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Luxury Models

26 Mar

© Richard Martin

As we wait patiently for further news about Series 2 of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy, some kind soul has uncovered some fascinating background info about the show to tide us over.

Richard Martin is the model maker whose creations populated the series’ unique visual world. His models include such seminal props as The Golden Needle, used by Fantasy Man to repair the rift in the barrier between YouTube and YouPorn, Ice Cream Eyes’ ice cream eyes, and the frisbee that doubles up as a Greek dipping platter and also has the face of Brian Eno – plus many more besides!

To see the weird and wonderful models that Martin created for the show and to read his comments about them visit his website here. Wonderful stuff!

Editor’s Note: Thanks to oohyeahboomalackaway and funeral-march on tumblr for spotting this.

Teenage Cancer Trust Comedy Night: Review

22 Mar

Wednesday evening was the comedy night of 2013′s Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. The evening was hosted by Noel Fielding and Russell Brand, and as you’d expect, we were there to take notes. Velveteer Mog reports:

It’s fair to say that I’ve managed to see Noel Fielding live more times than is strictly necessary and/or healthy. But I’d never seen him perform as The Goth Detectives with Russell Brand until now. This alone was reason enough to warrant a ticket to the TCT Comedy Night. That, and it’s for a good cause.

© The Evening Standard

The Albert Hall is a grand, imposing venue and it was fulll to the rafters with people who had paid up to £50 for a ticket: two facts that might influence one’s expectations about the type of entertainment on offer. I wondered how the Goth Detectives’ somewhat haphazard improvised style would come across. I needn’t have worried: from the moment they skipped on stage holding hands to Love Cats by the Cure, through to the interval, the duo crackled and buzzed with mischief and charm. The audience were putty in their hands, and while the majority of people there were clearly already fans, the Goth Detectives genuinely impressed.

Of particular delight was the opening film, animated in the style of Luxury Comedy‘s Joey Ramone sketch, by Nigel Coan. Visually lovely, created for one night only, and very, very funny – a lot of effort had been put into the film and the crowd appreciated it. Russell and Noel’s search for a secretary, complete with a powerpoint-style chart detailing minimum wage levels and a multiple-choice interview, was well thought-through, and rewarding because of it. Russell’s protestations about removing the attractive blond from the stage because otherwise he would be incapable of concentrating on the show felt fresh and spontaneous. And then there was a wonderful film of the Moon at the end of the first half, where he paid respect to the memory of Neil Armstrong. Yes, The Goth Detectives were shambolic, but there were enough pillars of material to hold everything up, and the chemistry between them kept things bubbling along at a cracking pace.

© Mog

For me, the second half of the show didn’t quite reach the same dizzying heights, however. There seemed to be fewer moments of considered comedic intent, with the result that the improvised content meandered rather more than it had done previously. The dynamic between the pair also subtly shifted to become less of an equal partnership and more focused around Brand, whose ego is perhaps a tad larger than his cohort’s.

The result of this was a harsher, less nuanced and more bullying second half of the show: crank phonecalls were made to audience member’s families, Philip the student had his hair hacked off and the knob/etc gags were never far away.

Noel seemed less able to fully engage with Brand, who by this point only really had eyes for himself. Whilst the energy levels in the room were still sky high, I think the performance suffered as a result; by the end anarchy ruled the Albert Hall to the extent that no one was quite sure that the show had actually finished.

In between all of this two other performers added some well-received texture and focus: Sheann Walsh presented a fresh, London-centric take on observational comedy (his mime of reaching the upper level of a bus only to find there are no available seats was utter genius), and Tony Law simply knocked people’s socks off. I watched him turn a row of people in front of me from confused to bemused, then to rolling in the aisles. Masterful stuff.

Overall it was a fun night, and all involved should be commended for putting on a show of this scale for free. There’s definitely a spark of magic to be seen between the two Goth Detectives, but whether they’re a viable double act beyond the first half hour remains to be seen.

Before you go, take a look at the short film below about the Goth Detectives Comedy Night made by TCT, then why not head on over to their website to see how you can support the brilliant work that they do? 

