Introducing: Blue Mustard Comedy, The Kensington Arms

Blue Mustard, a thriving monthly comedy night at Redland’s Kensington Arms pub, returns later this month with one of their most impressive lineups yet: a Halloween Special featuring a headline slot from acclaimed, dark-hued Welsh comedy duo The Death Hilarious (“a bold and unique new voice in comedy. Even if it is the sort of voice that leaves a chilling, whispered ‘I know where you live’ on your voicemail” – chortle.co.uk review).
Here’s co-host and Chortle Student Comedy Award Winner 2017 Riordan DJ to tell us more.

So, Riordan, tell us the Blue Mustard story. How, when and why did you get started?
Our first gig was back in March this year. Myself and another Bristol-based comic, Stasia Buckle, wanted to bring a load of funny people from all over the UK to Redland where we both live. Stasia works at The Kensington Arms and they had a lovely room free, so it worked out perfectly. We think that it’s got funner and funner each month: staff and regulars have been massively supportive and we’ve had some fabulous acts on, with plenty more coming up.

What do you think of the Bristol comedy landscape both for comics and for audiences?
Bristol is one of the best places to be a new comedian in the UK, and I think it’s the best. There are several friendly open-mic gigs run by welcoming people where you can tread the boards for the first time, and loads of lovely nights run by lovely people that are great to do new material and develop as well as semi-pro gigs where you can do it in front of a bigger, paying audience. It’s easy to get to loads of places such as Cardiff, London and Birmingham which also have great gigs so you can spread your wings.

Blue Mustard’s home, the Mustard Room at Redland’s Kensington Arms

To put it simply, there are some proper funny people doing comedy in Bristol at the minute, which is good for people who like watching comedy. This in turns means that loads of Bristol acts are creative and original, so audiences can enjoy almost any type of comedy in the city, and still be assured of high quality.
We’ve got regulars at Blue Mustard that also frequent other nights around the city, and it’s lovely to see them turn up at a different gig. Without audiences comedy is a lot harder, so we are very thankful to the people that come to our nights.

… and what do you hope to add to the local comedy landscape?
We just want to bring more funny people to Bristol – particularly to Redland, where there hasn’t been any comedy since The Little Black Box Theatre shut down a couple of years ago. Going to watch stand-up is a fun thing to do, and we don’t want the good people of Redland to miss out on fun.

Blue Mustard host Riordan DJ

Tell us about the Halloween Special.
This Halloween we’re offering a treat, not a trick! We’ve got The Death Hilarious headlining, who are fantastically funny and did really well at Edinburgh this year. As well as them and support acts, we will be doing a Halloween joke competition and are encouraging fancy dress, so it should be a really funny and not too scary night.

Who would be on your dream lineup at Blue Mustard?
What about if I said The Death Hilarious, Graham Wilkes, Joey Cannon and Mel Drew? Luckily they are all part of our Halloween gig so it doesn’t have to be a dream. Smooth, I know.

Blue Mustard Halloween Special feat. The Death Hilarious Sunday. Oct 29, The Kensington Arms, 7pm, £4 (£3 students). For more info, visit www.facebook.com/events/279134995935680

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