#TakingTheStage this Friday upstairs in the Brewery Corner Kilkenny a cool cat collective will celebrate the life and times of a true artist while helping the fight against cancer.

THE LAUGHING STOCK COMEDY CLUB are delighted to present a night of original talent while honouring the memory of comedy legend William Melvin Bill Hicks.
Bill Hicks passed on to the great Ride in the sky 20 years ago on 26th February 1994.
While on planet earth Hicks was one of the most influential and disenfranchised voices of a jilted generation.
He turned the light switch on and spoke to young people across the western world in a language they could understand. He pulled no punches when addressing serious taboo subjects, like America’s foreign policy and organised religion, been just 2 really hot potatoes. The banality of pop music and why the mainstream media are refusing to tell the truth. Calling the land of hope and glory the “United States of Advertising” was something Hicks would always come back to when addressing real domestic issues including abortion and marijuana.

Its can be said, that is sad to say that everything Bill Hicks stood for is further away from reality than it was 20 years ago, and everything he stood against seems to be consuming the very society we say we hold dear.

MC for the event PAradise PAddy said “As Ireland seems to become more apathetic and docile in February 2014 its time we started to promote artists who have something to say and its only fitting that such artists should articulate the pulse of the nation now, and on such a momentous occasion, for such a worth while cause”

RiRá once lead vocalist and contributor with Irish Hip Hop Hierarchy Scary Eíre will be one of the main artists to leave his rage on the stage.
20 Years ago Scary Eíre recorded their debut album Scary Era.
RíRá has gone onto record with some serious soul soldiers of reggae trad and rap over the years. He recorded and released his own debut album in 2011 “Horses Work For Donkeys Wages”.

Also appearing on the night is another serious word smith and local hero Captain Moonlight.

Poetry, whether it be Slam Beatnik Dark or Flowery is always worth listening to and Ireland has a current crop of collective bards that let rip at society and establishment. Performing on the night will be Cormac Lally David Mallaghan David Hynesnes and many more.

Promoting music that comes from the heart is an integral part of the show and Tullamore Troubadours Tae Lane lane will be leading our music guests.

Bill was mainly a caring human who believed in the power of people coming together. He had some amazing philosophical points of view that were mostly positive. When all the accessing of his life can be critiqued. He was a musician, poet, song writer, script writer, producer, people pleaser, philosopher, but most importantly a comedy artist. He used the art of comedy to change the way we look at the world we live in.

Comedians on the night are Comedian without borders Abie Philbin Bowman who toured across the world with 2 of his own shows “Jesus The Guantanamo Years” and “Eco Friendly Jihad”. Bowman performed in Pakistan while it was under a state of emergency. Another American comic from the Deep South, Billy Andersony will be cutting through some issues with his southern swagger and soft tone.

Hicks was only 32 when pancreatic cancer crippled him and he passed on soon after been diagnosed. All the artists on the night will be performing so that much needed funds can be generated for Irish Cancer Society. So all donations on the night will be grateful accepted and appreciated.

Artist David Heffernan will do a portrait of Bill while this 3 hour extravaganza in Honor of Hicks goes on around him. There will be a raffle and one lucky winner will go home with a beautiful painting and happy that Irish Cancer Society will benefit from the night.
HolyShow Tattoo will be giving away a €100 voucher and there will be Lots more spot prises and special guests on the night.

And it will go on!
Upstairs in Brewery Corner Parliament St Kilkenny this Friday 28th February 2014. 9pm- 12 am

Although the “BILL” on the night is almost complete, there is still some slots left. All you have to be is be brave and original. Show your intent by contacting thelaughingstockcomedyclub@gmail.com or call into Brewery Corner or just turn up on the night.

In the immortal words of Bill Hicks “Its Just A Ride”