Manchester, you did us proud last month. You deserve a laugh. So, get down to the comedy love-in this June.

Group Therapy Edinburgh Previews, Deaf Institute, every Thursday, £5

Amongst other venues across the city this month, Group Therapy Comedy will be presenting a season of Edinburgh Preview shows – far cheaper than the Fringe itself and you don’t have to go far from your armchair. Throughout this month and the next, every Thursday two acts will test out their shows. Kicking off on Thu 1st is Gein’s Family Giftshop and Ben Target, Thu 8th is Phil Ellis and Pat Cahill, I See You and Ahir Shah is on Thu 15th, Ivo Graham and Desiree Burch on Thu 22nd and finally Robin Ince and Chris Martin on Thu 29th.

As always, the Frog and Bucket and the Comedy Store are keeping us going this month with the funnies with the usual nights of professional stand up at the weekends and this lot of special Comedy Storeevents.
Over at the Store, King Gong (£6, £4 conc) newbie have-a-go night is on the first Sunday on the 4th. There are more New Comedians(£5, £3 conc) as selected by Alex Boardman on Sunday 18th, then pro comedians test out their new material at New Stuff (£5, £3 conc) as hosted by Toby Hadoke on Sundays 11th and 25th. There’s high energy improv from Noise Next Door (£10, £7 conc) on Tuesday 6th and then, on Tuesday 20th, Bloody Good Night for a Bloody Good Cause (£20, £16 conc) is in aid of Saying Goodbye, the charity supporting those who have experienced baby loss. As it’s a cause very close to her, the wonderful Lou Conran will introduce Sarah Millican, Jason Manford, Rob Rouse, Joe Lycett, Mick Ferry, Justin Moorhouse and Angela Barnes.

At the Frog, the special nights kick off with another Comedy Course Showcase (£6, £3 conc) featuring the new students hard work on Sun 11th. There’s the Work In Progress night WIP (£5, £3 conc) on Wed 14th, and the following Sun 18th, Leeds’ very own Comedy Discount Checkout (£5) improv team head into town. Wed 21st sees the first of the Frog’s Edinburgh Preview show season, which runs until the beginning of August. The first has shows from Smug Roberts and Sully O’Sullivan and Rick Molland (£7, £5 conc) who share the night as a double header. Then on Wed 28th Luisa Omielan and John Hastings (£7, £5 conc) each showcase theirs.

Dave Spikey, The Lowry, Fri June 2, £22.50

Celebrating 30 years in comedy, Spikey looks back on his life from Chief Biomedical Scientist to successful stand up, via dressing as a giant berry for Phoenix Nights.

Comedy @ Chorlton Irish Club, Fri June 2, £12 /£10 adv

Hairy northern Irish gagster Martin Mor introduces the impish Carey Marx, a special guest and the bombastic stylings of Vince Atta.

Group Therapy, Gorilla, Sat June 3, £15, £13 conc.

As if it didn’t already have enough on this month, at its regular night GT presents one of the finest surrealists about. Witness Paul Foot doddering about the stage at breakneck speed (not possible? You haven’t seen Foot) spouting all manner of Footisms. And if that wasn’t enough there are also performances from the uber laidback Tom Stade and the exuberant Ed Gamble.

Let’s See What Happens, Kings Arms, Sat June 3, £3

More unexpected happenings from the improv Comedy Sportz team.

Pam Ann, The Lowry, Sun June 4, £24.50 – £31.50

Sharper than a pickled onion convention, everyone’s favourite sassy trolley dolly sashays down the aisle at The Lowry. Huge fun.

Carl Hutchinson, The Lowry, Sun June 4, (£12, £10 conc)

Fresh from providing that all important support for other comics, Hutchinson branches out on his own with a show that takes a wry look at life’s idiosyncrasies.

The Didsbury Comedy Club, Didsbury Cricket Club, £7 & The Heatons Comedy Evening, The Heatons Sports Club, £7.50, Sun June 4.

This month the mischievous Carey Marx and a special guest double up, while in Didsbury Matt Hoss is in support and MC is Andrew Ryan. Whereas at the Heatons Howard Walker supports and Alun Cochrane comperes.

XSMalarkeyXSMalarkey, Pub/Zoo, Every Tuesday, £5, £3 members

Edinburgh previews all month too at Malarkey, firstly on the 6th it’s the thought provoking Fin Taylor, on the 13th it’s multimedia giant David Trent, the 20th sees one from the lively Ed Gamble and at the end of the month on Tues 27th it’s expert storyteller Sarah Kendall.

