Published: 01/03/2013 12:25 - Updated: 27/02/2013 12:32

Friday night funnies at Mad Hatters

Aberdeen band Guttergodz appear at the first Matters Friday Floor Show

MAD Hatters is having a laugh — and will be, every Friday from this weekend.

Already established as one of the best places to see emerging musical talent, the venue on the second floor of Hootananny on Church Street, Inverness, will now be combining live music with live comedy with the launch of the free entry Friday Floor Show.

The Friday Floor Show will begin at 10pm every Friday with some of the UK’s top emerging professional comics taking part, followed by live music starting at 10.45pm before the entertainment concludes with a DJ set until 3 am.

"We are keen to reintroduce comedy to the venue and give our audiences a Friday night to remember every week by having some of the best emerging comics and top bands from not only the local area and Scotland but the UK take part in the Friday Floor Show," Hootananny programmer Steve Robertson said.

The Friday Floor Show is just the latest development in Hootananny’s decade long history with the venue celebrating its 10th anniversary in June.

Over the years it has not only played host to the cream of Scottish traditional music such as Blazin’ Fiddles and Single Malt Soundystem, an early chance to see such top talent as Mumford & Sons, Jake Bugg and Little Boots and even featured in a Runrig video. In addition to its musical guests, "Hoots" has also hosted leading comics such as Freddie MacAulay, Sarah Millican, and reportedly Frank Boyle, so after a period of absence the venue management is delighted for live comedy to return.

The Friday Floor Show line-up for March is:

Friday 1st March

Live music from The Ruckus and Guttergodz

Comedy from Neil McFarlane

DJset from Karina

Friday 8th March

Music — Dave "Bucket" Coldwell (formerly of Bad Company & Friends)

Comedy — Phil Buckley

DJ set — Karina

Friday 15th March

Music — Mindfunk

Comedy — Al McWilliam