…on comedy, his Chorleywood memories and hosting BerkoFest
Broadcaster and Comedian Robin Ince is a great supporter of community events, especially upcoming talent, and hosts BerkoFest for the second time later this month. The Berkhamsted festival features acts across four stages and includes a tent dedicated to young performers from Swan Youth Centre plus a Raw Vibes tent showcasing local unsigned musicians. Glenn Tilbrook (right) headlines the main stage performing songs from his solo album and from the Squeeze back catalogue.
“I will be back blethering at BerkoFest !” says Robin, “I took my son last time, it was his first festival and he loved it!”
BerkoFest is on Ince’s patch,
“I moved to Berkhamsted from London when my Peckham basement flat flooded. I love anywhere with a castle and an Art Deco cinema! I hosted a charity night with Alexei Sayle at The Rex in Rik Mayall’s memory and hope to do another. Rik is one of the main reasons I am a comedian.”
But Ince is no newcomer to the area and has a soft spot for Chorleywood
“I was born in a snowstorm in Chenies (inside a house) and my parents still live there. I have great memories of Chorleywood as a kid, especially the bookshop. I was always going in buying paperbacks like Van Thal’s Pan Book of Horror Stories. It inspired me to bring out my own horror anthology Dead Funny last year with stories by comedians like Mitch Benn, Phill Jupitus, Al Murray – and me! The second volume comes out next month.”
Although he has taken a break from touring as a stand up, Ince’s diary is crammed.
“I miss the buzz and chilling in the Green Room with other comedians on the circuit but not so much the hanging around at stations on the way to a gig. Even though I’m not on the road I have plenty lined up. I’m regularly on the Steve Lamacq show on BBC 6 Music where I work out listener profiles from their favourite tracks. I sometimes get it so wrong. I was convinced recently that a lady sold Mexican pottery in Finchley. She didn’t. I make podcasts with the creative Josie Long. I have great fun working with scientist Brian Cox on The Infinite Monkey Cage for Radio 4 and we have two live specials coming up this winter at Hammersmith Apollo with surprise guests. Plus I have a live show in November with comedian friends in the Bloomsbury Theatre which ties in with my Dead Funny book. Comedy is an illness that can be adapted to be a job. It’s incurable, you can’t just stop.”
More details of Robin’s current and upcoming shows at
www.robinince.com
BerkoFest, Sat 12 September, 12 – 6pm. Tickets from www.berkofest.com and Berkhamsted shops £16/£10 in advance Children under 14 free (ticket required)