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ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Ray Badran @RayBadran Comedy Fest Podcast: Ray Badran

Ray Badran, winner of the self-appointed Best Bloke Award, is one of ’s rising comedians.

A regular at the Sydney Comedy Store, Ray has also performed on The Footy Show and contributed writing to various TV shows such as Good News Week.

Last year was a big one for Ray: he performed in both the Sydney and Melbourne Comedy Festivals and in the USA. He also holds a Bachelor of Medical Science and once made the grand final of the World Strawberry Eating Championships.

“[A] genuinely funny guy.” – Weekend Notes

Jacques Barrett @jbcomedy Sydney Comedy Fest Podcast: Jacques Barrett

A crowd favourite on the Australian club and festival circuit, Jacques has become a bona-fide headliner, known for his ability to adapt to the crowd and throw consistently sharp, relentless comedy blows. Jacques weaves character renditions into social commentary with strong performance skills and well written material, resulting in some poignant comedy. He leaves crowds thinking and laughing long after the curtains have closed.

“Pretty damn impressive.” 4 stars -Time Out

“Jacques is an exceptionally gifted young standup, with roguish charisma and an obviously sharp intellect.” -Inpress

“Clever…. a genuine talent” - Herald Sun

Media Contact: Tom Downey (02) 9020 6929 [email protected] sydneycomedyfest.com.au @syd_comedy_fest facebook.com/sydneycomedyfestival

Luke Heggie @lukeheggie Sydney Comedy Fest Podcast: Luke Heggie

Luke Heggie is a Sydney-based comedian, munitions expert, metal detecting enthusiast, and all round top bloke.

Luke Heggie began his stand up comedy career in 2010 at a RAW comedy heat in Sydney. He went on four gigs later to win the RAW Comedy National Final with a mixed bag of ingenious one liners, delivered with minimal fuss and frills.

He is an efficient comic; no ostentation, no smoke and mirrors, visual, physical and verbal understatement ensue, followed by much laughter of course.

“Deadpan genius...one of the funniest stand ups around.” -Sydney Morning Herald

“Dry, cynical and unashamedly grumpy.” - The Age

Smart Casual Sydney Comedy Fest Podcast: Smart Casual

Best known for their hit song, The Hawk, about the imagined love story of supermodel Jennifer Hawkins and scientist Stephen Hawkings, Smart Casual is Roger David (on guitar) and Fletcher Jones (on beard), arguably Australia's smartest, most casual musical comedy duo.

Regular headliners across the country, their witty ditties and beautiful harmonised low-fi com-rock classics have seen Smart Casual become one of the most in demand comedy acts in Australia.

"Immediately likeable. Aussie laconic humour is alive and well." – The Age

"Exceptionally clever and well executed... destined for big things." – Buzzcuts

Media Contact: Tom Downey (02) 9020 6929 [email protected] sydneycomedyfest.com.au @syd_comedy_fest facebook.com/sydneycomedyfestival

Sam Campbell

Sam Campbell is a beacon of success and prosperity for everybody. Since being crowned the QLD champion of the 2011 Raw Comedy competition he has gone from strength to strength performing in comedy rooms all over Australia.

In addition to stand-up he is one part of the sketch group 'Skills in Time", with over a million YouTube views and hit shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and .

Sam currently lives in Sydney with your Mum. She's a hot babe.

“Sam Campbell is the future of funny” –Sydney Comedy Hub

John Cruckshank @johncruckshank

A brilliant young comedian finding an original stride, John is making huge waves on the national comedy circuit with his clever sharp and well paced jokes. His laid back approach sucks you in followed up by repeated roundhouse kicks banging out the laughs.

“His unassuming presence and brutal honesty make for continuous laughs” – Herald Sun

Media Contact: Tom Downey (02) 9020 6929 [email protected] sydneycomedyfest.com.au @syd_comedy_fest facebook.com/sydneycomedyfestival

Jared Jekyll @jaredjekyll

Jared Jekyll is an up-and-coming writer, comedian, performance artist and musician. He recently graced the Enmore Theatre as an audience favourite at the 's opening night gala, Cracker Night.

Jekyll is also no stranger to the festival circuit, having performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Perth's , Rottofest [WA], The Sydney Fringe, the Sydney Comedy Festival and Bondi Feast [NSW].

He cannot wait to take his blend of "old-school and “new- school" comedy abroad in the coming years.

"Jekyll fits into no stereotypical labels; his reverberating intensity is both terrifying and mesmerizing to watch. He holds it together like Tarzan Grip while in character." – YAWP Comedy Magazine

Media Contact: Tom Downey (02) 9020 6929 [email protected]