You've heard the rumours and now we can confirm our brand new stage whereby Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival are teaming up to present an exciting new initiative in 2011. The inaugural Homebake Comedy Stage, presented by Sydney Comedy Festival, will feature some of Australia's best beloved comedians as well as the very best emerging artists in a rollicking showcase of world-class comedy.

Homebake has a long history of supporting Australian & NZ music, film and arts, and with the addition of a Comedy Stage, aims to make a positive contribution to Australia's growing live comedy scene.

Jorge Menidis, the Sydney Comedy Festival Director is delighted with the partnership and sees it as a great way for comedy to be celebrated. "Homebake is such a unique and awesome Sydney event that it is truly exciting that it will now feature some of the best Australian comedy talent that we can get our hands on. I am sure that this stage will compliment the rest of the program and bring an even more inspiring experience for the Homebake patron."

Live comedy has exploded in popularity in recent years and the Homebake Comedy Stage presented by Sydney Comedy Festival hopes to have a lasting positive impact on the growth of the local industry.

And now joining our inaugural Homebake Comedy Stage (Presented by the Sydney Comedy Festival), please welcome our latest comedy superstars.. but first a personal message..

"I am excited to be performing on the Comedy Stage at Homebake, and I am definitely not doing it just for the free backstage passes. I do get free backstage passes don't I?" said Wil. "I think it's great that the home of Australian music is now the home of comedy too. I just hope Nick Cave isn't funnier than I am."

JUST ANNOUNCED - Our final 2 Sydney Festival Comedy Stage stars..

SAM SIMMONS

Sam Simmons returns home to Sydney after taking the Edinburgh Fringe by storm. Sam is one of the most daring and unconventional comics in Australia, completely original and vastly absurd, he has one foot firmly planted into the soils of reality, and the other rooted deep into the psyche of being silly. Sam is a multi award winning cult figure within the Australian comedy scene.

He has collected awards, glowing reviews, and played to sell out houses with his solo Melbourne Comedy Festival shows from 2006 to 2010. Sam can also be heard regularly on Triple J.

“a stupendous blast of full on surrealism” *****The Telegraph
“a mysterious, unstoppable, rebel force” ***** Hairline Reviews
***** The Herald
WINNER – BEST COMEDY, Adelaide Fringe 2011
NOMINEE – MOST OUTSTANDING SHOW, Melbourne Comedy Festival 2011
NOMINEE – BEST COMEDY, Edinburgh Fringe 2011

TOM BALLARD

Ever since he played the role of Blitzen in a local amateur production of Rock'n'Roll Santa back in 1997 in his home town of Warrnambool, Tom Ballard's
comedy career has been on a steady decline. Having overcome serious sex and chocolate milk addictions at 14, Ballard managed to become a three-time Class
Clowns National Finalist and a RAW National Finalist by 2006. On the strength of his RAW performance, Tom was offered work with national youth radio network, triple j.

Having presented the Summer Lunch slot over the summer of 2008/2009, he presented Weekend Breakfast in 2009, and you can now find him on your airwaves daily as co-host of triple j weekday breakfast, all with his silly friend, Alex Dyson.

“Watch this boy: he’s going places” The Age
“the confidence, timing, presence and instincts of a comedian twice his age” Chortle UK
“[Ballard’s] material, most importantly, absolutely kills…It’s tightly paced, it’s perfectly delivered and it’s funny as hell…” ***** TimeOut Sydney

WIL ANDERSON

He's an award-winning stand-up comedian, television star, radio personality, writer and podcaster & it is with great pleasure that we announce the host of the Gruen Transfer, WIL ANDERSON. Awarded 'Sydney's Best Comedian' by Time Out in 2011, Wil is a stand up first and foremost, touring Australia and the world at every opportunity, performing more than a hundred shows a year.

His stand up is a densely written, high-speed ride though one of the most wonderful comedic imaginations in the country. Politics, pop and the banal come together in a Wil Anderson routine, always delivered with more conviction and enthusiasm than any man's vocal chords can take. Already a regular on US late night comedy talk show, Chelsea Lately, it won't be long before Wil takes on The World.

"Few comics combine sharp political satire and dick jokes as well as Wil Anderson" – The Age
"rapid-fire comedic delivery, keen intellect, and microscope-like powers of observation" – Herald Sun (2011)
"Anderson has developed into a maestro" – The Age (2011)
"simply extraordinary....unmissable." – Daily Telegraph (2011)
WINNER – Sydney's Best Comedian, Time Out 2011
WINNER – People's Choice Award 2010 & 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
WINNER – Helpmann Award for Comedy 2010

BARRY MORGAN & HIS ORGAN

He puts the Boss in Bossa Nova, he's the patron saint of the safari suit, he's Barry Morgan – the celebrity organ salesman who is wooing audiences with the golden syrup sounds of his vintage 1980s Hammond Aurora Classic.

Plucked from obscurity to perform on ABC TV's Spicks and Specks, Barry Morgan became an instant audience favourite with his contagious smile, musical skill and deep love of organs.

"With one hand on his organ and another on the pulse of his audience, cult hit Barry Morgan unleashed his 1981 Hammond Aurora Classic on an enthusiastic crowd." **** The Advertiser

"All polyester safari suit and blow wave hair, a Spicks and Specks favourite ... joyous clean fun." **** Herald Sun

MICHAEL HING

Michael Hing is an independent comedian working out of Sydney. He co-founded Sydney's best comedy night Project 52 (Time Out Comedy Awards 2011), has received 5-star reviews for his festival shows (Illustrious Physicians of Romance, Sidney Critic) and was nominated as Sydney's best comedian (Time Out Sydney).

