Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 16 UCW DECEMBER 20-26, 2023 Paddy's Irish Pub hosts Locals Comedy Club by SAM OLSEN Spirits, stand-up, and a supportive community are what you can expect when you walk into the comedy events hosted at Paddy's Irish Pub. Hosting e Locals Comedy group, Paddy's Irish Pub is home to two of the most inclusive comedy nights in all of Fayetteville. Alternating between "e Comedy Couch" and "Cocktails & Comedy," e Locals Comedy team fills our guts with laughter while bartenders, like Ashley Pickel, fill our stomachs with spirits. Helmed by the triumvirate of tomfoolery, Dennis Villanueva, Mitchell Fowler and Bran- don Dyer, e Locals Comedy helps to bring laughter to the table via the organized oration of jokes, spoken poetry, stand-up and all things funny. e group's philosophy focuses on the representation and expression of, you guessed it, local peoples' proclivity and propensity for puns, quips and humor. With local talent being a focus, e Locals Comedy prides itself on effectively representing, organizing and connecting local performers and entertainers with businesses, venues and each other. Local soldier and comedian entertainer ex- traordinaire Khalil Ajlani is one such performer. After his set on last week's Comedy Couch, Up & Coming Weekly was able to catch up with Ajlani and get his thoughts on e Locals Comedy and the current scene of comedy present in Fayetteville. "When it comes to e Locals, they're a hard- working group trying to increase the size of the comedy scene. ey [e Locals Comedy] are trying to create a larger organized scene that everyone can enjoy." is sentiment was echoed by one of the group's founders, Brandon Dyer. Speaking on his personal philosophy for comedy, Dyer said this. "We want to show people that this is the kind of talent our town has to offer. We want people to come out and laugh with us, at us, and enjoy a good time with one another. One night we could have a local business owner up on stage, the next it could be your boss." Not only comprised of local talent, e Locals Comedy group also brings nationally recognized poets and comedians to our local stages to con- nect us through the art of humor and shared experiences. Much of this can be cultivated because of the perfect environment provided by Paddy's Irish Pub. Paddy Gibney has created what some describe to be a perfect comedy club scene in the Church at Paddy's. e dim-lit atmosphere, intimate seating, stage lighting, good drinks and well-cultivated culture all combine to create a place that not only encourages the audience to relax and enjoy themselves but also allows the performers to feel comfortable and welcome on stage. Built by locals, for locals, e Locals Comedy pairs itself with Paddy's Irish Pub to bolster and develop Fayetteville's comedy landscape. According to Mitch Fowler, "e comedy scene in Fayetteville is alive and well. A lot of us have come together to create something to help keep that up. Because we've collaborated with other performers, we've been able to branch out from just comedy to now we're bringing amazing po- ets on stage like tonight." Whether you're looking for a laughter-filled good time, looking to quench your thirst, or just enjoy supporting local talent, the "Comedy Couch" and "Cocktails & Comedy" at Paddy's Irish Pub have exactly what the doctor ordered: shots to your funny bone. Both comedy events alternate their place at Paddy's Irish Pub every ursday, with "Comedy Couch" taking the spot for this week's entertain- ment. For further information on this and future events, and to find out where you can get your tickets for the next comedy show at Paddy's Irish Pub please go to https://paddysirishpub.com or https://www.facebook.com/eLocalsComedy/ (Photo by Sam Olsen) EVENT SAM OLSEN, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. (910) 484-6200 Letters to the Editor Do YOU have something to say? We want YOU to be heard! We want EVERYONE to be able to voice their opinions on current community events. Let us be a place to start much needed conversations. ALL VOICES WELCOMED! EMAIL: editor@upandcomingweekly.com CALL: 910-484-6200