yes we camped.

the pubs are great and some of the shops as well. Always good to hide in when it rains

Excellent, thanks for the encouraging words! I'm thinking that even if the weather is crap it will be a lot easier than being in an outdoor festival on mud all day long...

[Zoo Music Girl]

They're doing a drop of new names every Saturday at 12 throughout February, which is a good way to keep up momentum. Go tickets for Pappy's and Acaster yesterday and apparently his show is already half sold out. As it's a surprise for my other half I'm just buying a few things I know he'll like for now and then let him see what else takes his fancy but I am super looking forward to this now.

[Mardy]

I've been wanting to go to this for years, it's absolutely on my list, but the timings are terrible for me, can't fly back from Moscow, get there and fly back without taking plenty of leave, so I  think I'll do my semi-regular trip to Edinburgh fringe in Augusta instead for my comedy fix. I'm dead envious of you, though, and can't wait to hear your reports of it.

[Zoo Music Girl]

26 minutes ago, Mardy said:

I've been wanting to go to this for years, it's absolutely on my list, but the timings are terrible for me, can't fly back from Moscow, get there and fly back without taking plenty of leave, so I  think I'll do my semi-regular trip to Edinburgh fringe in Augusta instead for my comedy fix. I'm dead envious of you, though, and can't wait to hear your reports of it.

Nice to see you Mardy, been a while! 

I've also been wanting to go for a while, well that and Edinburgh really but this seems like a good way to do something a bit like Edinburgh for much less money and a shorter period of time. Appreciate several of the acts are doing WIP shows as opposed to the polished product you get at Edinburgh, but I don't mind that.

How long do you go to Edinburgh for usually? It's on our long-term to-do list.

I'll definitely report back!

[Mardy]

1 minute ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

Nice to see you Mardy, been a while! 

I've also been wanting to go for a while, well that and Edinburgh really but this seems like a good way to do something a bit like Edinburgh for much less money and a shorter period of time. Appreciate several of the acts are doing WIP shows as opposed to the polished product you get at Edinburgh, but I don't mind that.

How long do you go to Edinburgh for usually? It's on our long-term to-do list.

I'll definitely report back!

The WIP aspect is one that really appeals to me, I love seeing the evolution of a show from tentative beginnings to the finished article. I've just been looking at the Mach site as a result of your post, and it's such a mouthwatering prospect.

I usually do 4 to 6 days in Edinburgh. Try to cram in as many shows as possible, say 5 or 6 a day on average. If you stay at the University halls of residence and pick your times, it can be pretty reasonable, there's usually some decent late deals. And I love the way the whole town is buzzing for the fringe. I'm able to be flexible cos I don't work in August, which makes things easier, but the flip side of that is I can't take time off in May for Mach, especially as I'm off to Primavera in early June. Too many events, not enough leave/money!

But looking at that line-up list, so so tempting to do Mach...

[Zoo Music Girl]

37 minutes ago, Mardy said:

The WIP aspect is one that really appeals to me, I love seeing the evolution of a show from tentative beginnings to the finished article. I've just been looking at the Mach site as a result of your post, and it's such a mouthwatering prospect.

I usually do 4 to 6 days in Edinburgh. Try to cram in as many shows as possible, say 5 or 6 a day on average. If you stay at the University halls of residence and pick your times, it can be pretty reasonable, there's usually some decent late deals. And I love the way the whole town is buzzing for the fringe. I'm able to be flexible cos I don't work in August, which makes things easier, but the flip side of that is I can't take time off in May for Mach, especially as I'm off to Primavera in early June. Too many events, not enough leave/money!

But looking at that line-up list, so so tempting to do Mach...

Ah cool, thanks for the tips! Edinburgh has always seemed such a daunting prospect so that makes it more doable.

I do love a WIP show too, hoping to get a nice mix of those and more finished products in.

Totally appreciate where you're coming from with regards to leave and money, and of course coming from abroad just exacerbates that. It being a bank holiday after Mach means we'll only take one day off and the Primavera bank hols (I'm going too!) have also helped. I'm actually freelance, but my partner has a staff job so we need to fit it all into his allowance.

You not doing Glasto this year then? Sure we've had this conversation but probably like three years ago...

[philipsteak]

Last (only. 2019) time I did Edinburgh I stayed in Glasgow. Even with getting the train each day it still worked out a lot cheaper. And the train up was much cheaper too. I stayed in the uni halls that SYHA take over for the summer. Bit of a pain in that you can't just nip back obviously but it worked fine. It was all last minute though so if you're more organised you might get better prices for Edinburgh then I could find. 

Can recommend Nish Kumar's latest if he's playing Mach. Saw him on Friday and he was on blistering form. Must've been on stage for nearly 1.75 hours. Certainly over 1.5. And with his delivery style (loud and fast) that's like 3 hours in normal comedian years. Excellent all the way through but a couple of real stand out bits. 

Would love to get round to doing the festival at some time. One of my colleagues goes every year and loves it. Her folks live there though so makes it easier. 

