Spirit in Niagara Distillery takes a leap into the local comedy scene

If Niagara Falls-based stand-up comedian Michael Moses gets his way there will be a lot of funny business happening at Spirit in Niagara Distillery in the coming months. 

Moses, who appeared on a Just For Laughs comedy album called Stand Up Ontario: Too Many Wolves in 2021, headlines a show this Saturday, Dec. 7 with fellow local funnyman Seb Powers at the 458 Lakeshore Rd. location. 

Moses’ routine often includes jokes about growing up in smalltown Coaldale, Alberta, near Lethbridge, where he offers that he and his two siblings were the only three Black residents. 

“We grew up in a single-parent household,” says Moses. “My brother and sister and I got away with so many things. Mom couldn’t work and also pay attention to all three of us at the same time.”

He moved to Niagara Falls in 2019 after meeting a girl who lived there.

“She brought me out here and I’ve been stuck ever since,” he jokes. “Things are really different here in comparison to Coaldale. And there’s lots to talk about when it comes to the difference between what an outsider sees when it comes to a touristy area and what it’s actually like when you live here.”

The 34-year-old has performed all over the world. He mentions Berlin, Germany and Barcelona, Spain and several areas in the US. Two years ago he posted a four-part documentary about his comedy travels across Canada on YouTube.

With multiple gigs in some locations he estimates that he has done as many as 500 shows in a single year since he began concentrating on his comedy full time. 

Recently he has been working on some sketch comedy pieces with Powers. His colleague knew someone who worked at the distillery, so the pair asked to meet with management to discuss the possibility of doing a show there. 

“They’ve never had comedy there before,” says Moses. “This is the first one ever. They said if we wanted the space they’d give us a good Saturday night for us to put on a show. We talked to the staff and they are excited about it. We feel really fortunate to get this opportunity. We hope it’s a big success.”

Moses says tickets have been moving well and he is crossing his fingers that this weekend’s gig draws a crowd of about 100, convincing the folks at Spirit in Niagara to make comedy nights a regular feature. 

“It’s going to be a fun night with two of Niagara’s best comics,” says Moses. “And now that I’ve made Niagara home, it would be great to have a place where I can be a familiar face to the audience, where I can bring in new acts, exciting new performers for them.”

Tickets for the 90-minute show that starts at 9 p.m. Saturday are $14.99 and are available here.