South By Southwest is one of the biggest pop culture events in the US and each year, literally hundreds of thousands descend into the city of Austin, TX for a week of tech, comedy, music, and film programming. It's incredible.
Festival organizers just announced the initial lineup of the 10th edition of comedy portion of the festival this year and it's shaping up to be sweeeeeeeet! Live stand-up comedy, gameshows, tapings, podcasts, they'll have it all this year.
So far, the announced names scheduled to appear include: Al Madrigal, Andrew Santino, Big Jay Oakerson, Bob Odenkirk, Bonnie McFarlane, Brendon Walsh, Chris Hardwick, Dan Harmon, Dave Hill, Doug Benson, Doug Stanhope, Dulce Sloan, Glenn Wool, Eddie Pepitone, Guy Branum, Horatio Sanz, Janeane Garofalo, Jason Mantzoukas, Jessica McKenna, Joe DeRosa, Joel Kim Booster, John Hodgman, Jon Gabrus, Liza Treyger, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, Matteo Lane, Michael Ian Black, Morgan Murphy, Nate Bargatze, Nick Swardson, Nick Thune, Nicole Byer, Phoebe Robinson, Rich Vos, Robert Kelly, Sasheer Zamata, Scott Aukerman, Scott Thompson, Sean Patton, Shane Mauss, Shaun Diston, Tim Dillon, Tom Lennon, Wanda Sykes, Whitney Cummings, Wyatt Cenac, + more to come.
“Over the last ten years, our goal has been to provide a space for promising comedic performers to collaborate with luminaries shaping the comedy world, and it’s been incredible to watch SXSW’s unique gathering of talent lead to successful projects and lasting relationships,” said Charlie Sotelo, Head of SXSW Comedy Festival. “We hope you’ll join us to celebrate some of comedy’s brightest minds and discover some new favorites.”
Also, we might be biased but the festival's special programs are going to be standouts including The Laugh Button Live! w/Gotham Comedy Club (we'll share more details in a bit), as well as Above Average, @midnight, ASSSSCAT, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Doug Loves Movies, Doug Stanhope and Friends, HarmonQuest, Improv4humans, My Wife Hates Me, Night Train, Talk Show the Game Show, What’s Your F@%kin’ Deal? and more.
The full lineup will be revealed but they're kicking the comedy off with a live taping of @midnight at ACL Live and ending the entire festival run with a back-to-back taping of a live stand-up show Doug Stanhope & Friends at Esther's Follies.
In the meantime, pick up some passes for the festival and follow the news at sxsw.com/comedy.