News that the Tokyo Shock Boys are returning for this year's TV2 International Laugh! Festival will doubtless have some reaching for the smelling salts. The body-abusin' slapstick and sometimes cornball outfit are among the first to be confirmed for a gala that organisers expect will be even bigger than last year, when 120,000 tickets were sold.
Also announced is the first appearance here of acclaimed cross-dressing British comedian Eddie Izzard.
From ever-changing and mostly improvised one-man shows, Izzard has diversified into film (The Avengers and Velvet Goldmine, but don't hold that against him) and last year appeared as Lenny Bruce in a British stage show, Lenny.
Billed as "action transvestite," Izzard's shows are surreal, free-form monologues - with pretty dresses.
Also announced are British comic Jim Tavare, Ross Noble (voted best live comedian of 99 by London's Time Out), the Four Noels from Australia, Papa Ronnie Edwards from Jamaica via Canada, and British comedian John Maloney who performed sellout shows in the Edinburgh and Melbourne comedy festivals.
The full programme will be announced late next week and tickets will be on sale, as always, from April 1.
* Dance guru Moby who has confounded and delighted his legion of followers over a series of albums, is confirmed for a return show in Auckland.
Since he was last here Moby's story has been one of success upon success. His latest album Play - which had samples of old blues alongside his intelligent techno and electronica - was a return to winning form after his thrash-punk album Animal Rights of 97.
It garnered critical plaudits (not the least from this paper, whose writers voted it one of the top 10 albums of 99) and saw him nominated for two Grammys and Best International Artist at the Brit awards.
As a live act he is also on a roll and his last show here was a sellout. This time he'll be playing a bigger venue, yet to be confirmed, but you can circle Thursday, July 20, on your calendar.
Tickets on sale Monday, through Ticketek and the usual outlets.
* And other people we like a lot are coming back, too. Spearhead have confirmed shows in Wellington and Auckland, their fourth tour of duty here, for late next month.
The last Spearhead show in 98 had critics and punters alike raving ("brilliant, once again," concluded Herald reviewer Russell Baillie) and Franti last week said they were excited by presenting new material from their forthcoming albums. Yep, albums plural. More on that soon.
Spearhead play Victoria University on Friday, April 28, and the Powerstation, Auckland, on Saturday, April 29. Tickets on sale at the usual outlets now.
* First-time visitor is Irish finger-style folk guitarist Colin Reid, who comes trailing high praise from the likes of Bert Jansch ("Colin reminds me of myself and John Renbourn fused together") and the Independent's influential reviewer Andy Gill ("both as a performer and composer, he is a huge talent.")
Reid will host a guitar workshop on Wednesday at Grand Central, 126 Ponsonby Rd, and play at Atomic Cafe, 121 Ponsonby Rd, on Friday. Tickets for both available at the door.
<i>Fanfare</i> - That's not sick, that's funny
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