Luxury Merch To Look Forward To

9 Feb

© Dave Brown

If you follow Dave Brown on twitter you’ll know that some pretty awesome Luxury Comedy merchandise is on the cards. We managed to extract some further information from everyone’s favourite monkey man about what’s being planned:

Dave has confirmed that the online store is almost ready, and in addition to the rather wonderful Bryan Ferry kite that actually flies (see left), there will also be finger puppets (so you can recreate your own Luxury Comedy promo campaign), along with the more traditional shirts, cards, posters etc. Knowing Dave’s attention to detail and Noel’s predilection for the off-kilter, you can be sure they’ll be something special.

Dave’s promised to keep us posted, so as soon as there’s any more news we’ll be sure to let you know!

NME Awards 2013: Vote Now!

24 Jan

© NME

You came and you nominated.  And lo and behold, Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy is (deservedly) one of the nominees in the ‘Best TV Show’ category!

So now it’s time to get voting, to remind the nation just how darned good it is. It’s up against stiff competition, so head on over to the NME, make sure you’re logged in, and then click on your preferred option in each category to vote.  As well as Luxury Comedy, you can also vote for musical friends of Fielding, in the form of Kasabian and Tame Impala.

You have until 20th February to vote, so go, go, go!

Luxury Postponed

6 Jan

© Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

The UK release date of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy DVD has been pushed back to July.

Those of us who have been counting down the days until we could immerse ourselves in the kaleidoscope of Noel’s mind will sadly have a few more months to wait. The UK release was previously scheduled for later this month, but the revised date of 1st July will hopefully coincide with Series 2 of the show. So with any luck we’ll be able to enjoy double the mind candy, come the summer!

Australian fans have been able to buy the Series 1 Luxury Comedy DVD since August 2012 – more than 10 months before us Brits can get our mitts on it! Patience is a virtue etc.

Don’t forget you can pre-order from TVO’s amazon store for only £11.99, so you’ll receive it as soon as it’s released.

2012: A Year In Interviews

2 Jan

In 2012 we were lucky enough to get the chance to chat to a few of the artists that we write about on these pages. So here’s a look back at some of the year’s interviews – and the fascinating, colourful and revealing comments that were shared. A big thank you to everyone who gave us their time and permitted us to poke cameras and dictaphones in their faces – we couldn’t do this without you! 

© Dave Brown

“You kind of get sick of photographers going: ‘What about this? Let’s try a look. Gimme a look! thumbs up, relax that jaw, big smile, oooh, Cheeky! Whuhey!’ All that kind of crap. Whereas with this, it was the opposite and I think they enjoyed the novelty. I think there’s a certain power to looking moody.”
Dave Brown talks about the un-comedy portraits in his photography exhibition ‘Tough Crowd’

“You do sort of wonder how many more good dresses you can pull out of your wardrobe. I might just turn up to the next one looking like Tina and go: ‘Hi, everyone. I’m not actually a film star. I don’t have the wardrobe for this.’”
Alice Lowe discusses dressing for the multiple Sightseers premiers

“They keep going on! The London Film Festival was the gala screening, and I went to Cannes for the premiere there, which was very exciting. They had one last Thursday, which I couldn’t go to, and then this one tonight, which is being called the UK Premiere. I’m not sure what the difference is anymore, but it will be fun. I get to wear my suit again.”
Richard Glover’s take on dressing for the multiple Sightseers premiers

© Examiner

“That is completely Noel’s fault. I kept saying ‘Can’t I be called something like Jana or another German name?’ and he said ‘No, Dolly is better’ and he and Nigel Coan were absolutely certain that I was going to be called Dolly. I got really self-conscious about it, and in the early days of filming Tom Meeten enjoyed putting my name in every single sentence because I was so embarrassed about it.”
Dolly Wells squirms about playing a character called ‘Dolly’ on Luxury Comedy

“Before Boosh, I was the shyest person in the world. I was scared of my own shadow, I wouldn’t talk to anyone that I didn’t know. Boosh has made me who I am now. It’s given me an animated, childish confidence. People say that when you’re thirty, you can’t be stupid like that anymore, but who says? There’s no rules!”
Mike Fielding in introspective mood

“We thought we knew what we were doing – we didn’t – and suddenly we found ourselves on stage with all these people like Simon Farnaby. They assumed we must be good, so we had to come up with something. It was all an accident, no actual decisions were made.”
John ‘Willie’ Hopkins talks about his appearances at Ealing Live with Richard Glover.

