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Portland's ninth annual Bridgetown Comedy Festival starts tonight, June 1. Here are WW's top picks of sets to keep you laughing all weekend long.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
Festival Kick-Off Show
Come celebrate the initiation of the ninth annual Bridgetown Comedy Festival at the Kick-Off Show at Doug Fir Lounge. This set will be hosted by Portland's own Gabe Dinger, who was one of WW's 2016 five funniest people. Also performing will be festival co-founder Matt Braunger. Kill Rock Stars Stage at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 7-8:30 pm Wednesday June 1. $15.
Menage à Trio
A new venue joins in the revelry. Trio Lounge hosts not just three, but eight performers for its kickoff Menege à Trio. Highlights include a star of HBO's Silicon Vally and the lead singer of The Thermals. Trio Club, 909 E Burnside, Wednesday June 1, 8-10 pm. $15.
Siren Song
This show features Last Comic Standing semi-finalist Mia Jackson and Adam Devine's House Party alumnus Jesus Trejo, who you may recognize as a recurring cast member on TBS's Sullivan and Son. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St, Wednesday June 1, 9:30 to 11 pm. $10.
Supernova
This lineup includes Willamette Week-approved local Amy Miller, who won our 2015 Reader's Choice Award and was voted Portland's Funniest Comedian by her peers in 2013. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St, Wednesday June 1, 10-11:30 pm. $15.
THURSDAY, JUNE 2
In the Club
Thursday night’s In the Club set is hosted by nerd culture fanatic Richard Douglas Jones, and the lineup includes WWs 2014 pick for Funniest Person in Portland, Sean Jordan. On Friday, the rugby-playing, engineering-studying Abby Rosenquist will host a series of guests, including writers from The Mindy Project and The Onion. Trio Club, 909 E Burnside St. 7-8:30 pm Thursday–Friday, June 2-3. $10 Thursday, $15 Friday.
Set List
From the minds of Paul Provenza and Troy Conrad, Thursday night’s Set List gives comedians a random, never-before-seen topic to riff on as if it were the material they were supposed to do. Comic and artist both see the topic for the first time in their moment on stage. Kill Rock Stars Stage at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 7-8:30 pm Thursday, June 2. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St. 9-10:30 pm Friday, June 3. $15.
LOL@MFP
Richard Douglas Jones, MC of the Black Nerd Power Podcast, will host Friday’s LOL@MFP. You can come have a laugh at My Father’s Place every day except Saturday at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival. This will be one of the cheaper events of the fest, with a solid lineup of eight different comedians each night. My Father’s Place, 523 SE Grand Ave., 7:30-9 pm Thursday–Friday,6:30-8 pm Sunday, June 2, 3 and 5. $10.
Lots of Laughs
This lineup features one-time Portlandia guest Alex Falcone, as well as Nato Greene, the creator of Iron Comic, an Iron Chef spoof comedy game show. MC’d by up-and-coming 18-year-old comic Tafadzwa Gwaze. Bossanova Tent, 722 E Burnside St, Thursday June 2, 7:30-9 pm. $10.
Open Mics
If professional comedians aren’t your thing, or you just don’t have the money to catch the bigger acts at Bridgetown, there will be plenty of cheap open mics—mostly at Analog Cafe. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 8-11pm Thursday, 8-midnight Friday–Saturday, 6-8:30 pm Sunday, June 2-5. Bossanova Tent, 910 E Burnside St. 5:30-7 pm Saturday, June 4. $5.
It’s Gonna Be Okay
Portland’s own Barbara Holm leads this showcase featuring L.A. heavy hitters Rhea Butcher and Dan Telfer, and Guy Branum, as well as Austin’s Ella Gale, New York’s Aparna Nancherla, Emma Willmann and Laurie Kilmartin. They take over the Mercury stage Thursday night. Holm has been awarded Time Out New York’s “Joke of the Week” and was named “one of the best things about comedy” by the Comedy Bureau. MERYL WILLIAMS. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St. 8-9:30 pm Thursday, June 2. $15.
