Moontower Just For Laughs AUSTIN festival has released the club show lineup along with the daily schedule for the comedy festival April 12-23, 2023, featuring original shows, live podcast recordings, parties and special events, and the most hilarious performances in stand-up, sketch, and more.
This year’s festival headliners include Seth Meyers, Chelcie Lynn, Ben Schwartz and Friends, Howie Mandel, Leslie Jones, Jenny Slate, Samantha Bee, Vir Das, Felipe Esparza, Giggly Squad, Nimesh Patel, Chris Distefano, Monét X Change, Megan Stalter+Patti Harrison+Sarah Sherman, My Brother, My Brother and Me, Jay Pharoah, Big Jay Oakerson, Brad Williams, Carlos Ballarta, Chad & JT, Kenny Sebastian, Maria Bamford, Randy Feltface, Matt Rife, Preacher Lawson, Robert Kelly, Lisa Ann Walter, and Ashley Gavin. Most of these headlining shows are headed to the historic stages at the Paramount and Stateside theatres.
But the final weekend of the fest, April 19-22, is when the comedy binge really takes hold of the city, as over 100 comedians from all over head into 10 central downtown Austin venues for a can’t-miss marathon of laughter. All festival badge types grant access to the club shows, providing attendees with an abundance of options each night.
Many of the club shows feature an impressive lineup of multiple comedians performing back-to-back, like Best of the Fest with Sahib Singh, Chris Tellez, Sophie Buddle, Amy Miller and more and New York’s Finest bringing the best of the Big Apple with Punkie Johnson, Mike Vecchione, Andrew Dismukes, Judy Gold, Devon Walker, Dulcé Sloan, Big Jay Oakerson and others. Stars in Bars brings Adam Ray, Jeremiah Watkins, Brad Williams, Rojo Perez, Dana Gould, Andrea Jin, Ashley Gavin and Laurie Kilmartin. For a show packed with comedians with Texas roots, check out Wildflowers with Andrew Dismukes, Shane Torres, Devon Walker, Bryson Brown, Ever Mainard, Tone Bell, Ali Clayton, John Wynn, Chris Tellez, Sarah Tollemache, and Avery Moore.
And stop in at Cheers, Queers for sets with Guy Branum, Ashley Gavin, Ian Fidance, Brandi Davis, Liza Treyger, Dylan Sullivan, and Molly Kearney. The fest has partnered with The Little Gay Shop in Austin for Big Gay Nights Out!, where patrons can enjoy a pre-show happy hour and gathering before select LGBTQIA+ shows like this one. All are welcome.
In addition to those with multiple performers, some club shows center on a single comic or small group, like Bryson Brown, Ashley Gavin, Ian Lara, Lisa Ann Walter, Guy Branum, Punkie Johnson, Preacher Lawson, Jason Freid, Moses Storm, and Business Casual, a high-energy sketch trio. And once again this year, Moontower comedy festival will welcome a few shows in Spanish, with Carlos Ballarta as well as a Spanish version of Stamptown, a raunchy and chaotic variety show.
Always a great place to catch live podcasts, Moontower will have more than their fair share again this year. Dumb People Town returns with The Sklar Brothers, Daniel Van Kirk and hilarious guests. There’s also Bein’ Ian with Jordan featuring Ian Fidance and Jordan Jensen, Y’all Gay? Hosted by Ali Clayton and Ever Mainard, You know What Dude hosted by Robert Kelly, and many more.
Moontower comedy festival badges grant access beyond the club shows as well, including special events like the inaugural Moontower Just For Laughs AUSTIN Swingers Brunch & Golf Classic at Butler Pitch and Putt on Friday, April 21. It’s the official “party within the party” that kicks off the busiest weekend of the festival. Comedians and badge holders will tee off together as The Sklar Brothers, of ESPN’s Cheap Seats, provide the color commentary. Burgers, biscuits and beer will be available. And keep an eye out for Big Rib Rodeo with Shane Torres and Blair Socci for a BBQ eating contest paired with mechanical bull riding. It is Texas, after all.
After you pick up your Club Badge on April 19th, head next door to 800 Congress for happy hour at 5 p.m. and live podcasts presented by Rooster Teeth! Austin’s own fan-driven, community-built, digital content creator brings their popular Rooster Teeth Podcast and Podcast But Outside to Moontower Just For Laughs AUSTIN for the first time this year.
The full Moontower Just for Laughs AUSTIN lineup and schedule is available at moontowercomedyfest.com. Club Badges as well as individual tickets to select shows are still available for purchase online at the Paramount Theatre box office or by calling 512-474-1221.
Follow the Moontower comedy festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MoontowerComedy, Twitter @moontowercomedy, and Instagram @MoontowerComedy.