© Amelia’s Magazine

“I’m not sure I have much of an opinion on mainstream music – I just don’t really listen to it! I imagine if I did listen too much I might not be too complimentary about it, so best not to get involved! Or maybe that’s where I’m going wrong. I think I’ll go and check out the charts RIGHT NOW!”
Sue Denim’s views on mainstream music

“You do get to see why it’s a bad idea to go and kill people, in a really cathartic way.”
Alice Lowe notes that Sightseers has a strong moral code 

“Maybe he doesn’t like the idea of being moody for me…the offer’s there, Paul, whenever you’re ready, stop body swerving me and get on your frown for Brown!”
Dave Brown courting Paul Foot for ‘Tough Crowd’

“Yeah. It’s not like I’m gonna go: ‘Well, actually, it’s funny you should say that. I’ve got a little pot of spunk in my pocket.‘”
Mike Fielding’s reaction to fans screaming at him that they want to have his babies

“My brother never stops talking. Usually about sweets.”
Noel Fielding’s analysis of bother Mike

“I’ve secretly always wanted to be in the S.A.S. A friend of mine used to say I could have been in the S.A.S. but on reception.”
Richard Glover talks about his alternative career path

“I’ve got my balls out on telly, they’re horrible things…I’ve got really dangly balls.”
Tom Meeten discusses his award-winning appendages

“Keep the faith! And let’s get The Boosh to make a film before they get too old and grey!”
Oly Ralfe’s message from NY to TVO readers

“Writing with Alice is like writing with your wife. It really is just like being with your wife, and arguing on holiday, whilst sightseeing, then writing it down.
Steve Oram’s take on writing Sightseers with Alice Lowe

© Big Talk Pictures

“I tend to write the first draft of stuff, then Amy totally rewrites it! She changes everything, and I’ve learnt over our twenty-odd year relationship to understand how that works for the greater good.”
Director Ben Wheatley’s approach to working with his long-term partner, Amy Jump

“We’ve got the power to take people on a journey – if we want to go to the moon, then let’s go to the moon for 10 minutes!”
Joey Page on the power of stand-up

© Marjorie Keak

“If a drama show goes out on TV and it’s not that good no one kicks up a fuss, no one goes ‘Whoever commissioned this should be shot. I want my license fee back!’ I could easily say that a drama that doesn’t engage me in the first five minutes is the same as a comedy that doesn’t make me laugh, but people just don’t mind as much – they just accept that it’s not their cup of tea. But rarely do people accept that about comedy!”
Dan Clark takes on the harsh critics of comedy

“There’s no limits with him, whereas when you meet an actor for the first time it can be a bit awkward to pull their trousers down or something. With Richard, you can punch him in the face, rape him, and he’ll still come back for more.”
Steve Oram shows his love for working with Richard Glover on Sightseers

“I’ve been looking at Noel’s face constantly for three years, and even I watch him and say ‘There’s NY Cop’. I don’t say ’There’s Noel doing NY Cop’. You’re not looking at Noel, you’re looking at the character. It’s pretty incredible because he’s got such a pointy, distinctive face.”
Nigel Coan, director of Luxury Comedy, talks about Noel’s character performances

“I can’t believe they didn’t have Minstrels!”
Mike Fielding

© Secret Peter / Channel 4

The Velvet Onion Calendar 2013

31 Dec

The Velvet Onion is pleased to continue its tradition of a yearly Calendar, available for free download!

calendarpics

Once again we’ve been working with a number of our friends both in front of the camera and behind it, to bring you twelve great months to print out and stick up on your wall between January 1st and December 31st.

With yet another new design from Velveteer Lauren “Lozzy” Taylor, based on our fresh looking website layout, we really hope you like the results – which are available for a free download now.

GET YOUR FREE 2013 CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE NOW!

Thank you to everyone involved, and to all of you – our dearest Peelers – for a truly fantastic 2012… Happy New Year everyone, and here’s to a glorious 2013 for all!

NME Awards 2013 – Get Nominating!

16 Dec

© NME

The nominations are now open for the 2013 NME Awards, and it’s up to you who gets shortlisted!

Of course, there are several categories that deserve, nay demand, a TVO-related nominee! And 2012 has kindly provided us with a few options. For Best TV Show the psychedelic colour explosion that is Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy surely warrants a nomination? Or there’s award-winning Hunderby, Moone Boy, new Alan Partridge or the much-missed Mongrels.

