Another funny bone season

Michelle McManus is on at the Glasgow Comedy Festival

Ribs, prepare to be tickled — the Glasgow International Comedy Festival is back in town.

The fun kicks off next Thursday (March 12), with a two week programme of big name acts and smaller, snigger-worthy shows.

Big names on this year’s bill include Jimmy Carr with Funny Business (March 13-14), Dylan Moran (March 18) and Simon Amstell (March 18-19)

The thinking man’s comedian Stewart Lee presents new material at A Room With a Stew on March 19, and Rich Hall takes up residence in the Garage of all places for his annual Hoedown, March 27-29.

Big names they may be — but the comedy fest is something of a southside feast this year, too, kicking off with Pollokshields’ own Nancy Clench. The drag artiste presents Camp! at The Riding Room next Saturday (March 14).

Shawlands favourite Michelle McManus is back in the spotlight for Reality - Reloaded at the King’s (March 24) — meanwhile, Govanhill Baths fundraiser United We Will Swim kicks off proceedings at the arts hub on March 13, with Stu Who? and Susan McCabe among performers.

The Southside Film Fest present a series of comedy classics, again at Govanhill Baths, for those of you in the mood for a good flick. The programme starts with American — The Bill Hicks Story (March 13) .

Add in acerbic comedy from Govanhill Theatre Group — presenting Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage, trying to resolve issues between two schoolboys — and it’s a party on the tiles, quite literally (March 18-21).