Steve Bennett (I)
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 102
Review: Bill Bailey at Latitude
Bill Bailey surely goes down well in most environments - but festivals especially, given his muso sensibilities and mash-up talents.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 18th July 2016The Elis James and John Robins Experience: review
Those uninitiated into to the rituals and in-jokes of Elis James and John Robins's Radio X programmes and spin-off podcast face something of a learning curve at the live version, here at Latitude ahead of a fully-fledged tour in the autumn.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 18th July 2016Review - Josh Widdicombe at Latitude
For a premier-league headliner, the material's more hit and miss than you might hope for; with a little too much treading water between those gems.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th July 2016Review: Marcus Brigstocke hosts Prince Fest, Latitude
Marcus Brigstocke is as much a fixture of Latitude as the spray-painted pink sheep. But while it's usually his skills as an opinionated liberal-leftie comedian that are called into play, this year he drew upon a different talent: his previous job as a podium dancer.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th July 2016Review - Rob Auton: The Sleep Show, Latitude
It's a bold or foolhardy comedian to use the title The Sleep Show, almost inviting criticism that it'll cause you to nod off. Sadly, that portent has come true with Rob Auton's latest hour, which is so aimless and repetitive for the first 50 minutes that it has a soporific effect. The final act reveals what he was getting at with his musings, but after a languidly unfocussed and over-long journey, especially for an outdoor festival crowd who need little excuse to disengage.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th July 2016Review: David O'Doherty at Latitude 2016
David O'Doherty's been starting his tour dates - Latitude included - by faux-boasting how this time next year, he'll be huge. Blowing off gigs like this to perform to tens of thousands, and act like a bigger prick than Kanye. All very ironic, of course, a comic set-up before he acknowledges the niche appeal of a bearded middle-aged Irishman playing a tiny keyboard.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th July 2016Review - Jen Kirkman at Latitude
Oh dear. Jen Kirkman is not having an easy time of Latitude.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th July 2016Review - Mark Watson at Latitude 2016
Of the 11 Latitude festivals, Mark Watson has appeared at nine of them. And this time he has discovered a new weapon: 'old-school emotional blackmail'.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th July 2016Review - Simon Evans at Latitude
Latitude has a not entirely undeserved reputation for being the most middle-class of all festivals, so Simon Evans is right at home with this audience. Though he thinks he's better than them. Of course he does, that comes with being middle-class.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 16th July 2016Review - Henry Normal at Latitude
When he's writing with a comic voice, he's as assured as you would expect... In the near 20 years he's been off the circuit he's been script-doctoring so many of those TV hits that there's no danger of him having rusty. A languid audience on a hot afternoon didn't always give these gags the recognition they deserved, but there's nothing Normal about his writing.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 16th July 2016