Glory days at Moontower Comedy Festival 2025 as Hank Azaria brings his Bruce Springsteen tribute, the EZ Street Band, to Austin. Credit: Image Courtesy of Moontower Comedy Festival

Ever wondered what the stars of The Simpsons do when they’re not working on season 36? Well, you’ll get to see Hank Azaria when he’s not being Moe Szyslak or Chief Wiggum when he drops by Moontower Comedy Festival (April 9-19, 2025).

Following a first wave that included headliners including hot tours like Adam Ray’s Dr. Phil Live and standup stars including Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Maria Bamford, Brad Williams, Big Jay Oakerson and more, today the fest added some of the biggest names in comedy and more.

John Waters Credit: Photo by Greg Gorman
• It’s been 20 years since John Waters directed his last film, so there’s a whole generation of fans who only know him from his live shows. Now the Pope of Trash combines both his cinematic and theatrical legacies in a new show that looks back on his five decades of sleaze.

• As for Hank Azaria, he may be a comedy legend, but he’ll be in town for his latest musical side project, Springsteen covers crew the EZ Street Band. The longtime fan of the Boss started these shows last year for his own 60th birthday, and now they’ve become a rockin’, tourin’, Bruce-approved extravaganza.

• Moontower veteran Aziz Ansari comes back to the Paramount with his signature audacious, sharp, and sharply-dressed standup.

• He’s not the only returning favorite, as Alternative comedy legend Janeane Garofalo heads back to Austin.

• Yet Moontower has never just been about established names, but giving audiences a look at the next big things. Representing rising new talent will be New York City’s Comedy Cellar constant Zarna Garg with a stop on her Practical People Win tour.

Tiffany Haddish Credit: Image Courtesy of Moontower Comedy Festival

• Tiffany Haddish may have broken out as a big screen A-lister, but the Emmy, Grammy, and NAACP Image Award-winning author of memoir The Last Black Unicorn has never really left the standup stage where she made her start. Now she’ll tread the boards of the Paramount for one of her first announced dates of 2025.

• If you’re ever looking for a quick laugh on TikTok, the easiest way is to just click on the hashtag #itscaitlinhello for the character-driven sketch comedy of Caitlin Reilly. Luckily, you catch her in person during Moontower at the Thompson for more than just a quick clip.

Pete Holmes Credit: Image Courtesy of Moontower Comedy Festival

• Host of the You Made It Weird podcast Pete Holmes got his own surprise bout of additional online fame after the scene from his show Crashing about accidentally opening for John Mulaney went viral recently. Now Moontower is the latest stop on his Feelin’ It tour.

• And last but far from least on this latest round of headliners, The Yo Show creator Michael Yo takes a break from his Las Vegas residency at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club for a trip to Austin.

Moontower Comedy Festival runs April 9-19, 2025. For more of today’s lineup announcement, plus club shows, head over to austintheatre.org/moontower-comedy.

This article appears in December 6 • 2024.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.