The long-running Nashville Comedy Festival is less a conventional festival than it is a broad-ranging smorgasbord of comedy events across 11 days at venues of all sizes — and this year’s lineup is one of the most stacked yet. There are veritable comedy icons like Albert Brooks (appearing in conversation with fellow heavyweight Kevin Pollak April 19 at Belmont’s Fisher Center) and Kathy Griffin (April 12 at the Schermerhorn), superstars like Shane Gillis (April 17 at Bridgestone Arena), TV stars David Spade (April 17 at the Ryman) and Kevin James (April 9 at the Ryman), and crowd-work maestros Jeff Arcuri (April 10 at the Ryman) and Morgan Jay (April 11 at the Ryman). In some of the city’s smaller rooms, you can see stars-on-the-rise including Emily Catalano (bringing her top-tier deadpan to The Lab at Zanies April 10 and 11), Rayna Greenberg (April 9 at Zanies) and Aaron Weber (April 17 and 18 at Zanies), as well as a wide selection of podcast tapings, special events, bawdy late-night lineups and a roast battle or two. Best of Nashville-winning hometown boy Dusty Slay will once again host his Grand Ole Comedy Show (April 14 at Zanies), while power couple Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley will host Groceries With Dignity & Comedy Without (April 19 at Zanies) to benefit their very worthwhile charitable endeavor, The Store. And that’s just scratching the surface — I haven’t even mentioned Get Out star Lil Rel Howery (April 11 at Zanies) and Nashville’s own Hugh Howser (April 12 at Zanies)! See the full lineup at nashcomedyfest.com, where you can also find ticketing links for every show on the lineup.
April 9-19 at venues across the city
