The First Annual

Laugh Riot Comedy & Music Festival

Laugh. Vote. Riot.

Cincinnati's comedy and live-music scenes collide at The Comet every Saturday this summer — July 11 through August 29 — for an audience-powered showdown. 63 comedians compete. You decide who advances.

Each week, 6 Rookie and 3 Veteran comedians take the stage and battle for your votes and judges' scores. Weekly winners earn $50, a future Bombs Away! booking, and a spot in the Finals. After the laughs, Cincinnati's best punk, metal, hardcore, and rock bands play the night out — plus killer burritos. Tickets are priced low so everyone can make it.

The heart and soul of Bombs Away! Comedy lies within the legendary, storied music venue known as The Comet. For 30 years, The Comet has been an iconic locale for music across every imaginable genre, and now hosts Bombs Away! Comedy shows every Saturday night. If you’ve ever wanted to be the person who is able to say, “I saw them back when…,” these shows are the place to do it.

Reserve your tickets for an offbeat date, an unconventional night out with friends, and see some of America’s best comedy acts in an intimate setting. The Comet is a Northside institution featuring giant burritos, easy street parking with ample lighting, and a staggering selection of spirits and local craft beverages. If you’re not already hip to this staple in Cincinnati nightlife, join us!

Tonight's Performers

Rookie Comedians

Big Guy And Shotgun, Jericho Puckett, CHarlie Hall, Max Jenson, Caitlin Menosky

Veteran Comedians

Ben Gerber, Breezy Lee, Allison Stapp

Headliner

Gwen Sunkel is an Indianapolis comedian, emcee, and character actor. She performs regularly at Helium Comedy Club and The White Rabbit Cabaret where she is a cast member with An Evening With The Authors*. You’ve seen her at Cincinnati Brew Ha-Ha, Yuckfest, and Limestone Comedy Festival and on the Vice TV Series ‘Hunters.’ Gwen is also contributing writer for AWF Magazine. She is a producer with Rocketship Comedy and co-hosts a series of benefit shows that have raised over $15,000 for reproductive health organizations in the Midwest.

Live Music

Variations Of May, Alex Kasznel and the Board Of Directors, US Daggers

Prizes

Weekly Winner

$50+ booking + Finals invite

Finals Winner

$300+ second booking

Your Vote Counts

Winners are decided equally by audience vote and judges' scores. Each ticket gets you a vote for your 2 favorite rookies and 2 favorite veterans. No joke experience required — just an opinion and a good time.