Best Film?  How about Sightseers, written by and starring Alice Lowe and Steve Oram? For Best video you could nominate Tanlines ‘All of Me’, directed by none other than Julian Barratt, and for the various musical category nominations take a long look at the ‘Musicians‘ panel on the right hand side of this page and get typing! Wouldn’t it be nice if someone a bit less predictable won Best Album this year (Sue & The Unicorn or Loose Tapestries anyone?).

Finally, would it be too cheeky to suggest that The Velvet Onion Live would be a worthy nominee for Best Small Festival? And then there’s Best Fan Community? Ahem ;-)

You can make your nominations here. Go on, let’s make the 2013 awards our own! We’ll be letting you know when the subsequent voting commences, but in the meantime it’s over to you…

Craft Winners!

28 Nov

© Channel 4/Secret Peter

There were some well-deserved victories for TVO-related TV shows at last night’s Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards 2011/12.

The awards recognise the achievements of the people who work behind the cameras – the designers, technicians and and visual artists who help to produce the programmes we watch.

We’re delighted to reveal that Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy picked up two awards: Ameena Kara Callender & Noel Fielding won the award for Best Costume Design Entertainment & Non Drama Productions, beating Strictly Come Dancing and another TVO-related show, Horrible Histories. Their win was described by RTS as, “A true collaboration, a seamless piece of highly creative work that is a live cartoon – true visual madness!”

Christine Cant was honoured for her wonderful make-up design on the series scooping up Best Make Up Design Entertainment & Non Drama Productions. Christine’s contribution was described as, “Sheer creativity and madness.” RTS then went on to say, “Our winner’s interpretation of Noel’s work was seamlessly integrated with the costume design. Great skill was demonstrated in the various make up techniques employed here, including bold and fantastic colouration.”

© BBC

Mongrels also picked up an award, well-deserved in our opinion. Andy Heath & Iestyn Evans of Talk to the Hand won ‘Best Special Effects’ for Series 2, beating the much-lauded Downtown Abbey in the process.

RTS said of the win, “It’s not easy to add humour and comedic timing to a puppet show, but our winners succeeded and on a very tight schedule.”

For a full run down of the winners and nominees across all categories click here. Congratulations to everyone who picked up a gong!

Dolly On The Telly

8 Nov

© BBC

Dolly Wells will be known to most of you lovely lot as Noel Fielding‘s uber-cool neighbour in Luxury Comedy. And now she has a new TV role!

Dolly features in the regular cast line-up of new BBC Three comedy Some Girls, directed by Adam Miller. The show revolves around the lives of four 16 year old girls who live in South London. The Radio Times says of them: “They swear, have sex and regularly countermand their mothers and fathers.” So far so normal, huh? Dolly plays the part of their Antipodean PE teacher, Anna.

The first episode of the 6-part series aired on Tuesday evening, and is currently available to watch on iPlayer by clicking here. Episode 2 airs next Tuesday at 10pm on BBC Three. For more information about the series visit the show’s website, where you’ll find a whole page dedicated to Dolly’s character.

What Noel Did Next

23 Oct

The excitement generated by Noel Fielding and Rich Fulcher‘s visit to Australia has got fans in the US asking when they can have a turn. Indeed, an online campaign has kicked off with the aim of letting Noel’s management know that it’s time he headed Stateside.

© Prudence Upton

We contacted his management to find out if a trip to the US is on the cards in the near future and, sadly, it looks like we may have to wait a while. Here’s what they told us: “There are no plans for an American tour at the moment – he’s right back into work on the second series of Luxury Comedy when he’s back from Australia.” They reckon it’s probably going to keep him busy until Autumn 2013.

While that means lots of new Luxury Comedy goodies for everyone, unfortunately it doesn’t bode well for overseas tours between now and then. But while there might be a long wait ahead, the campaign that fans are organising can’t do any harm in making sure the US is top of mind as a destination if and when the much-talked-about Luxury Comedy live shows are being planned. Here’s hoping!

In other Noel live news, some of you may be aware that he was forced to cancel his first (Tuesday) Melbourne show at the last-minute due to illness. Ticket holders weren’t informed until after the scheduled start of the show which, understandably, has caused some consternation amongst fans. All Tuesday tickets will be valid for the rescheduled show on Thursday evening (or given full refunds if preferred). We hope everyone who has been affected by the cancellation has been able to re-organise themselves around the date change; we know how long you guys have been waiting for this!

