
When we talked with Baltimore comedian Ivan Martin in April, he was busy putting together an opportunity for the city’s comics to shine on one of Kevin Hart’s cable-televised showcases. At the time, Martin said part of the reason he thought Hart would even bother stopping through Baltimore was the growth he’d seen in Baltimore’s standup scene over the last decade or so: “When it comes to downtown Baltimore and Station North and Mount Vernon, you can get on stage every single night now.”
Martin has helped make that a reality as an organizer of events showcasing fellow local comics. One of his biggest undertakings has been the city’s very own comedy festival. Now in its second year, the weekend-long event features a host of standup shows across the city.