Here's the best music across the county this week plus plays, musicals and standup comedy events, July 29 to August 4 2019.
There's always plenty going on across the county so if you're looking for some evening or weekend entertainment, you've come to the right place. Here's our pick of the Durham plays, stand-up and music events.
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#1: Darlington Comedy Festival
The Darlington Comedy Festival continues this week. On Tuesday July 30 it's the turn of George Rigden and Ben Van der Velde at the Old English Gentleman, Darlington. Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm.
George Rigden's show is Spooning With Uri. As a child, George Rigden (Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year nominee 2017) was friends with Uri Geller for two years. This is the bizarre but true story of that friendship.
Ben Van der Velde's show is Fablemaker. Jump into an improvised comedy adventure with this 'master of audience interaction' (Huffington Post) as he raids the library of his fantastical imagination to create thrillers, romances, ghost stories and more original freewheeling tales that have never been told before and never will be again.
Tickets cost £5 plus 50p booking fee. You can purchase tickets* from the official booking page.
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Then on Wednesday July 31 at 7.30pm it's the turn of Sam Avery and Hayley Ellis. Sam Avery's show is Toddlergeddon. Join award-winning comedian and bestselling author Sam Avery (aka The Learner Parent) as he bashes through ideas for his next show. Some of it will be gold. Some of it will never be said again. Help him find out which is which.
Hayley Ellis's show is Nobody Puts Hayley in a Corner. As featured in the top Edinburgh Fringe jokes of all time in The Scotsman, The Independent and The Mirror, Hayley Ellis is back with a new show about being easily influenced, putting water in your belly button and awkward holidays.
Tickets* cost £5 plus 50p booking fee on the booking website.
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#2: Hilarity Bites Comedy Club, Outstanding Art
Outstanding Art in Durham is hosting this week's Hilarity Bites Comedy Club featuring Craig Murray, Rahul Kohli, and host Lou Conran. It's on Thursday August 1, doors 7.30pm.
Craig Murray - recognisable as the face of Plusnet Broadband adverts - has been described as having 'a great line in Northern humour' by Spoonfed and 'bloody funny' by Jo Brand.
Rahul Kohli is a 'slick gag machine' (Chortle). 'Kohli is not just performing for laughs; he is attempting to create some real art' (Broadway Baby).
Host Lou Conran is 'as filthy as she is fabulous, Lou Conran is a superlative storyteller' (Edinburgh Guide).
Tickets* cost £10 plus £1 booking fee from the official booking page.
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Then on Saturday August 3 the Hilarity Bites Comedy Club is at the Forum Music Centre Darlington, doors 7.30pm. Craig Murray is back along with Britain's Got Talent runner-up 2018 Robert White, and host Ross Brierley.
Tickets* cost £10 plus £1 booking fee from the official booking page.
#3: Baskery and Annie Dressner, Old Cinema Launderette
The Old Cinema Launderette in Durham is holding its Launderette Sessions on Friday August 2, featuring Swedish Americana band Baskery and New York singer-songwriter Annie Dressner. Doors at 7pm with support at 7.45pm.
Tickets* cost £15 plus £1.50 booking fee from the booking site.
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#4: Mama's Broke plus Shipcote & Friends trio, Old Cinema Launderette
On Saturday August 3, doors 7.30pm, at the Old Cinema Launderette Durham is Mama's Broke, a young and powerful old timey folk country duo.
Tickets* cost £12 plus £1.20 booking fee from the booking site.
#5: Measure For Measure, Empire Theatre Consett
When a young novice nun is compromised by a corrupt official, who offers to save her brother from execution in return for sex, she has no idea where to turn for help. When she threatens to expose him, he tells her that no one would believe her.
Measure For Measure at the Empire Theatre Consett is on Wednesday July 31 at 7pm and is a screening by the RSC Live.
Tickets cost £14 and £12 concessions from the booking site. It's also on at the Gala Theatre.
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#6: Chicago: High School Edition, Durham Gala Theatre
The Gala Theatre Stage School is performing Chicago on July 31 to August 3 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. In roaring twenties Chicago, chorine (chorus girl) Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap - until he finds out he's been duped and turns on Roxie.
Tickets cost £16, £14 concessions, from the booking site.
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