Finally, please don’t forget to send us your pictures, reviews and comments from Noel and Rich’s trip to Australia. We’ll be compiling a review article over the weekend, and it’d be great to have as many of you included. For more information click here. Thanks!

Fielding-Flavoured Treats in Oz

14 Oct

You all know by now that Noel Fielding is performing a series of live dates in Australia between 19th and 24th October (soon!). But what’s he going to be getting up to while he’s there?

© Mog

Firstly, he’ll be appearing on The Doctor’s radio show on tripleJ between 3 and 5:30pm on Friday 19th October (Australian Eastern Daylight Time), just before his first gala show in Sydney. What’s more, for the people out there who just can’t get enough of the funnies (and let’s be honest, that’s most of us), you can also hear Rich Fulcher on The Doctor’s show on Wednesday 17th October between 3 and 5:30pm. You can listen to both broadcasts live by clicking here - even if you don’t live down under.

We were lucky enough to catch Noel perform a warm-up gig this weekend, and you’re in for a real treat if you’ve got tickets for one of his Australian shows. It was classic Fielding stand-up: manic and unhinged, and sprinkled with fresh flourishes and new detours. By the end of his set he’d charmed the hard-to-impress London comedy crowd who, having had had their minds focused on observational comedy for the previous hour, had to be lured into the delightful world of the improbable.
Noel will be adding some never-seen-before elements into the Australian shows, which he’s keeping under wraps until he gets there. And while we don’t want to give too much away (come on, we all love surprises!), what we can say is expect some brand new interactive moments, one of two Luxury Comedy characters, and even some music.
We only wish we could be there too!

Luxury Comedy Revealed

20 Jul

© Secret Peter/E4

Earlier this week Noel Fielding was interviewed by Canberra’s BMA Magazine, as part of his current Australian press junket. What makes this interview worth a mention is that the interviewer managed to get some fascinating new insights about Luxury Comedy.

For a start we get to find out exactly how Daddy Push’s shell head was created; we hear about Noel’s thoughts on recording series 2 in front of a live studio audience; and we discover which characters he thought were more and less successful in series 1.

It’s a real pleasure to read an article by someone who clearly knows their stuff, and interviewer Allan Sko has also taken the trouble to include the full transcript of his 25 minute chat with Noel, so we also get to find out about tons of extra stuff – like Noel’s hatred of reality TV and snuff comedy gigs.

To read the main interview take a peek here, and to check out the full transcript have a wander over there.

 

Noel Sees The Doctor

16 Jul

© BBC

Noel Fielding can be heard over the radio waves in Australia tomorrow (Tuesday 17th)

With the airing of last years series of Never Mind the Buzzcocks due in Aus, and the latest news of the early release of Luxury comedy, Noel will be talking to The Doctor (not our sci-fi Doctor) on TripleJ, tomorrow from 5pm GMT + 10 (8am for UK peelers).

The Doctor’s show however begins at 3pm Aussie time so why not tune in early on to hear what is to come!

Earlybird Brits or any of you around the world can listen right here. If you wont be able to join Fielding in the early hours then a podcast will be available in due course.

The Luxurious Digital Oz!

11 Jul

© Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Ltd

Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy is to receive it’s dvd premiere in Australia next month.

News of the release of the entire first series, complete with extras including behind the scenes footage, first appeared on blog The Momus Report, and naturally, we at TVO were highly curious.  After all, this release is seemingly premature – with the UK launch date pencilled in for early next year, and for once, we were completely out of the loop!

TVO confirmed news of the release with Noel directly today, as well as the possibility that a release in R2 may – and we stress may – be pushed forward to compensate.  We’re sure we can speak for the fans when we say we’re really hoping this happens, and that a dvd is joined by a simultaneous blu-ray release to really take advantage of the glorious visual canvas Noel & Nigel Coan crafted for the series.

With plans for series two starting to take shape (more on those in due course, but don’t think you’re just getting more of the same!) – it does make logical sense for the first series to be released in tandem with its launch, but if you’re desperate to have Luxury Comedy in your Christmas stocking, let us know in the comments on this article.