Lance Bangs Presents: Come Laugh With Us
Filmmaker and music video director Lance Bangs welcomes guests Jonah Ray, Moshe Kasher, Kyle Mooney, Steve Agee, David Gborie, Joe Pera, Natalie Palamides and Clare O’Kane, with live music from the Thermals. Bangs is a Pacific Northwest mainstay who directed the second season of the Comedy Central series The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail and the 2016 Viceland series Flophouse. MERYL WILLIAMS. Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St. 8-9:30 pm Thursday, June 2. $20.
Best of the Midwest
An impressive lineup from far-off lands like Michigan, Iowa and Ohio. Most of the eight comics have been on Saturday Night Live or Conan and headline back where they’re from. Analog Theater, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 8-9:30 pm Thursday, June 2. $15.
Lez Get Together
Caitlin Weierhauser (Lez Stand Up) leads this lineup featuring Heather Thomson, Sam Jay, Kate Willett, Leah Mansfield, Sabrina Jalees and Whitney Streed. Weierhauser is a Portland comedian who has performed at All Jane Comedy Festival, Bumbershoot and Seattle Sketchfest. MERYL WILLIAMS. Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water Ave. 9-10:30 pm Thursday, June 2. $10.
Gentleman Scumbags with Burns and Brido
Gentleman Scumbags is hosted by Mike Burns and Mike Bridenstine. They’re joined by Solomon Georgio, Bryan Cook, James Fritz, Josh Androsky, Rebecca O’Neal, Matt Braunger and Tone Bell. Burns is the creator of the cult hit Twitter feed @DadBoner where he ghost-narrates the life of Karl Welzein from a first-person perspective. Bridenstine’s TV credits include Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC. MERYL WILLIAMS. Trio Club, 909 E Burnside St. 9-10:30 pm Thursday, June 2. $15.
Friday
The Court of “I, Anonymous”
The Merc’s column of anonymous rants and confessions is being staged this year. The most raunchy, uncensored and bizarre submissions will be read aloud and judged by Bri Pruett and her jury of comedians: Greg Behrendt, Curtis Cook and Clare O’Kane. Portland Mercury Stage at Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St. 6-7:30 pm Friday, June 3. $10.
In the Club
On Friday, the rugby-playing, engineering-studying Abby Rosenquist will host a series of guests, including writers from The Mindy Project and The Onion. Trio Club, 909 E Burnside St. 7-8:30 pm Thursday–Friday, June 2-3. $10 Thursday, $15 Friday.
Hound Tall Discussion Series with Moshe Kaasher
Moshe Kasher, an L.A. comedian who’s appeared on Comedy Central’s Drunk History, FX’s The League and Conan, hosts a live version of his popular Hound Tall podcast. Kasher’s discussions usually involve deep cuts with an expert and a panel of comedian non-experts. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St. 7-8:30 pm Friday, June 3. $15.
Hometown Heroes
Rep Rip City pride with locals like Bridgetown co-founder Matt Braunger, 2014’s funniest guys—Steven Wilber, according to Helium’s contest, and Sean Jordan, according to WW’s Funniest Five—and Cali to Portland to Cali comedian Amy Miller. RIP Midnight Ma$$. Refuge PDX, 116 SE Yamhill St. 7-8:30 pm Friday, June 3. $15.
Baked
If you like it dry and nerdy, this interesting lineup—including the new host of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Jonah Ray, and Home Movies and Metalocalypse creator Brendon Small—is doing two shows, just for you. Kill Rock Stars Stage at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St.11-11:59 pm Thursday, 7-8:30 pm Friday, June 2-3. $25.
LOL@MFP
Friday night’s LOL@MFP will be hosted by Patrick Susmilch. You can come have a laugh at My Father’s Place every day except Saturday at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival. This will be one of the cheaper events of the fest, with a solid lineup of eight different comedians each night. My Father’s Place, 523 SE Grand Ave., 7:30-9 pm Thursday–Friday,6:30-8 pm Sunday, June 2, 3 and 5. $10.
Best in Tent
Check out Geoffrey Asmus’ great butt on Friday or J.P. McDade’s quirky character impressions on Saturday. Either day, you are guaranteed eight comics who’ve topped the tent shows. Bossanova Tent, 910 E Burnside St. 7:30-9 pm Friday, 9:30-11 pm Saturday, June 3-4. $10.
