Time Out Sydney Comedy Awards 2011 - the winners

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT:

Danny Bhoy
This was a close run thing, with last year's Jury Prize winners Dead Cat Bounce just a couple of percent behind, and Gina Yashere, Greg Proops and Craig Hill all making strong showings. However, a sold-out run of Enmore Theatre shows for his Messenger (Do Not Shoot) does kinda suggest some sort of baseline popularity, we suppose. 

Danny Bhoy says:"I am absolutely thrilled to get the award for Best International Act in the Time Out Sydney Comedy Awards. This takes a lot of the pressure off Andy Murray to bring home silverware at Wimbledon this year. I would like to thank everyone who came along to one of the shows. Balls out! You were an amazing crowd."

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL BEST LOCAL ACT:

Felicity Ward
The Melbourne-based comic clearly impressed her old hometown with Honestly (despite, as at the show we saw, the presence of her old boss who thought it was a good time for a catch up), very strong showings from Steve Hughes and Tommy Dean notwithstanding. Gents, the lesson is clear: get the I Am T-Pain app before your next show. 

Felicity Ward says: "Thank you very much for this amazing award. But more importantly thanks to all the Sydneysiders who came out to see my show in spite of the torrential rains, an at home Swans game & a Royal Wedding. And thank you to everyone who got on the F3 to see my show – nice one Coasties."

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL - PEOPLE'S CHOICE:

Dead Cat Bounce
This was a free-for-all for any damn show people liked, and voting was predictably fierce. However, the Irish musical comedy troupe romped in ahead of runners up Sammy J & Randy, Steve Hughes and Daniel Townes with their Caged Heat show, which for our money could have won purely on the basis of ‘Christians in Love'.

Dead Cat Bounce say: "As a comedy rock & roll band, we’re not driven by awards. We’re driven by financial insecurity, low self-esteem and alcoholism… But we’d like to give a huge to the good people at Time Out, the Sydney Comedy Festival and everyone who came along to the show and voted for us. Cheers everybody! See you next year."

BEST SYDNEY COMEDY VENUE:

El Rocco
It's relatively new as a comedy venue, but has clearly made an impact: since Happy Endings started up on Fridays and Saturdays, comics and punters alike have made clear just what a sweet room El Rocco is. Then again, it was another popular category with strong showings for Fringe Bar, the Enmore, the Comedy Store and the Roxbury Hotel.

BEST SYDNEY COMEDY NIGHT:

Project 52
This has been a regular Wednesday night comedy showcase at Hermann's Bar for a while now, and we're a little embarrassed to say that it'd somehow slipped under our radar. However, we've amended that thanks to your votes. It only just pipped the aforementioned Happy Endings for this category, with Fringe Bar's Monday Night Comedy and the Friend in Hand's regular Thursday Mic in Hand also making very strong showings. 

BEST COMEDY SHOW OF THE PAST 12 MONTHS:

Axis of Awesome
This new category celebrates every touring show that's hit Sydney since mid-last year, and it warms our little hearts to see that the firm winner was a Sydney act. Axis of Awesome's Infinity Rock Explosion was filmed for DVD release last year at the sold-out Metro and it looks like damn near everyone who was there voted for them, beating out such solid contenders as Arj Barker, Tim Minchin, Rhys Darby, the Pajama Men and Billy Connolly. World class: that's what our boys are.

SYDNEY'S BEST COMEDIAN

Wil Anderson
The closest run category by far, and the one where one well-placed tweet could have made all the difference for such worthy locals as Tommy Dean, Matt Okine, Daniel Townes and Dave Bloustien. However, it was that sharp-suited cat Wil Anderson who just nipped past the post, suggesting that his next punningly-titled tour should be a popular one.

Wil Anderson says: "Thanks to everyone who voted for me, especially those who actually thought they were voting for Adam Hills to win the Gold Logie, and most importantly thanks to everyone who supports local comedy all-year-round."