Five comedians at festivals to watch out for

Photo: Katherine Ryan

It's very easy to overlook the comedy line ups at festivals. With the emphasis seemingly on who the headline musicians are going to be and where they'll playing, it's easy to forget that many festivals around the country also feature some of the most respected and hotly tipped comedians out there.

We've scoured our festival guide and come up with five comedians and comedy acts that we wholeheartedly recommend seeing this summer.

Sara Pascoe

Where: Green Man / Leeds / Reading

Brought to mass attention through her stints on Live at the Apollo, QI, and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Sara Pascoe is pretty much one of the finest comedians on the circuit, managing to be both interesting and funny throughout her routines, which veer between self-deprecation and daft tangents with plenty of character. Watch her in action above.

Miles Jupp

Where: Festival Number 6

He's come a long way since his role as Archie the Inventor in Balamory, but we're so glad he made the journey. Always a highlight on any TV panel show he appears in, Miles Jupp's precise, deadpan brilliance will have you grinning from ear to ear.

Kurupt FM

Where: MADE Birmingham / One Dance / Nass / Creamfields

We've said it before, we're big fans of the Kurupt FM crew. Using UK Garage, MCing and DJing as a back drop, MC Grindah (formerly MC Sniper), DJ Beats, Chabuddy G and Decoy riff through hilarious routines, off the cuff conversations and side-splitting MCing. It's a format that could easily fall flat, but these guys have absolutely nailed it. Watch their 'How to MC Properly' instructional video above.

Katherine Ryan

Where: Latitude / Festival Number 6 / Leeds / Reading

The award winning comedian has been lighting up our screens for some time now, with her last appearance for Frankie Boyle's Election Autopsy being a particular winner. Her excitable, quick-witted delivery ranges from celeb potshots to thought provoking feminist arguments, lifting her above so many of her contemporaries. 

Alan Davies

Where: Latitude

The hugely loveable anchor of QI has such a warm delivery that you're instantly drawn in. He's been going strong since the early nineties and with good reason - his observational comedy blends the every day with the bizarre, the risqué with the family friendly, all with great aplomb. 

Check out our complete Festival Guide here. Head here for more on comedy.