In the meantime, check out our behind the scenes documentary which provided peelers with an exclusive insight into the making of a cult classic, below.

 

Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy is released on dvd in Australia on August 22nd.

Channel 4′s Comedy Celebration

16 Jun

Channel 4 will be marking its 30th anniversary with a fortnight of exciting new comedy – and there are a number of TVO-related artists in the mix!

© Ben Meadows

One of the highlights of  Channel 4′s Funny Fortnight is a brand new sitcom, Toast of London, co-written by and starring Matt Berry. Matt plays the part of a successful actor, Steven Toast, who has made a recent career faux pass of starring in a new controversial West End play. The play is considered so outrageous, that Toast is often attacked by disgusted members of the public!

Also showing is a new two-part sketch show, Them From That Thing, which features Kayvan Novak (Four Lions), alongside a host of other famous faces from the world of comedy and drama. Set in a world where serious characters say and do very stupid things, Them From That Thing combines great British drama with a silly, unhinged comic sensibility. Charlie Brooker features amongst the writing credits, and the show is produced by Derren Schlesinger (Four Lions, Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy).

Bad Sugar will also form part of the fortnight, and it’s a show that we’ve mentioned previously – for obvious reasons: it was conceived by and stars Julia Davis and Sharon Horgan, along with Olivia Coleman. Bad Sugar offers a peculiarly British comedic take on telenovela style melodramas, and also stars Peter Serafinowicz, Kayvan Novak and Reece Shearsmith.

And there’s more…

© The Sun

The Function Room, featuring Kevin Eldon, is a sitcom set in a pub function room. It revolves around pub regulars who have booked the room for different events, and new weekly characters. The episode that features as part of this special fortnight sees the function room being used for a local community ‘Meet The Police’ event, while the locals are only interested in one thing: who is the infamous Shit Egg Killer?

The fortnight of comedy will also include a countdown of the 30 greatest comedy shows as part of Channel 4’s contribution to British comedy, Lost Gems from Channel 4′s archive, and Best Episodes ever chosen by the writers including The IT Crowd, Father Ted, Brass Eye Special, and Star Stories, amongst others.
 
Shows from Comedy Lab, Channel 4’s breeding ground for new talent, will also include Anna and Katy, featuring Anna Crilly and Katy Wix.
 
Channel 4′s Funny Fortnight runs during August and we reckon it sounds awesome! We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we have any more details.
 

© Channel 4

 
 

Luxury Costumes, Ooh Yeah!

6 May

Independent magazine Lip has interviewed trainee Bella Gray, who helped out on wardrobe for Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy.

© Nigel Coan

In the interview, Fantasy Man: One Woman’s Experience Working with Noel Fielding, Gray describes her upbringing in Melbourne as well as how she came to be involved with Luxury Comedy.

She says she still considers the experience on the Luxury Comedy set a “surreal dream”, and claimed that after working with Noel, “I have a feeling nothing will be quite the same.”

To read more about this interesting perspective into the making of Luxury Comedy, click here!

TVO Live: Fresh Layers

30 Apr

Tickets available now!

The Velvet Onion is proud to announce two more names attending The Velvet Onion Live on May 31st at The Vandella, Shepherd’s Bush.

Joining our star-packed line-up are two of the stars of Luxury Comedy – the incredible Dolly Wells and the inimitable Mike Fielding!

Dolly, of course, is best known to Peelers for her role in Luxury Comedy, and she also appeared in two episodes of The IT Crowd, plus 2009 sitcom Free Agents alongside Sharon Horgan and Matt Holness, and prior to that appeared regularly in Star Stories alongside Tom Meeten and Alice Lowe.  She’ll be bringing her unique blend of comedic charm to our incredible line-up at The Vandella, alongside her frequent collaborator - Laura Patch.

We’re also pleased to confirm that Mike Fielding – Naboolio himself – will be spinning the decks with a live DJ set before the show, so get down there early to catch our favourite Shaman in action!

The Velvet Onion Live! takes place on Thursday, May 31st 2012. Tickets are on sale NOW via Ticketweb, priced just £15. Find out more about our amazing line-up RIGHT HERE! Please remember the venue is a licensed bar so it’s 18+ ONLY.

