7 Ways to Enjoy Just for Laughs in the Quartier

They’re keen to catch a live show by some of the very biggest names in comedy. Jerry Seinfeld returns to Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Place des Arts on July 23, hot on the heels of David Letterman’s July 21 Montreal debut, An Evening with David Letterman and Special Guest Will Arnett — a compelling conversation between two television luminaries. Shows that appeal to people who prefer observational comedy and great banter over traditional setups and punchlines.

The festival’s marquee show format makes for great TV: a star headliner hosts a gala featuring a hilarious international lineup. This year’s gala venue is Place des Arts’ Théâtre Maisonneuve, with Mike Birbiglia (July 24), Atsuko Okatsuka (July 24), Gerry Dee (July 25), and Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias (July 25). A festival-within-a-festival for those who want a concise overview of today’s best comedy, from Birbiglia’s deadpan storytelling to Okatsuka’s manic energy.

A person who enjoys getting a feel for the festival by being out in the street, in a crowd. Place des Festivals is the venue for this year’s big free outdoor show, a concert by none other than “Weird Al” Yankovic on July 25, a stop on his ongoing Bigger & Weirder tour. The multimedia concert will attract tens of thousands for Weird Al’s cult-hit parodies and legendary dynamism.

These festivalgoers discovered their favourites online before catching them live. Nurse John, whose “best work buddy” routines went viral, is onstage at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Place des Arts on July 24. In the same venue two nights earlier, July 22, check out Smosh Reads Reddit Stories LIVE! – a stage version of the popular online dissections of the most farfetched stories posted on Reddit, hosted by Shayne Topp. These shows prove that online culture really is a breeding ground for IRL festival stars.

Folks who enjoy voices from around the world. Ireland’s David Nihill, who’s known for his compelling storytelling, performs Taking Tangents at Cinquième Salle on July 24. Meanwhile at the Gesù, the festival presents several international shows. A series called Brit(ish) (July 21 to 25) features the best stand-ups from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth. The same venue also presents some notable solo shows: American comedians Martin Amini (July 21), Angeleno Rick Glassman (July 22), the charismatic Ron Funches (July 23), writer and comedian Jacqueline Novak (July 24) and Taiwanese-American comic Jason Cheny (July 25). This is the approach for those who want to sample the impressive diversity of English-language comedy.

There’s a breed of festivalgoer who never goes home before midnight, and JFL is ready for them. At Studio TD, the Midnight Surprise Show is on every night from July 22 to 25 with lineups that aren’t announced until the last minute. That means we can’t tell you who’s performing this year, but it’s worth noting that big names like Kevin Hart and Amy Schumer have shown up in past years. The same venue is also hosting some solo shows, including Joel Kim Booster (July 23) and Maria Bamford (July 21). If you love a surprise, this is the way to go.

Club Soda is where the festival presents its most popular theme shows, including a pair of perennial favourites: The Nasty Show (July 15 to 19) is the festival’s raunchiest series, while The Culture Show (July 15 to 19) celebrates cultural diversity in comedy. It’s also where you’ll find the New Faces of Comedy series, which has presented then-newcomers like Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Jimmy Fallon and Ali Wong. The club will also host Girls Gotta Eat, a popular podcast all about relationships and dating, on July 24. This side of the festival is tailor made for those who like to see amazing artists before they get famous.