He has achieved all of this without representation, which is why you will probably never see him on television and why, despite being Chinese, he refuses to be an 'ethnic comedian' on the laughable grounds that he doesn't want to be a racist. You can find him regularly at The Comedy Store, as well as working at his day job.

"Michael Hing was fantastic!" – ABC Radio

GENEVIEVE FRICKER

After featuring in this year's Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals, and a sell-out debut at the Sydney Fringe, Genevieve Fricker (Triple J Raw Comedy 2011, FBi Radio, Project 52) brings her twisted songs and stories to the Homebake Comedy Stage.

"Hilariously dark." – The Age

 

NICK CODY

Nick Cody is quickly becoming one of the funniest young comedians in the country and, at 24 years of age, has already supported some of the biggest names in stand-up.

Nick's brand of stand-up offers a unique combination of edgy, thought-provoking material ranging form brutally honest and uninhibited storytelling to rapid-fire and hilarious social comedy.

In addition to two sold-out seasons at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with full-length solo shows, Nick has recently featured as a guest on Hughesy & Kate (NOVA100) and NOVA's Summer Lovin' with Ed Kavalee & Tony Martin.

"He's charismatic, self-deprecating and warm, and the crowd absolutely love him, at one point even chanting his name in their enthusiasm." – Chortle

TOBY COLEMAN

Toby has been working his way through the comedy rooms of Sydney for the last 6 years. He has amused and delighted audiences around the inner city hotels, comedy rooms and several comedy festivals.

In 2009, his show at 'The World's Funniest Island' was standing room only and at the '2010 Sydney Comedy Festival' his show was voted in the top ten.

His material is a mix of high brow and low brow, with some general observations on life, stupidity and the incredible.

RAY BADRAN

In 1985 a hilarious man was born. Ray attended university, completing bachelors of medical science; he completed it in only twice the allocated time.

After quitting and getting fired from a number of jobs (9 in total), Ray decided to try his hand at stand up comedy.

His hand liked comedy and so did the rest of his body, so he continued to perform it. He has appeared on The Footy Show and contributed comedy writing to various other shows.

SACHA MARX
In the space of 18 months, Sacha Marx has become a regular on the Sydney Comedy scene and has performed with the likes of Tony Woods and Gabriel Iglesias.

Marx has a unique stage presence and his clever take on the world has made many take notice.

This guy could be anything.

 

JOHN CRUCKSHANK

Subterranean observer and liver of human life.

Funniest Person – Jannali High School Yearbook 2001.

Went to Homebake in 2008.

 

 

And now to add to the list of incredible performers, those first announcement of Comedy Stage names providing the laughs include..

SMART CASUAL

Smart Casual is Fletcher Jones (on guitar) and Roger David (on beard), arguably Australia's smartest, most casual musical comedy duo.

In 2009, Smart Casual featured in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival's hand-picked selection of hot new talent, 'The Comedy Zone', before going on to tour nationally and internationally on the Festival Roadshow. By international, they mean Singapore.

'Exceptionally clever and well executed... destined for big things.' – Buzzcuts

DANIEL TOWNES

A regular on the Australian comedy circuit, Dan Townes is one of Sydney's favourite comedians.

His Comedy Festival show had him shortlisted for the People's Choice and Sydney's Best Comedian awards.

"Daniel Townes is charming and disarming as much as he is humorous" **** – Adelaide Advertiser

MATT OKINE

He was recently a guest panelist on channel ten's 'Can of Worms,' and his 2011 Sydney Comedy Festival show saw him nominated for Time Out's Local Comedy Show of the Year and Sydney Comedian of the Year.

"Matt Okine is a revelation!" – The West Australian

RONNY CHIENG
It's been a busy 2 years for Malaysian comedian and Melbourne Law School graduate Ronny Chieng who, in 2010, came second place in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival's RAW Comedy National Final. In early 2011, he was one of five comics handpicked to be part of the prestigious Comedy Zone and recently sold out his debut solo show season at the Sydney Comedy Festival.

"Chieng is charming, challenging and downright hilarious" – The Pun

RHYS NICHOLSON
Comedy Store regular, Rhys Nicholson, is best known for his appearances on the Comedy Channel's "Balls of Steel", and big hair. He will debut his first solo show, "Social Liability", at the Sydney Fringe Festival in September.

"His tongue is as sharp as his dress sense. See him before his career becomes as big as his hair." – Wil Anderson

DAVE EASTGATE

From performing with Robin Williams and debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to appearances at the Big Day Out, Playground Weekender and the UK's Guilfest, musical comedian Dave Eastgate is one of the most exciting and hilarious live performers in the country.

"F#%king beautiful man!" – Robin Williams, Academy Award Winner

ANTHONY SALAME
Anthony Salame began performing comedy in 2005 and has since built an army of fans all across Australia with his cheeky dialogue and clever observations. Anthony has gone on to perform in Australia's top comedy clubs and has opened in theatres for international artists including Pablo Francisco, Jo Koy and even hip hop star LL Cool J. After touring extensively through Lebanon, USA and Canada in early 2011, Anthony returns to Sydney to perform at Homebake.

"One of the undisputed kings of Australian urban comedy." – Adelaide News

STEVE PHILP
For the last 10 years, Steve Philp has been honing his craft at comedy festivals and clubs around the world and also appearing regularly on shows such as Channel 10's "Ready Steady Cook", Channel 9's "The Footy Show" as well as being the MC in front of 50,000 people at Tropfest! Recently nominated in Time Out Magazine's Top Sydney Comedians 2011 and selected on The Best of The Footy Show Comedians DVD, Steve is fast becoming one of the country's best live acts!!

"A Natural…one of the funniest acts of the night." – Sun Herald