Laugh Your Asheville Off comedy fest promises week full of big fun

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The Laugh Your Asheville Off comedy festival starts Tuesday in Asheville and promises some big fun. It’s bigger and better than ever.

From Mike McWilliams of the Asheville Citizen-Times:

When Charlie Gerencer and Greg Brown started Laugh Your Asheville Off five years ago, they had a goal of putting Western North Carolina on the map in the comedy world.

Now, the five-day event attracts several hundred submissions from comics all over the United States and is earning a reputation as a top-notch festival.

“Charlie and I have both had experiences where we are in New York City or L.A. at a club and Asheville comes up, or the comedy festival comes up in the conversation,” said Brown. “It’s very flattering.”

Laugh Your Asheville Off begins Tuesday with a benefit show for Brother Wolf Animal Rescue featuring local comics. The festival wraps July 16 with two performances by comedy legend Carl LaBove. Other showcase performers include Comedy Central’s Kyle Kinane; Rory Scovel, who recently appeared on “John Oliver’s Stand-up Special” as well as “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon”; Tom Segura, named Comedy Central’s breakout comic of 2011; and Sam Morril, winner of the 2011 Laughing Skull Festival in Atlanta.

Gerencer noted that three of this year’s headliners have appeared on Conan over the past three weeks. Here are the links to their videos:

Rory Scovel

Tom Segura

Kyle Kinane

It’s going to be a great