The Farmyard Party

SMACKED ARSE COMEDY SHOW

In 2004 I organised and hosted a new stage sponsored by BSH Magazine at the Farmyard Party, which featured the cream of the bands from that years You’ve Been Nabbed rally and a full-blown Smacked Arse Stand-Up comedy show featuring three of the best stand-up comics from the UK comedy club circuit. In addition we had a top-line bikers rock disco and a stripper. I think it fair to say that the show was an instant success and the only complaints received were from those who couldn’t actually get into the packed marquee.

The following year the sponsorship was taken up by 100% Biker magazine and the show continued to go from strength to strength over the next five years as the marquee got bigger and the number of bands and even the number of comedians in the show increased. Earlier this year we received the bombshell that, due to the current financial climate, 100% Biker could no longer sponsor this “Party within the Party” but thanks the negotiating skill of that very clever man Peter Walker (The Clown-Prince of Yorkshire & Head Honcho of Magic Action Promotions), Motorcycle News (MCN) have picked up the baton and agreed to sponsor this years “Biker Party” show. This year we will have yet another upgrade in the size of the marquee where we will be featuring a diverse collection of the best rally bands the country has to offer, a comedy show featuring five fantastic comedy acts, the now famous “Farmyard Tits Contest”, The Russ Page Roadshow/disco and our traditional ‘exotic dancer’ spot. Once again we have put together an exceptional line-up of talent to ensure that the MCN Biker Party Marquee remains by far ‘The best party at the Farmyard Rally’… Rick Hulse

Here’s a taster of the massively popular Smacked Arse Comedy Show in the MCN Biker Party Marquee for 2010.

Steve Harris (Headline Act):

Steve first leapt on stage back in August 1998 and within three months had won himself the coveted ‘North-West Comedian of the Year’ award after just five gigs.
A finalist of the BBC new comedy awards and Channel 4’s “So you think you’re funny” in the same year. Steve went on to headline all of the top comedy clubs in the UK including venues as far flung as Hong Kong and Australia.

With his ever-expanding reputation the demand for Steve has come from all different types of media outlets including Radio and Television. With support slots with the likes of Johnny Vegas, Peter Kay and Lee Evans, Steve comes highly recommended from the heavyweights of comedy themselves.

Steve first performed for bikers at You’ve Been Nabbed 10 in 2001 and has since done quite a number of Rick Hulse’s comedy shows including some of the extremely dodgy venues full of gangsters that Rick likes to frequent.

Steve’s comedic ability comes from his flexibility and warm nature. Whether he’s dealing with hecklers or his mum has found out where he’s playing there’s always a level of warmth in his attack even if it is pre-emptive. His most obvious asset is his ability to get any audience on his side, a well-crafted act and a will and confidence to survive outside of it, is what sets Steve aside from many of his piers.

“I couldn’t lift my hands to wipe the tears of laughter from my face” – Chortle
“Steve Harris is a hip-hopping, gag-spinning bundle of joy, go see him now before he gets too big” –City Life
“Quite simply, fantastically funny” – BBC Online
“He’s Caustic and witty, a good all-rounder” – The Guardian
“Nobody has made rap this funny since Vanilla Ice” – The Echo

Paul B Edwards

Back by popular demand; Paul B Edwards “The Rock & Roll Poet” is one of the most sought after comics on the circuit and probably the most requested comic on the bikers comedy scene. His genial combination of jokes, songs and poetry make him a rocking act.

Some of his songs have become cult hits with audience members shouting requests, in particular his moving tribute to Hitchin in Hertfordshire, and his ability to get whole audiences to sing along is quite something. Another of his songs “Randy the Cowpoke” has people singing along for days afterwards as they struggle to remove it from their psyche.

Paul first worked with Rick Hulse in 2001 and he has since topped the bill at a number of Rick’s shows on and off the bike scene including You’ve Been Nabbed 10, Streetfighters at Santa Pod, The Farmyard Party 2003, 2006 & 2008, Autumn Nabd’ness 2008 and Into the Valley 2009. In 2007 Paul also topped the bill in the ‘Frog & Bucket Comedy Club Roadshow’ at You’ve Been Nabbed 16 and on the Saturday show in the ‘Rick Hulse Comedy Bar’ at the Welsh Motorcycle Show, Builth Wells.

