Brighton Music, Comedy and Cultural Listings: 16th - 22nd June 2025
Solstice happenings, a 24 hour improv jam and Kate Bush, or at least someone who looks a bit like her
Hello everyone! Sun’s out, surf’s up, and I’m still thinking about the life and music of Brian Wilson. The pub quiz I’m hosting in Worthing tonight are going to get more Beach Boys than you can shake a summery stick at.
🔌🔌🔌 PLUGS 🔌🔌🔌
A worthy plug - Brighton comedian Rosie James has been fundraising for her friend B for some time, and this Thursday there’s a fundraiser at Alphabet with an excellent lineup. You can read B’s story here - and donate if you can.
Annabel Edmonds, not quite a Brighton comedian but excellent nonetheless, has launched the second series of her amusing AND informative podcast Punorama Investigates. The first episode is about all-male comedy line-ups, how it’s bizarre they’re still happening in 2025, and what you can do about that.
The Court, Queen Mab’s folklore celebration, celebrates its 1st birthday this Thursday at The Yellow Book with another lovely lineup of story and song.
Brighton Listings
Comedy
Monday 16th June
Chuckles For Charity – Elm Grove Primary School Fundraiser, Komedia, 7pm. £22/£25. These primary school kids sure are well connected - lineup features Rosie Jones and Esther Manito.
Tuesday 17th June
Huge Davies + Rob Auton, Caroline of Brunswick*, 7:30pm. £10adv. Stand-up WIP double-bill.
Ed’s Comedy Club, Presuming Eds*, 8pm. Free. New comedian / new material night upstairs of London Road’s
bestonly boho cafe/bar. The affable James Onionz usually hosts.
Wednesday 18th June
WIP – Dom Joly: Trigger Happy TV Live, Komedia, 8pm. £13. 90s telly comedian returns. Will he still be soundtracked by The Eels? Also Thursday 19th June.
Thursday 19th June
Improv Jam, The Actors, 18:30pm. £5/free. AndAlso run a jam night - all welcome, from n00bs to advanced level improvisers.
The Branding Needs Work, Caxton Arms*, 7:30pm. Free. New material and new human comedian night hosted by the lovely Simon in the Caxton’s stage-right-by-the-door function room.
Friday 20th June
The Alternative Comedy Jam, The Caroline of Brunswick*, 7:30pm. Free. Alternative comedy and nonsense, feauring Han Whyte aka “Roger Prick”.
Saturday 21st June
Extra Topping, The Yellow Book*, 7:30pm. £7. Brighton’s best “anything but stand-up” night returns, as hosted by the fragrant Leslie Bloom.
Music
Monday 16th June
Open Mic Night, The Brunswick, 7:30pm. Free.2 Music-dominates but all-welcome open mic night.
Tuesday 17th June
The Roebucks, The Prince Albert*, 7:30pm. £7.50. Excellent local blue-rock / Americana quartet.
Folklore Monthly Showcase, The Folklore Rooms*, 7:30pm. Free. Regular round-up of TFR’s favourite acts. Get down early to guarantee entry.
Jazz Jam, The Brunswick, £3. Free. 8pm. Assorted jazz musicians get together to make your evening… nice. £3 to guarantee table / admission.
Wednesday 18th June
Steve Pilgrim, The Folklore Rooms*, 7:30pm. £18. Paul Weller-backed songwriter.
Thursday 19th June
Help Me Help B Fundraiser Show, Alphabet, 7pm. £10. Yumi & The Weather headline.
Tog Fàire / The Claras, The Folklore Rooms*, 7:30pm. £12. Folky flute and harp gorgeousness from these two duos.
Give Me Your Guilty and Darkness!, The Brunswick*, 7:30pm. £7. Emo, goth and punk kids.
Alien Nosejob, Green Door Store, 7pm. £11. Classic punk and post-punk meets Aussie Sleeford Mod.
H&R: Ones 2 Watch ft. Ragdoll + Oral Habit + Knuckle Draggers, Hope & Ruin, 7pm. £5. Newbie punk and “frock rock”.
Friday 20th June
Salter Cane, Hope & Ruin*, 7:30pm. £8. Post-punk folk-noir humans come out of retirement with an album launch show. Bit Nick Cave (not Cage), pleasingly.
Saturday 21st June
24 Solstice Improv, The Rose Hill, 2pm (until 2pm Sunday!). Epic 24 hour jam session to celebrate the longest day of the year. Drop in whenever you fancy, see if the musicians are still awake.
Faeser, Green Door Store, 7pm. £4. Catchy, female-fronted pop-punk.
An Evening Without Kate Bush, Brighton Dome, 7:30pm. £18 - £22. Lads, it’s Kate Bush. Well, it isn’t. But you know what I mean.
Talks / Poetry / Other
Tuesday 17th June
Poetry Open Mic, The Actors, 8pm. Free. New poetry in a welcoming space.
Wednesday 18th June
Zine Club, The Actors, 8pm. Free. Last Zine Club til September - all welcome.
A Gathering of Witches, The Brunswick, 7pm. £10adv. Poetry, talks, and music celebrating the summer solstice.
Listen Club 25: Listening to Changing Nature: Changing the Nature of Listening, The Rose Hill, 7pm. £5adv. Ecological soundscapes.
Thursday 19th June
Lava Elastic, The Rose Hill, 7pm. £6/£4.50. The UK's “first openly neurodiverse comedy & poetry night”. They’ve got the excellent Adam Dorr on the bill.
The Court, The Yellow Book*, 7:30pm. £10. Queen Mab’s folklore, song and storytelling night celebrates its first birthday with a solstice special.
Glossary
OTD - On the door. As in, it’s cheaper to buy in advance.
* - a venue that is not accessible. With so many venues in Brighton being rooms above Victorian Gin Palaces, it’s important to be clear.
PWYW/C - Pay what you want / can. Please give what you’re able to, as clowns can’t live on grease paint alone.
Adv - In advance.
Bf - Booking free, not boyfriend
WIP - work in progress.
That’s it for this week! Have fun out there and don’t forget the sunscreen.