By Mim
Last month, the Museum Gardens was transformed into a hotbed of live music and world-class comedy, when Futuresound Group treated us to a fun-filled weekend including Live in York Museum Gardens and the 2026 York Comedy Festival.
After three nights of music, where featured big-name acts included Self Esteem, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Super Furry Animals, and Baxter Dury, there seemed no better way to wind down the weekend than settling down in the Gardens for a chuckle, courtesy of some of the finest stand-up comedians the UK has to offer.
Everyone needs a little laughter in their lives, and for this year’s festival, we were fortunate enough to wrangle premium tickets, which offered easy access to the site and seats close enough to the comedians to be targeted as the butt of a joke or two! I felt particularly sorry for Barry, who seemed to be the main victim – he was a good sport with the requests thrown at him throughout the night, so well done Barry!
It was roasting hot in the sunshine, and we enjoyed a full afternoon of amazing comedians, including the likes of Suzi Ruffell, Joanne McNally, Barry from Watford, Russ Noble, and Russell Howard, to name a few. I have never laughed so much, and after a while, I didn’t think I had any laughter left in me – but it kept coming! The howling eruptions of laughter from the York crowd were truly a sight to behold.
The day could not have been compered by a better host, MC Jarred Christmas, who kept the crowd roaring with his quick-witted jokes; with a name like that, you can only imagine the self-deprecating gags he levelled against himself, giving our Barry a much-needed break from all that good-natured abuse.
I particularly enjoyed the female comics, and found many of their wisecracks painfully relatable, especially those poking fun at what women have to put up with in their daily lives – Suzi Ruffell’s embarrassing memories of ‘women trouble’-related visits to the doctor, discussing dating preferences with her dad, and living with neurodiversity really hit home for me. Irish upstart Joanne McNally was another highlight, presenting a barrage of jokes about her dating experiences as a single 40-year-old with no kids. I would say more, but most of her material was too explicit for this website!
Russell Kane’s characteristically bouncy energy, which saw him bounding around the stage, seemed to resonate most with Generation Z audience members, while the famous headliner, Russell Howard, brought the evening to a close – as a top-tier comic at the top of his game, it was a pleasure to see him perform in the flesh.
Hats off to Futuresound Group – we can’t wait until next year’s festival!
Visit www.futuresoundgroup.com to stay up to date with the latest announcements, news and events from Futuresound Group. They stage regular live events in York, Leeds and beyond!
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