Members of the Snowed in Comedy Tour snowboard by day and perform onstage at night.

Members of the Snowed in Comedy Tour snowboard by day and perform onstage at night.

Making merry of winter

Comics on the Snowed in Comedy Tour that makes a stop in Salmon Arm Jan. 31, snowboard during the day and entertain audiences at night.

What happens when four internationally-recognized comedians want to go snowboarding during the day and do comedy shows at night to pay for it?

The Snowed in Comedy Tour is unique in that it combines the talents of four big headliners on one stage.

When Glenn Wool was back in Vancouver for a visit in 2008, taking a break from doing shows on three continents, Dan Quinn told him he was planning to spend a few weeks winter snowboarding every hill in Western Canada. To pay for his adventure he was going to see if the ski-hills would hire him to do shows in their local bars. It would be a fun break from his busy schedule.

Wool loved the idea and asked if he could come along. The idea also appealed to other comics, morphing into The Snowed in Comedy Tour along the way.

Current tour members include Arj Barker, Pete Johansson, Dan Quinn and Craig Campbell.

Barker is an American stand-up comedian who is developing a huge following all over the world. He is best known as playing Dave in the hit HBO sitcom Flight of the Conchords. He is also co-creator of the hit off-broadway show the Marijuana-logues, a parody of the Vagina Monologues.

He plays to sold-out crowds and has been on David Letterman twice, The Tonight Show, Bill Maher’s HBO show, Last Comic Standing and multiple Just for Laughs galas.

Barker has done three Comedy Central specials and his YouTube clips have generated millions of views.

Johansson is making a name for himself as one of the top comedians in the world. Raised in Canada, Johansson resides in London, England so he can keep up with all his touring around the world.

Quinn is a natural storyteller becoming a national headliner with tales of his own life. He tours Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and recently performed in Amsterdam. His comedy is honest, personal, edgy, relatable and always funny.

Winner of the Canadian comedy competition at Just for Laughs,  and chosen Best of the Fest at several festivals, he has been seen on CBC, CTV and the Comedy Network and heard on XM Radio.

Quinn has developed a following in Western Canada through his constant touring and opening up for big-name acts.

Campbell has been nominated Best Headliner at the Chortle Awards. As former host of Canada’s legendary Ed’s Night Party and with appearances on several other shows, he is a firm fringe favourite.

The Snowed in Comedy Tour stops in Salmon Arm at the SASCU Rec Centre Friday, Jan. 31. Showtime is 8:30 p.m., and each comedian will perform for 25 minutes, with an intermission after the second act.

Tickets are available at www.ticketweb.ca. For more information on the comics, visit www.snowedincomedytour.com.

 

Salmon Arm Observer