Sounds Better in Analog
Sounds Better in Analog includes two separate performances at Analog Cafe. Friday night’s host is Rob Haze, who will appear on the next season of House Party on Comedy Central. Saturday’s host is Helium Comedy Club’s 2014 Funniest Person in Portland, Steven Wilber. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 8-9:30 pm Friday–Saturday, June 3-4. $10 Friday, $15 Saturday.
Open Mics
If professional comedians aren’t your thing, or you just don’t have the money to catch the bigger acts at Bridgetown, there will be plenty of cheap open mics—mostly at Analog Cafe. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 8-11pm Thursday, 8-midnight Friday–Saturday, 6-8:30 pm Sunday, June 2-5. Bossanova Tent, 910 E Burnside St. 5:30-7 pm Saturday, June 4. $5.
An Evening with Aimee Mann and Ted Leo (and Friends!)
Lifelong musicians Aimee Mann and Ted Leo will share the stage with comedians for an awesome night of comedy and music. If you need a break from strictly comedy acts at Bridgetown, this will be one of the only events with live music. Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St. 8-10 pm Friday, June 3. $25.
Nato Green Presents: Laughter Against the Machine
Nato Green’s politically themed show will have you doubled over and thinking critically, all at once. Comedians and audience members in attendance should expect to be challenged by a lineup of comics who have a beef with everything you can think of. Portland Mercury Stage at Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St. 8-9:30 pm Friday, June 3. $20.
New Negroes
Baron Vaughn is back—he’s done all nine years of Bridgetown—with a set of black comics on what it means to be black. “New Negro,” a term that arose during the Harlem Renaissance, describes the outspoken intellectual departure from long-standing racist ideologies. Kill Rock Stars Stage at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 9-10:30 pm Friday, June 3; Refuge PDX, 116 Yamhill St. 8-9:30 pm Saturday, June 4. $20.
Heavy Hitters Workout Room
Bunk Bar will play host to Heavy Hitters twice over the weekend. On Friday, check out a set of comedians MC’d by Nariko Ott, a regular host at Helium and Harvey’s. On Saturday, the loud and aggressive Adam Pasi will host another group of heavy-hitting comedians. Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water Ave. 9-10:30 pm Friday–Saturday, June 3-4. $15.
Competitive Erotic Fiction
Bryan Cook’s popular podcast gathers a handful of comics who will compete in two rounds of erotic fan fiction writing based on the suggestions of the audience. This round has writers from The Onion and The Daily Show. Refuge PDX, 116 SE Yamhill St. 9-10:30 pm Friday, June 3. $20.
Set List
From the minds of Paul Provenza and Troy Conrad, Set List gives comedians a random, never-before-seen topic to riff on as if it were the material they were supposed to do. Comic and artist both see the topic for the first time in their moment on stage. Kill Rock Stars Stage at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 7-8:30 pm Thursday, June 2. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St. 9-10:30 pm Friday, June 3. $15.
Dad’s Favorites
Drink beers and see My Father’s Place’s favorite comedians Friday and Saturday at the Bridgetown. My Father’s Place, 523 SE Grand Ave. 9:30-11 pm Friday, 7:30-9 pm Saturday, June 3-4. $10.
Persona
Looking for a little less cynicism and a little more wackiness? Persona invites comedians to come on stage and show off their best characters and impressions for the audience. Portland Mercury Stage at Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St. 10-11:30 pm Friday, June 3. $15.
Laura Kightlinger and Friends
Prolific standup comic, IFC writer and Lucky Louie comic Laura Kightlinger has funny friends. She and Kate Willett, Casey James Salengo and Derek Gaines combine to riff off each other—like your average buddy night, but an upgrade. Analog Theater, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 10:30-11:59 pm Friday, June 3. $15.
Doug Fir Late Night
If you still feeling like laughing after Friday night’s Secret Headliner performance, head over to Doug Fir Lounge for a late-night lineup of comedians, hosted by Portland-based comic Zak Toscani. Kill Rock Stars Stage at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 11 pm-midnight Friday, June 3. $15.
North by Northwest
If you’re still up for comedy after Friday night’s Secret Headliner performance, Siren Theater will have seven more comics to indulge your late-night sense of humor. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St. 11 pm-midnight Friday, June 3. $15.