“His act is a treasure chest, packed to bursting with little gems” – Deadpan Magazine
“If talent still plays a part in stardom, Paul B Edwards will be huge” – Jester Magazine
“A very naughty boy -he deserves a smack on his bottom” – Lorraine Kelly (GMTV)

Dan Nightingale

Originally from Preston in Lancashire, Dan Nightingale is one of the brightest stars on the UK stand-up comedy scene. A natural performer, a brilliant compere and one of the most exciting acts in comedy;
Dan mixes cutting observation and raucous gags with high-energy audience work and a natural playfulness, engaging any crowd. Original, creative and totally unpredictable.

Dan met Rick Hulse in 2004 at the Frog & Bucket Comedy Club in Manchester and soon began to feature in a number of Rick’s shows on the bike scene. Dan’s laid back affability belies an underlying streak of wickedness that seems to touch a nerve in bikers, making him a guaranteed champion of bike rally comedy.

Much sought after by comedy clubs throughout the UK, Dan has recently also featured in the New Zealand Comedy Festival.

"Exciting and Imaginative" – Edinburgh Evening News
"A 100mph whirlwind....Brillian" – The Manchester Evening News
"Magnetic, entertaining and wonderfully friendly" –Three Weeks
"Fantastic...He has it in him to be another Kitson or Noble" – Metro
“See this guy before he's a star!” –BBC Online

Danny McLoughlin:
Danny McLoughlin has the sharp wit & material, likeable persona and strong stage presence that have seen him become a much sought after act in his short time as a stand up. Finalist in the Chortle Student Comedian of The Year in 2008 he went on to perform as part of the prestigious Big Value Comedy Show during Edinburgh Festival 2009 and also support Al Pitcher on his UK Tour as well as being booked by some of the UK’s biggest gigs and promoters. It has been a rapid rise and it all looks set to continue.

With an amiable confident stage presence and a well written set Danny delivers material with more than just an immediate pay-off line, preferring to take the joke one or two steps further. Confident enough to take a risk on stage he does so not to the detriment of the audience, keeping them laughing along or hanging on every word. A bright future surely awaits him.
This will be Danny’s first performance in a Smacked Arse Comedy show.

“McLoughlin’s main weapon is his audacity: he’s so bold he can recite an advertising jingle or tuck into a snack, and still get plenty of laughs.’” – Chortle.co.uk

"a powerhouse of charm and effortless humour" – Lee Martin, The Frog and Bucket

The Smacked Arse Search for a Star spot:
We will once again be proudly presenting a future comedy star to give them a step up on the ladder to a successful comedy career.
One ‘lucky’ member of the UK’s huge contingent of ‘up-and-coming’ comics will face the daunting task of entertaining a couple of thousand bikers in a huge tent, in a field, somewhere in Yorkshire for no pay what-so-ever. So no pressure at all eh?
Phil Chapman (Special Guest Act):
“Good, robust act that can handle any heckles.” – Lee Martin, The Frog & Bucket

Rick Hulse (Host & Compere):
Rick Hulse's comedy style is brash, uncompromising and down-to-earth. Though the language can be raw, his insights into the world of, dieting, drugs, marriage, sex, and motorcycling never fail to entertain.
Having a twisted philosophical view on just about any subject, from ranting against life’s inequalities to musing on the design of human genitalia, makes for an unpredictable show. His long involvement in the biking scene, seventeen years as the Chairman of the NABD and thirteen years of writing comic fiction and manic articles under such names as Professor Pierre O’Bollox, M Phetamine and Shirley Crabtree, together with his off-hand Mancunian manner have made him a firm favourite in hosting bikers parties and rallies.
If you are looking for political correctness bring a microscope. Rick’s acerbic Mancunian wit bulldozes its way through life, the universe and everything (everything sex or alcohol related anyway).

“If you need a good comedian for your rally, just get Rick Hulse. He’s as funny as fuck!” – 100% Biker Magazine
“Rick Hulse once again had the crowd in hysterics” – BSH Magazine
“Despite the scary appearance, Rick Hulse proved to be an affable chap with a wry wit” – Manchester Evening News
“If you haven’t been to one of Rick Hulse’s – ‘Smacked Arse’ comedy shows yet, you really should; but be warned, the laughter can leave your face and ribs really aching.” – Barbara Rossa