Comedy Community Comes Together to Support New Home for Beloved Downtown Businesses
In a heartwarming testament to the power of community, the 2024 Brewing for Comedy Festival is not just about laughs—it’s about coming together to support two longstanding local businesses in their time of need.
The comedy festival, which takes place August 20th to September 2nd at various locations across Windsor, not only aims to showcase some of the best local talent and stand-up acts from across the globe, it also hopes to offer a helping hand to two cornerstones of Windsor’s arts and cultural scene; Craft Heads Brewing Company and Phog Lounge, who are being forced to relocate from the city’s core after rent increases of nearly 300% were imposed on them earlier this year.
It’s a full circle moment for the organizers of the festival, who attribute the local comedy scene’s growth to the early support they received from the downtown establishments.
A HOME FOR LOCAL LAUGHS
In June 2015, comedian Rob Kemeny saw an opportunity to transform Craft Heads’ taproom into a space where local comedians could shine. Together with the support of the team at the brewery, the idea of an open-mic night took root. With the addition of Paul Montanier, Brewing for Comedy Tuesdays was born. Since then, the show has become a staple in the community, a place where laughter and camaraderie flourish.
“Craft Heads is now the home of stand-up comedy in Windsor,” says Montanier. “They have always supported taking unconventional approaches, unlikely collaborations, and experimentation. Donating our time and art with the festival this year is an honour, to say the least. They have been a catalyst, support system, and family to all of Windsor’s comedians for nearly a decade.”
To Craft Head’s co-owner Bryan Datoc, creating a hub for the local arts and culture scene has been a way to pay it forward for all the support they’ve received over the years. The brewery team is heartened by the festival organizers’ generosity and is excited to see the community grow as they look to the future with their new space in the heart of Windsor’s Via Italia.
“A community thrives when its members come together to support one another,” he shares. “We’ve always believed in fostering passion and creativity, and now, thanks to the incredible support from the Windsor Comedy team, we’re excited to build a new cultural hub where those values can continue to flourish.”
A NEW COMMUNITY HUB
Work is now underway to open the new space on Erie Street with their long-time neighbours, Phog Lounge. The venue, across from WindsorEats, will feature multiple stages, a taproom, and a production brewery, promising to become a keystone of Windsor’s arts scene.
The move, however, comes with significant renovation and moving costs. This is where the community’s support is crucial, says Montanier, who notes many of the comedians appearing in the festival will be donating their time to help maximize proceeds.
“When we decided to run this year’s festival as a fundraiser for the new location and asked the comedians if any of them were willing to donate their time to assist, we were flooded with requests to support,” he shares.
While organizers were able to set up nearly twice the number of shows for this year’s festival, the number of comedians looking to donate their time was much more, showing the love and goodwill the brewery has gained over the years, Montanier adds.
“Craft Heads has been home to many comedians first time on stage, headliners first time headlining a club, and has created so much history in the last 9 years,” he reflects. “This is not because of the number of shows, or the number of comedians, or the audience. It is because of the focus on community they have.”
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
Tickets for the 2024 Brewing for Comedy Festival range from $10 to $20, with some free shows available, making it accessible for everyone to contribute what they can. The festival features 17 shows, 10 open mics, and culminates in a grand finale in September.
New partners such as Wineology Tecumseh, WindsorEats, The Coffin Club, Maiden Lane Wine & Cocktail Bar, Meteor, Phog Lounge, and more have joined, promising an even more exciting and diverse lineup.
To learn more, or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.brewingforcomedy.ca/festival