Saturday
TV Writers Roundtable
Alice Mathias leads this roundtable discussion with Dan Telfer, Eliza Skinner, Matt Koff, Rick Overton, Laurie Kilmartin, Laura Kightlinger, Guy Branum, Aparna Nancherla, Sara Schaefer and Morgan Murphy. Mathias works for Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video where she is a co-executive producer of Portlandia and a producer of Documentary Now! She also has written and directed various projects with collaborator Fred Armisen. MERYL WILLIAMS. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St. 3-4:30 pm Saturday, June 4. $15.
Set List
From the minds of Paul Provenza and Troy Conrad, Set List gives comedians a random, never-before-seen topic to riff on as if it were the material they were supposed to do. Comic and artist both see the topic for the first time in their moment on stage. Kill Rock Stars Stage at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 7-8:30 pm Thursday, June 2. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St. 9-10:30 pm Friday, June 3. $15.
Dad’s Favorites
Drink beers and see My Father’s Place’s favorite comedians Friday and Saturday at the Bridgetown. My Father’s Place, 523 SE Grand Ave. 9:30-11 pm Friday, 7:30-9 pm Saturday, June 3-4. $10.
New Negroes
Baron Vaughn is back—he’s done all nine years of Bridgetown—with a set of black comics on what it means to be black. “New Negro,” a term that arose during the Harlem Renaissance, describes the outspoken intellectual departure from long-standing racist ideologies. Kill Rock Stars Stage at Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 9-10:30 pm Friday, June 3; Refuge PDX, 116 Yamhill St. 8-9:30 pm Saturday, June 4. $20.
Hey Ladies!
Lizzy Pilcher leads this showcase featuring Morgan Murphy, Sara Schaefer, Subhah Agarwal, Laura Kightlinger, Carmen Lagala, Mia Jackson and Natalie Palamides. Pilcher has played at clubs and colleges all over the nation. Sardonic and smart, she also has a love/hate relationship with everything on the Denny’s menu. MERYL WILLIAMS. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St. 8-9:30 pm Saturday, June 4, $20.
Sounds Better in Analog
Sounds Better in Analog includes two separate performances at Analog Cafe. Friday night’s host is Rob Haze, who will appear on the next season of House Party on Comedy Central. Saturday’s host is Helium Comedy Club’s 2014 Funniest Person in Portland, Steven Wilber. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 8-9:30 pm Friday–Saturday, June 3-4. $10 Friday, $15 Saturday.
Open Mics
If professional comedians aren’t your thing, or you just don’t have the money to catch the bigger acts at Bridgetown, there will be plenty of cheap open mics—mostly at Analog Cafe. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 8-11pm Thursday, 8-midnight Friday–Saturday, 6-8:30 pm Sunday, June 2-5. Bossanova Tent, 910 E Burnside St. 5:30-7 pm Saturday, June 4. $5.
Heavy Hitters Workout Room
Bunk Bar will play host to Heavy Hitters twice over the weekend. On Friday, check out a set of comedians MC’d by Nariko Ott, a regular host at Helium and Harvey’s. On Saturday, the loud and aggressive Adam Pasi will host another group of heavy-hitting comedians. Bunk Bar, 1028 SE Water Ave. 9-10:30 pm Friday–Saturday, June 3-4. $15.
Best in Tent
Check out Geoffrey Asmus’ great butt on Friday or J.P. McDade’s quirky character impressions on Saturday. Either day, you are guaranteed eight comics who’ve topped the tent shows. Bossanova Tent, 910 E Burnside St. 7:30-9 pm Friday, 9:30-11 pm Saturday, June 3-4. $10.
Comedians Without Podcasts
MC Simon Gibson leads this show featuring Alice Wetterlund, Dulce Sloan, Joe Pera, Gabe Dinger, Tony Sam and Devin Field. Gibson is an L.A.-based standup comedian who was born and raised in Portland. He has been performing his boisterous style of comedy for the past five years. MERYL WILLIAMS. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 10-11:30 pm Saturday, June 4. $10.
Sunday
Pep Talks Podcast
The Pep Talks Podcast, a comedic look at our crumbling world with Eddie Pepitone and other funny people, will be recording a live show at the Siren. Eliza Skinner joins. Pepitone is an actor whose credits include The Muppets, Old School and the Netflix series Love. MERYL WILLIAMS. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St. 3-4:30 pm Sunday, June 5. $10.