Barking Tales, Zombie Shack, Wed 7 & Wed 28 June, Free/but with donations at the end

The comedy night where comedians are encouraged to perform material relating to mental health in a bid to try and break the stigma is back for four nights for some Edinburgh preview nights. The first two are this month and all MC’d by Harriet Dyer plus support. On Wed 7th it’s local lad Pete Otway and Yorkshireman Scott Bennett and on Wed 28th, Lou Conran has a story close to her heart and there’s the up and coming Chris Washington.

Penn and Teller, O2 Apollo, Sat 10 & Sun 11 June, £57

Ok, so not strictly comedians but you can’t deny this pair of magicians’ comedic flair. Just look at the little one’s face.

Barbara Nice’s Raffle, The Lowry, Sun June 11, currently sold out. Barbara Nice, The Lowry

Join the Stockport mother of five and Poundshopper extraordinaire for a night of ‘proper fun’, entrance includes a free raffle ticket. A life affirming experience – it always is.

Tom Green, The Dancehouse, Sun June 11, £20

The Canadian who shot to fame via the aptly titled The Tom Green Show back in 90s. Catch a hugely inventive mind at work.

All Star Stand Up, The Lowry, Mon June 12, £14.50 – £23.50

Top comedy from Kiwi MC Jarred Christmas introducing Canadian one-liner merchant Stewart Francis, the ever-affable funnyman Justin Moorhouse and the deadpan Mike Gunn.

John Robins, Group Therapy, Mon June 12, currently sold out.

Yet more action from the GT gang as the ever-engaging Robins tests out some new material.

Control Panel, The Castle Hotel, Tue June 13, £5

Earth’s first and only interactive sci-fi panel show, Control Panel is something brand new to Manchester’s comedy scene. An interactive, sci-fi themed panel show from creators of the acclaimed Quippodrome, directed and hosted by Jack Evans.

Brennan Reece, Kings Arms, Tue June 13, free.

If you missed it last month, Reece returns with his follow up to last year’s beautiful Edinburgh show. Here he is with Everlong.

Dead Cat comedy clubDead Cat Comedy, Sand Bar, Wed June 14, Pay What You Want

This month with Edinburgh Previews from rising stars Lauren Pattinson and Rahul Kohli.

Jimmy Carr, O2 Apollo, Fri June 16, £32.85

The naughty purveyor of sharp oneliners’ ‘best of’ tour continues.

Dave Johns The Lowry, Sat June 17, £12, £10 conc

The star of Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake makes his triumphant return to his natural habitat – the stand-up stage.

All Stars of Comedy, The Lowry, Sun June 18, £20

John Simmit – the artist formerly known as Dipsy Teletubby – hosts this fine line up. Headliners are Kojo – who has supported Chris Rock amongst others – and internet sensation White Yardie AKA Prince Harry. Plus, support from former boxer Glazz Campbell and East End wise guy Mr Blair.

Marcel Lucont, The Lowry, Sun June 18, £14, £12Marcel Lucont, image by Patch Dolan

Improv meets haughty French flaneur in Whine List as the legendary Gaul takes on your quibbles and dismisses them with a sneer. Great stuff.

Tongue in Cheek, Morley Cheeks, Tue June 20, £3

This month with tales from the carvery from Scott Bennett, plus Lincolnshire’s own Pete Philipson, Matt Bonano and Hannah Platt.

The Delightful SausageThe Delightful Sausage, Gullivers, Wed June 21, £4

As ever, Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill present a whole night of sausagey delight. This month with Joby Mageean, Sean Morley, Lee Hithersay and their resident infection, Barnaby J Thompson.

Ayesha Hazarika, The Lowry, Thu June 22, £14, £12 conc

Originally starting out as a comedian, Hazarika then took a diversion into politics as a special adviser for the Labour Party. Now she’s returned to her stand up roots with a whole raft of new material.

Laughing Cows Logo Laughing Cows, TriBeCa, Sun June 25, £7

The all-female line up comedy club moves to TriBeCa this month. With beguiling Portsmouth storyteller Suzi Ruffell, delightfully endearing Katie Mulgrew and the ever surprising (she might write a poem or break into a dance) Kerry Leigh.

By Marissa Burgess, Comedy Editor