Edinburgh Laughter Bulletin Xmas Bumper Special
Best of 2024 / Hannah Campbell / GICF Preview
Merry Festivus! For the rest of us… This oversized end of year special you’ll be visited by three ghosts. One of them is all the way over from Glasgow, for fuck sake! Don’t worry, normal format service will be resumed in January!
The Ghost Of Christmas Past…
Bobby Carroll's Top 20 Comedy Shows from 2024
Phil Ellis: Come On and Take The Rest Of Me
“I wouldn't say Phil has been tamed or the wildness has been left dead by the roadside, but he has harnessed all his rough edges into one of my favourite hours of comedy in a very long time. Good boy!”
Nick Helm: Super Good Time Fun Show
“Helm pulls the pin from the audience grenade and juggles it for two hours in a way nobody else dares. Every night is a living thing.”
Harriet Kemsley: Everything Always Works Out For Me
“This has to be Hazza's funniest show yet. The laughs cascade into each other at her breathless mile a minute pace, the glittering gold rush. I can't imagine anyone else is currently riding their room this hard and fast with such a layered yet honed voice.”
Rob Mulholland: Allegations
“Every sentence sees his body swivel back and forth, this way and that, lanky legs kicking jokes left and right, like a glitching Bruce Forsyth. Let Mulholland entertain you. His cheery Yorkshire burr is all jolly incredulity as he spouts nasty takes and controversial ironies.”
Jessica Fostekew: Mettle
“Every comedy muscle has been toned and honed over her years on the circuit. As comfortable with whimsy as observation. Her timing is nimble, her voice coursing through every writing choice. Her personality is defined, ripped even, yet feels unforced. There's enthusiasm for stand-up, and for the audience she has built up, that echoes back and forth between stage and seats.”
Josh Pugh: Existin’ La Vida Loca
“There's a purity in his brand of stand-up that harks back to the greats of the post Eighties alternative boom. A subtle quirk and self-awareness that elevates him from the circuit journeymen. Everyone at the pints happy The Stand, Edinburgh, was laughing and chiming with his evolved shtick.”
Mark Thomas: The Gaffer Tapes
“Man alive, does he graft through The Gaffa Tapes... his shirt is a Turin Shroud of hard work perspiration within ten minutes. Great to have him back at what he does best. Racing through topics and satire at a speed and a volume that'd put a comic half his age to shame. The hard left lay preacher's son has lost none of his sermonising magic.”
Bronwyn Kuss: Sounds Good
“Bitter. Twisted. Undeniably talented. She covers topics so sporadic and idiosyncratic you could never predict what is going to shit in her sandwich next. Every assassination is droll yet tentative. The jagged words selected are precise and calm. The hit rate incredible considering how low key the delivery. Always withering, always reluctantly superior.”
Cobin Millage Presents 15 Pints with A Wax Figure of Renowned Painter Pablo Picasso
“This is anti-comedy. Meta comedy. Inside baseball for freaks of the stand-up form. Yet delivered with an incongruous, upbeat, personable zing.”
Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe LIVE!!!
“A star is born and dragged to hell, all in one unforgettable hour.”
Kiri Pritchard-McLean - Peacock
Michael Odewale: Of Mike And Men
Paulina Lenoir: Puella Eterna
Alfie Brown: Open Hearted Human Enquiry
Olga Koch: Prawn Cocktail
Rachel Fairburn: Showgirl
Amy Gledhill: Make Me Look Fit On The Poster
Stuart Laws: Has To Be Joking?
Paul McDaniel: Butterbeans
Grubby Little Mitts: Hello Hi
The Ghost Of Christmas Present…
Minterview: Hannah Campbell
One of the most accomplished up-and-coming acts on the Scottish scene Hannah Campbell has wowed me every time I have caught her live in 2024. There’s a polish to her, and a balance of skills within her, that feels rare and mighty exciting. Let’s catch up with her over an egg nog.