Party in the Back
MC Kate Willett takes the stage in the Bossanova Tent with Alice Wetterlund, David Gborie, Zak Toscani, Casey Ley, Tony Sam and James Fritz. San Francisco magazine describes Willett as “a comedian you should know about.” You can catch her Comedy Central debut this winter on This Is Not Happening. MERYL WILLIAMS. Bossanova Tent, 910 E Burnside St. 4:30-6 pm Sunday, June 5. $10.
Southern Showcase
Mia Jackson from Georgia hosts a showcase stacked with funny people from the South, including Abby Rosenquist, Ella Gale, M.K. Paulsen, Tafadzwa Gwaze, Shane Torres, Jason Webb and Tone Bell. Jackson has appeared on Oxygen, TLC, NickMom Night Out, LAFF, and was a semifinalist on Season 9 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2015. MERYL WILLIAMS. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 5-6:30 pm Sunday, June 5. $10.
Unsafe Space
Hosted by comedians Toby Muresianu (former joke writer for Real Time with Bill Maher) and Lou Perez (head writer for We the Internet TV), this show is recorded as a live podcast episode. The topic of the Bridgetown show is political correctness and will feature comedians Baron Vaughn (Netflix’s Grace and Frankie), Bri Pruett (comedian and sex columnist for The Portland Mercury), Teela Foxworth (communications professor at Highline College) and more. MERYL WILLIAMS. Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St. 5-6:30 pm Sunday, June 5. $15.
Open Mics
If professional comedians aren’t your thing, or you just don’t have the money to catch the bigger acts at Bridgetown, there will be plenty of cheap open mics—mostly at Analog Cafe. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 8-11pm Thursday, 8-midnight Friday–Saturday, 6-8:30 pm Sunday, June 2-5. Bossanova Tent, 910 E Burnside St. 5:30-7 pm Saturday, June 4. $5.
LOL@MFP
You can come have a laugh at My Father’s Place every day except Saturday at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival. This will be one of the cheaper events of the fest, with a solid lineup of eight different comedians each night. My Father’s Place, 523 SE Grand Ave., 7:30-9 pm Thursday–Friday,6:30-8 pm Sunday, June 2, 3 and 5. $10.
Lot of Laughs
MC Preacher Lawson hosts a slate of comedians including Matt Kirshen, Sean Jordan, Mike Bridenstine, Jacob Christopher, Jesus Trejo, Leah Mansfield and Nick Dixon. Lawson has performed with a long list of great comedians including Loni Love, was a semifinalist on Comedy Central’s Up Next and won the 2015 Florida’s Funniest Comedian competition. MERYL WILLIAMS. Bossanova Tent, 910 E Burnside St. 6:30-8 pm Sunday, June 5. $15.
Turnt Up with Eliza Skinner
In this show, comedians face off in a series of one-on-one rap battles—totally freestyle, totally improvised. The audience picks the winner by applause at the end of each round, until only one comic is left standing as the champion. Sunday’s competitors include Matt Braunger, Guy Branum, David Gborie, Hutch Harris and Natalie Palamides. Eliza Skinner hosts. MERYL WILLIAMS. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St. 7-8:30 pm Sunday, June 5. $15.
Bechdel Test
MC Rebecca O’Neal leads this show of longer sets by five of the fastest-rising female comics in the industry today: Aparna Nancherla, Alice Wetterlund, Dulce Sloan, Rhea Butcher and Sam Jay. O’Neal is a Chicago-based standup comedian and writer/editor whose work has appeared in Vanity Fair, and on Gawker, Splitsider, Videogum, The Rumpus, Death and Taxes, and more. MERYL WILLIAMS. Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St. 7-8:30 pm Sunday, June 5. $10.
Control Yourself
JoAnn Schinderle leads Control Yourself at the Analog, which features Baron Vaughn, Dulce Sloan, Heather Thomson, Nathan Brannon, David Tveite, Gilbert Lawand and Patrick Susmilch. Schinderle was recently a finalist in in the 2015 Portland’s Funniest Person contest and has performed across the country in festivals such as Bumbershoot, Chicago’s Comedy Exposition, SF Sketchfest, Hell Yes Fest and All Jane Comedy Festival. MERYL WILLIAMS. Analog Cafe, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 7-8:30 pm Sunday, June 5. $15.
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