Disturbia After Dark
A Dark and Disturbing after midnight show featuring
CHEESEBURGER - "Cheeseburger's appeal lies in their shambolic beauty and their knack for writing skewed, off-kilter pop songs that would grace the soundtrack of a David Lynch road movie"- liveclub.co.uk
JAVIER COSTALES - The MC for Disturbia, story-teller, un-settler, seer and "mesmerising absurdist ramblings of a unique comedic mind” (Tickled Pig)
THE NYCO PROJECT - TNP is a London psychedelic band experimenting with video-collage, turning music into moving paintings that merge aural and visual textures and that can be deconstructed in a forthcoming installation.
TOM CASSANI & THOM SHAW - Trans-fixing live art/performance artists experimenting with illusion, sound and image - Tom C's just picked up the BE award 2018 for his show "Someone Loves You Drive With Care" Our favourite mood shapers and perception shifters.
THE PINK SUITS - Poli-Rock /genderf*ck/political rock duo creating live performance crossing the genres of music, dance, theatre, and film - exploring fantasy, sexuality and gender identity.
Zounds
Zounds will be taking to the Backline stage on the Friday! These guys are an anarchist peace punk band having been on Crass’ label in the 70’s. Having shared their political views, Zoundz are sure to be fitting with Byline Festival!
House of Comedy
House of Comedy is proud to bring you the best standups around, guaranteed for a night of laughter.
Elle Bert, known for her powerful mix of observational comedy combined with real life situations all sugar coated with a dark and controversial sense of humour, shall be hosting the first House of Comedy at Byline Festival. For the opening show Elle will be joined by:
Will Preston - South Coast Comedian of the Year 2017/18 is the weirdest man to ever leave Portsmouth. He delivers twisted observational comedy on his hometown, geek culture, and the fact that he looks a bit like a criminal. Further to this, he also regularly hosts Comedy Cabin at Hoxton Cabin.
Sara Mason - Sara Mason is a hilarious, edgy comedian with a wild streak and irrepressible energy (she is slightly bonkers). From her take on politics, love, inter-racial marriage or her colourful life and Beverly Hills background. She premiered her one woman show in 2015 at Edinburgh in Just The Tonic's Mash House, "Burt Lancaster Pierced My Hymen" was enthusiastically received by the public. This is a dark comedy available for touring and performances in Britain and abroad directed by Dave Thompson. Sara has been going for 3 and a half years and stopped counting how many gigs she's done now that it's over 500.
Lindsey Davies - A seasoned gin-drinker and laughter-maker, Lindsey has been working the comedy circuit for five years and made the Regional Final of the 2018 Funny Women Awards. Aside from comedy, Lindsey organised The Homeless Support Stand-Up Project in 2017, which is now a yearly, national event where the comedy circuit bonds together to raise money for non-profit homeless charities. She is also registering for CIC Status to begin The Pound Project, which raises money for deposits and properties for the homeless.
'Amazing Stage Presence - brimming with confidence.' Laff Attack Comedy Club
'Leaving 1500 Bikers aching with laughter and baying for more.' Smacked Arse Comedy
'Needs to drink less gin and find a man.' Her Mum
Paul Cox - A regular favorite of House of Comedy and South Coast Comedian of the Year 2017. 'The Portsmouth gag machine. A natural born funny man. A successful comedy career surely beckons' - Jimmy Bird
Joshua Robertson - Joshua Robertson is a star of BBC3, he’s a multi award winning comic. Joshua is a dynamic and diverse comedian he’s performed around the world from Australia to New York City. Joshua has also performed for Royalty and currently he’s hosting a show talking to disabled people about their sex lives. Joshua is also starring in a comedy/drama short film yet to be announced. A seasoned regular at The House of Comedy he is an absolute corker!
Charmaine Davies - Charmaine has worked with the likes of Judi Dench to Jo Brand. She has been seen on stage, TV and film all over the world including reality TV in America. Starting her career in stand up 6 years ago Charmaine has been seen on BBC 1 , Channel 4, Latest TV and Sky. She can be heard regularly on Talk Radio, Trickstar Radio and recently on Radio 4. Her podcasts often get in the top 5 in the Comedy Charts on mixcloud. For the last 4 years Charmaine had run the Cult comedy night Funny Fursdays in Brighton. Audience warm to her bubbly, friendly and outgoing attitude.
Josh Dillon - "Great act with great jokes. Has the audience entertained from start to finish." Nathan Caton. “Josh Dillon really impressed me with his confidence, his instinctive stage craft and above all some excellent, well crafted gags. One to watch!” Simon Evans. "Josh Dillon is charming, dark and very very funny. I like him a lot.” Sean McLoughlin. “Josh Dillon amuses, surprises and engages the audience with a nicely balanced blend of well timed jokes and devastating dryness. His immaculately maintained dead-pan demeanor leaves you wondering whether you’ve witnessed a comedy routine or the confessions of a sociopath. There are two things I can say for certain; He’s very very funny and I never ever want to get into a staring contest with him.” Joss Gurney, The Laughter Lounge.
Drew Taylor - South Wales based Drew has been making waves all over the UK comedy scene despite only being active since April 2015. Sharp, observational comedy at its best, Drew is one to watch for the future. Whilst equally proficient at opening, middling or closing comedy nights, Drew is quickly building a reputation as a specialist comedy MC, combining interactive crowd work with his own brand of unique humour. Performing at some of the biggest clubs in the U.K. such as Jongleurs, Hot Water, Frog and Bucket and Glee Club; Drew also recently hosted the big closing gala at the Merthyr Comedy Festival in South Wales.
Will Purdue and Lisa Bec
Mercury Heart’s brand of punchy, original garage rock is distinctly modern, but in line with a tradition that goes back through Jack White and The Black Keys to the early Kinks. The songs have been acclaimed as “original, intelligent music” (The Independent), and by Time Out as “unorthodox rock’n’roll”. Singer/Songwriter Simon says: “Each song is a journey. In every one, even if it is just three minutes long, you have to take the listener somewhere, give them a good time, show them something unexpected, and then bring them home a little changed.”
Arid Wave
Formed in Southampton in late 2013, Arid Wave take the grungey sounds of the 1990's and give them a venomous modern edge.
With their buzzsaw guitars, frantic drums, grimey basslines and wretched, angsty vocals, Arid Wave are a full bore live experience.
Delphis
Delphis formed in 2014 and were the winners of the "Purbeck Rising" competition in 2016. Made up of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike FLoyd and classically trained singer and recorder player Julia Simpson, they have played festivals in Dorset and Sussex and regularly perform in and around London. Despite typically performing their original songs as an acoustic due they occasionally like to mix things up and perform in a full band configuration which includes a Cello.