February's the month for comedy lovers, here's some to snuggle up to

Looking for something to do to mark Valentine's Day that means you don't have to communicate with your other half? Try going to see stand up, you don't have to talk to them there. Whether you're contentedly/desperately alone or happily/irritably coupled go see some comedy, everything will be all right after that.

Comedy Cellar, Verve Bar, Tue Feb 3 (every Tue), Free
Leeds' long running new act comedy night. Come along and see fresh comedians hone their talents. It could be brilliant or terrible, mediocre or amusing, but it's free and you may well be witnessing an early gig from a star of tomorrow. Get down and show your support at the grass roots.

Alistair Barrie, Jongleurs, Fri 6 & Sat 7 Feb, prices from £17
A consummate pro of a comic, it's no surprise that Barrie has performed all over the world. His is a slick delivery of straight but smart stand up. He's had plenty of nods over the years from comp judges and critics alike when he performs his one man shows but there's always an appreciative audience when he's out there on the club circuit too.

Jimeoin, City Varieties, Sat Feb 7, £18.60
The Irish comedian was born in the UK but moved to Australia years ago where his stand up career took off. His success lies in his observational skills, finding gags in the minutiae of life. Though still based in Oz he frequently returns to the UK, 'Is It...', his latest show, played at the Edinburgh Fringe and is now on tour nationwide.

Simon Amstell, City Varieties, Wed Feb 11, £21.60
Amstell's stand up is a introspective affair but one which is carefully considered, smart and of course funny. This tour ponders the notion of freedom while mocking and questioning society's norms. Support for the tour comes in the form of the wonderful Norwegian comic Daniel Simonsen who won the 2012 Foster's Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Comedy Sessions, HiFi Club, Sat Feb 14, £9-£12
The quality weekly comedy nights at the HiFi continue. This week is no exception. Glasgow born and Yorkshire bred Alun Cochrane weaves beguiling stories, Jess Fostekew is sharply perceptive and smartly funny and Dan Nightingale is a delightfully exuberant character on the circuit.

Jongleurs, Fri 13 & Sat 14 Feb, from £17
With more camp than the fields of Somerset at Glastonbury time, Topping and Butch have been regaling audiences for many years with their own brand of musical daftness. Also on the bill are the fine talents of Alex Boardman, Allyson Smith and Markus Birdman.

John Shuttleworth, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Tue Feb 17, £19
He doesn't like two margarines open in the fridge at once and is distraught at the possibility of a second helping of shepherd's pie after he's started on his pud, but no matter what trauma life throws at him there's catharsis to be found in writing a song about it on his trusty keyboard. The Sheffield security guard continues on his tour.

Comedy Kaiju, Wharf Chambers, Wed Feb 18, £3
Embracing weird, daft and dark humour, Comedy Kaiju aims to brings you a 'monstrous array of giant characters.' This month it's The Not So Late Show with Ross and Josh, billed as a mixture of stand up, improv and 'just plain daft behaviour.'

Clean as Possible Comedy, Carriageworks, Wed Feb 18, £8/£5
Believe it or not it is possible to perform an entire set of stand up without using naughty sweary words or talking about one's bottom. Clean as Possible Comedy has been doing this for years. The club's promoter Tony Vino hosts and introduces the slick Tim Clark and Malawian comic Daliso Chaponda - both behaving impeccably.

Carl Hutchinson, The Wardrobe, Thu Feb 19, £8
The Geordie comedian with his latest stand up show. Fresh from supporting fellow North Easterner Chris Ramsey, the comic who started stand up when he was a student almost a decade ago is a chatty and amiable presence with just a touch of the curmudgeonly old man about him.

Andrew Lawrence, Carriageworks, Fri Feb 20, £13/£12
Unfortunately Lawrence has been garnering more attention in comedy circles of late with a rather ill-informed online argument about immigration, however the fact remains that he is a skilled stand up with a style that originally began as gloriously twisted and weird and which morphed into a ranting embittered character.

Stephen K Amos, City Varieties, Wed Feb 25, £17.60
Amos honed his comedic talents for years on the stand up circuit before hitting the big time generating a guaranteed audience. His is feel-good humour and his latest tour 'Welcome to My World' sees his return from touring Australia and New Zealand.

Josie Long, The Wardrobe, Wed Feb 25, £15/£12.50
Long has been an idiosyncratic figure ploughing her own furrow since day one. Surreal early routines featuring a George Forman grill have made way for more political or science themed shows but she remains one of the most original and exciting comedians around. 'Cara Josephine' promises to be her most personal show to date.

Kill For A Seat, Seven Arts, Wed Feb 25, £11/£9
Comedian Silky's lovely monthly gig. This month sees a performance from Las Vegas comedian Tanyalee Davies who derives much sharp material from her experience living with dwarfism. In support is rising star Brennan Reece with an amusingly giddy delivery chatting about how he doesn't fit into macho circles with his 'lesbian' hair do.

Comedy at The Original Oak, Fri Feb 27, £8/£7
After a brief time away, The House of Fun long-running comedy night thankfully returns to Headingley as a monthly Friday gig. This month sees a headline set from hard nut East Ender Jeff Innocent - but don't worry he's a softy really.

Comedy Sessions, HiFi Club, Sat Feb 28, £9-£12
Another fine Comedy Sessions line up to end the month on. This week there's consummate Manchester act Justin Moorhouse, East Ender Jeff Innocent and Father Dougal look-a-like Andrew Ryan.

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