[Zoo Music Girl]

8 minutes ago, philipsteak said:

Last (only. 2019) time I did Edinburgh I stayed in Glasgow. Even with getting the train each day it still worked out a lot cheaper. And the train up was much cheaper too. I stayed in the uni halls that SYHA take over for the summer. Bit of a pain in that you can't just nip back obviously but it worked fine. It was all last minute though so if you're more organised you might get better prices for Edinburgh then I could find. 

Can recommend Nish Kumar's latest if he's playing Mach. Saw him on Friday and he was on blistering form. Must've been on stage for nearly 1.75 hours. Certainly over 1.5. And with his delivery style (loud and fast) that's like 3 hours in normal comedian years. Excellent all the way through but a couple of real stand out bits. 

Would love to get round to doing the festival at some time. One of my colleagues goes every year and loves it. Her folks live there though so makes it easier. 

Cheers for the tips! What's the journey time like between Glasgow and Edinburgh? We definitely won't be doing it this year as we've got Mach and too much other stuff on, but it's something we'd like to do it at some point for sure.

Nish was actually the first tickets I bought for Mach! We've seen him a few times and never disappoints, so that seemed a must-see. Glad it was good. 

Edited February 14, 2022 by Zoo Music Girl

[philipsteak]

3 hours ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

Cheers for the tips! What's the journey time like between Glasgow and Edinburgh? We definitely won't be doing it this year as we've got Mach and too much other stuff on, but it's something we'd like to do it at some point for sure.

Nish was actually the first tickets I bought for Mach! We've seen him a few times and never disappoints, so that seemed a must-see. Glad it was good. 

Ah, nice. I mean you know what you're getting with him don't you, but he was very good. I'd say a step up from his last show. The only shame is he's got much bigger (good for him obviously) since then so has stepped up in venue size which means traveling further for me. 

Think it was about 45 minutes or so on the train. 

[Zoo Music Girl]

Just now, philipsteak said:

Ah, nice. I mean you know what you're getting with him don't you, but he was very good. I'd say a step up from his last show. The only shame is he's got much bigger (good for him obviously) since then so has stepped up in venue size which means traveling further for me. 

Think it was about 45 minutes or so on the train. 

Cool, thanks! We actually saw him on a mixed bill fundraiser thing back in November, when he might have been trying out some of the new stuff. Feels a loooong time since we went to one of his proper shows. 

[Mardy]

On 2/13/2022 at 9:31 PM, Zoo Music Girl said:

Ah cool, thanks for the tips! Edinburgh has always seemed such a daunting prospect so that makes it more doable.

You not doing Glasto this year then? Sure we've had this conversation but probably like three years ago...

If you book the train well in advance and Pollock Halls/Brae House halls of Residence at the right time, you can do Edinburgh fairly reasonably (they seem to release a load of rooms May/June time). Think about 60/70 a night for two people, and Pollock Halls offers a massive breakfast which sets you up for most of the day. 35pppn is alright, I reckon.

Yeah, decided against Glastonbury, I think. Dipped out in the original sale, and not sure I can be going through it all again, that's mainly why I booked Primavera tickets. But after 25 years of going to festivals, last year's EOTR was the best weekend I've ever had in a. field, so I reckon Primavera, Ed Fringe, Green Man and EOTR will do me. 

You doing weekend 1 or 2 or both for Primavera? Weekend 1 for sure, I guess, what with Nick Cave doing that one, amIright?

[Zoo Music Girl]

3 minutes ago, Mardy said:

If you book the train well in advance and Pollock Halls/Brae House halls of Residence at the right time, you can do Edinburgh fairly reasonably (they seem to release a load of rooms May/June time). Think about 60/70 a night for two people, and Pollock Halls offers a massive breakfast which sets you up for most of the day. 35pppn is alright, I reckon.

Yeah, decided against Glastonbury, I think. Dipped out in the original sale, and not sure I can be going through it all again, that's mainly why I booked Primavera tickets. But after 25 years of going to festivals, last year's EOTR was the best weekend I've ever had in a. field, so I reckon Primavera, Ed Fringe, Green Man and EOTR will do me. 

You doing weekend 1 or 2 or both for Primavera? Weekend 1 for sure, I guess, what with Nick Cave doing that one, amIright?

That does sound pretty reasonable! Hopefully we will do it at some point.

Sounds like a bloody lovely summer you've got planned there anyway. I'm fully with you on not going through it all again. I love and miss Glasto loads, but I'd much rather make some solid plans for my summer. We've got Primavera, Mach and hopefully another UK festival still to agree on for the summer, which will do me.

Weekend 1, yes - naturally! How about you?

[Zoo Music Girl]

Just bought our train tickets for this! Followed the top tip I'd seen on the website to go from Marylebone instead of Euston to save about £30 (just means a short walk from Birmingham Moor Street to New Street in the middle) in case anyone else going from London. I am super excited, partly because I've managed to keep it a total surprise so far. Definitely the most elaborate birthday present I've bought anyone.

[Zoo Music Girl]

Tim Key was added yesterday so bought tickets for that too. Really excited for this now!

[philipsteak]

Hopefully means he'll announce a tour soon then. He's only had London dates so far.

[Zoo Music Girl]

1 hour ago, philipsteak said:

Hopefully means he'll announce a tour soon then. He's only had London dates so far.

Yes that seems likely. I've actually never seen him in person but I think he's brilliant.