Huge Demand for Dockfest comedy

Final batch of free tickets to be released at Dockfest site

The final batch of tickets to see some of the best comics in the country for free this weekend will be made available at Hartlepool Dockfest on Sunday 5th July.

Huge public demand saw hundreds of advance tickets to see comics including Sean Lock and TV cartoon favourite Little Howard snapped up within hours from Hartlepool's Tourist Information Centre.

Now; the final 250 tickets for the Sunday afternoon family show with TV cartoon favourite Little Howard will be available on a first come-first served basis from the Information Point at the Dockfest site at Hartlepool's Maritime Experience from 12noon on the day of the show. (Sunday 5th July).

A further 250 free tickets for the evening Big Mouth show featuring top TV comic Sean Lock will also be available, again on first-come-first served basis, from the same Information Point at 3pm on the same day.

• Big Howard, Little Howard, stars of BBC1 and CBBC's ‘Little Howard's Big Question,' head a special afternoon comedy show for all the family in a ‘Big Entertainment Tent.' A mouth-watering line-up also features Edinburgh Festival favourites The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, and Patrick Monahan from Channel 4's Paul O'Grady Show.
• A special Big Mouth Comedy Club follows on the same evening, featuring top TV comic Sean Lock, Ivan Brackenbury, Jason Cook and Lee Nelson.

Stephen Cashman, Hartlepool Council's Strategic Arts Manager, said: "The whole Dockfest weekend is going to have something for all the family to enjoy, and the buzz around the comedy shows has been incredible.

"It looks like these remaining tickets will go like hot cakes, so we'd advise all comedy fans to get down early to avoid missing out."

Hartlepool Dockfest 2009 is a two-day extravaganza of family entertainment around Hartlepool Marina on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of July. Organised by Hartlepool Council, with the comedy booked by promoters Ten Feet Tall, it is a prelude to the 7-10th August 2010, when the town will welcome up to 100 tall ships and up to a million visitors to celebrate the finale of The Tall Ships Races.

The Lightning Seeds will headline the music day on Sat 4th July, with Sean Lock headlining the comedy day on Sun 5th July.

Ticket Arrangements for the Dockfest comedy shows:

• The final batch of 250 tickets for each comedy show will be available on a first come-first served basis from the Information Point on the Dockfest site at Hartlepool's Maritime Experience on Sunday July 5.

The Family Show:

• The family show tickets (featuring Big Howard, Little Howard) will be released on the day at 12 noon.
• Tickets are limited to 4 per person for the afternoon family show.
• The Big Entertainment Tent opens for the family show at 4.30pm, show begins at 5pm.

The Big Mouth Comedy Show:

• The Big Mouth evening show tickets (featuring Sean Lock) will be released on the day at 3pm.
• Tickets are limited to 2 per person for The Big Mouth evening show.
• The evening Big Mouth Comedy Club opens at 7.30pm, show begins 8pm (over 16's only).

Further info:

• Please note that these are two separate shows. Tickets for one show will not gain admission into the other.
• Any already reserved tickets not collected by the time the Hartlepool Tourist Information Centre closes at 4.30pm on Saturday July 4 will be returned to general availability.
• Tickets are not required for the music programme on Saturday July 4, when the tent will operate on a one in / one out basis once full.

Music Line-up Announced

Eleven artists will perform in a Big Entertainment Tent located in front of Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience in the marina on Saturday July 4.

Top of the bill are the Lightning Seeds who will be on stage from 10.15-11.30pm.

They will be preceded by the following programme:

• 1.45-2.15pm: The winner of a local Battle of the Bands
• 2.30-3pm: The Blitz Evra, an intricate three-piece from Hartlepool
• 3.15-3.45pm: In Moscow,
• 4-4.30pm: Lithium Speed Dementia, a three-piece pop/punk/electro band from Hartlepool
• 4.45-5.15pm: Dave Mosley
• 5.30-6pm: Demon Summer, who are currently recording their second album
• 6.15-6.45pm: Young Rebel Set, who promise a rousing performance of gritty urban folk
• 7-7.30pm: The Chapman Family, said to be inspired as much by folk music as hardcore punk
• 7.50-8.30pm: Nine Black Alps, a Manchester-based rock band that has gained a reputation for loud and aggressive yet melodic music
• 8.50-9.40pm: The John Power Band, which is fronted by singer-songwriter and former bass player for the La's, John Power

The Big Entertainment Tent will be unticketed on Saturday July 4 and once full will operate a one out, one in system.