We’ll have a few more surprises tucked away on the night, so you’d be mad not to be there!  The full official line-up, minus said surprises, is as follows:

Alice Lowe ♦ Antony Elvin ♦ Dan Tetsell ♦ David McNeill

DeadDogInBlackBag ♦ Dolly Wells and Laura Patch  ♦ Gareth Tunley

James Bachman ♦ James Cook ♦ Joey Page ♦ Mike Fielding

Rachel Stubbings ♦ Richard Glover ♦ Richard Sandling ♦ Stephen Evans

Steve Oram ♦ Tom Meeten ♦ Waen Shepherd ♦ Will Summers

© BBC Comedy

Sadly, we must also confirm that due to work commitments, the fabulous Lucy Montgomery has had to pull out of her appearance on the night.   Lucy sends her sincerest of apologies and has tried to shift the earth to get there, but sadly these things are sometimes inevitable.

We at The Velvet Onion would like to thank Lucy for being willing to take part, and hope to work with her again soon.  She’ll no doubt be top of our list if we manage to pull off TVO Live 2…

Onion Talking: Dan Clark, Rock’n'Roll Star

24 Apr

As any good peeler will know Dan Clark is performing a short run of his new show These Songs May Contain Jokes from 2nd-5th May at the Soho Theatre in London. We were lucky enough to grab a cuppa and a slice of cake with Dan as he was starting rehearsals for the show. Velveteer Mog reports:

© Mog

Dan Clark is the kind of bloke mothers wish their daughters would bring home: slightly dashing, well-spoken, a hint of tweedy academia – all neatly wrapped up in boyish charm. My Mum’s loss is Dan’s gain.

The day we meet he’s fizzing with excitement about his new live show, having embarked on rehearsals with his band the previous evening. “It was so good, so good!” he beams.

Dan explains why this show differs from previous ones: “The tour (in 2011) was 70% stand-up but this one is mainly music. I had a huge number of songs, some of which I’ve never done before, some that I did in the show last year and some from the TV show – but I needed to make them feel different. We’ve completely reworked them, so even though the lyrics and the jokes are the same they feel very different.”

For the new show the musical partnership of Dan and Ben Parker (“A master of melody and harmony”) has been extended to include bass player, Jimmy Sims (“He’s brilliant and he really gets comedy”) and  drummer Johnny de’Ath (“An amazing professional musician who tours with loads of bands”).

I ask Dan how the writing process plays out now that he’s working with a full band. “They’re all my songs that I go in to play to them,” he explains, “With some of them I’ve got a clear idea of what I can hear at different points, and then at other times I’m like, ‘Here’s the song, what do you think?’ There was one last night that we ended up doing completely differently to how I’d imagined it, and it came to life. I was literally buzzing afterwards – I got to fulfil my rock star fantasies!” His enthusiasm for this project is palpable. He goes on to describe a song he wrote only last week, which will feature in the show: “Ben told me it was the best song I’d ever written so I was beaming with pride. Playing it last night was so much fun – there’s a guitar solo, a drum solo…it’s proper cheesy rock n roll!” Dan looks genuinely delighted.

The enthusiasm with which he talks about These Songs May Contain Jokes leads me to ask if he has plans to tour the show. He says that although he’d love to take it to other cities, sadly it’s not financially viable, and he doesn’t want to scale it down. “If you see the show you’ll see why. I think it feels special – it just has a really good vibe about it.” He says.

© Ben Meadows

So who are the other music/comedy acts that Dan relates to? He cites Flight of the Concords and Tenacious D as examples of artists who strike a balance between being funny with being genuinely musical: “All of our songs are written as comedy but because of the nature of the melodies and chords they don’t sound like ‘comedy jazz hands’…they’re not wacky” Dan explains, waggling his elbows…wackily, by way of illustration. ”They’re all written like I was writing a serious pop song. If you can get a few belly laughs out of a song whilst you’re also caught up in the music it’s brilliant. I’ve got a handful of songs that have managed to achieve both!” He laughs.

Continue reading →

Luxury Comedy Reaches Australia

25 Mar

© Secret Peter / Channel 4

Australian Peelers will soon be able to watch Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy on their own televisions!

The first episode airs on Thursday 5th April on ABC2 at 10.30pm, and is repeated later in the week.

If you have somehow missed out on hearing about Luxury Comedy, you can pop over to the E4 site to catch up on the characters and episodes or browse TVO!

To find out more about the show in Australia click here.

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