What is the worst Christmas gift you've ever received?
The weirdest one I've ever received was a few years ago after a December gig, an audience member gave me an avocado. She came up to me and said, "Merry Christmas, here's an avocado like in your joke." The thing is, I hadn't mentioned an avocado in my set, nor have I ever had a joke about one. When I politely pointed this out, she said, "No, you did! Also, you might want to eat it now as it's a few days old." I don't know how easy it is to spike an avocado, but safe to say, I did not eat it.
What is the best movie about stand-up comedy?
Inside by Bo Burnham is unbelievable. It's so funny, clever, and really captured the feeling of the pandemic and the descent into madness that a lot of creative people were facing. It also really put things in perspective—Bo managed to create an incredible special while most of us were doing Zoom hangouts and drinking too much wine.
Who is the unsung hero of the Scottish scene?
I don't think she's really unsung, but Jay Lafferty is one of the funniest comics on the circuit. Her material and MCing skills are incredible, and in general, she's just one of my favourite people. I'll also shout out Daniel Downie, who is genuinely hilarious and smashes every gig I see him do.
Where is your happy place during the Fringe?
I love hanging out with comic pals that you don't get to see most of the year. You create a little Fringe family, and it's really fun going to see shows together, grabbing a drink, and having a little moan about the Fringe.
If you could travel back in time to the day before your first gig, what advice would you give yourself?
Don't wear heels. I nearly broke my ankle getting onto the stage, which didn't inspire confidence from the audience.
Is there any upcoming date in Edinburgh or online project you'd like to big up?
Check out the Joy Agenda Podcast which I co-host with Jay Lafferty! We chat about things that bring us joy with a different guest every episode. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts, watch it on Youtube (@JoyAgendaPod) or give us both a follow on instagram.
The Ghost Of Christmas Future…
Glasgow International Comedy Festival Preview
In the second half of March, when west coast Scotland is at its most punishingly wettest, comedy fans decamp to Glasgow for a fortnight of comedy shows and drenching. GICF does a fantastic job of spreading shows all across the city. It attracts a rum mix of international names, national tour shows, Scottish favourites playing their biggest venues ever, and work-in-progress hours.
A quick selfish note on WIPs. Fuck me, there’s a dominating slew of them next year. All taking their six month run up at the Edinburgh Fringe. I fully understand how important a calendar milestone Glasgow is to assemble a new concept together into some kind of hour long shape… but I am genuinely going to struggle to find any grassroot comedians who are actually selling tickets to a finished show I can cover. Grumble grumble.
Here’s a rundown of who or what has caught my beady eye.
Big Names
Jamali Maddix: Aston - No nonsense and effortlessly hilarious, I get the feeling Jamali’s new show will very much be the one to beat in 2025. Aston is on at the Monkey Barrel in Edinburgh the weekdays before his big Glasgow date too!
Felicity Ward: I’m Exhausting - One of Australia’s nicest, most reassuring comedy voices returns to touring after COVID and motherhood. I think she’s brilliant.
Mark Nelson: Liquid Gold (WIP) - He’s probably not going to survive going to see Oasis in Murrayfield this summer so best catch him now while he’s at his supersonic best.
Catherine Bohart: Again, With Feelings - Bohart goes from strength to strength with this show where she evolves personally and keeps her comedy to a high, immaculate standard.
Joe Sutherland: Miss World - A household favourite. Every friend I bring to a Joe Sutherland joint becomes a lifelong fan. Let’s see what the deliciously arrogant sod is up to now!
Local Kids
David Callaghan: These Lanes I Watch Into The Fog (WIP) - One of the most precious voices on the festival scene returns with his unmatchable blend of intricate technology and lo-fi heart. I’m super excited for this as Callaghan’s next work of art has been a few years coming.
Chris Thorburn: I Don’t Know What This Is - Also a WIP. The idea of Thorburn noodling around with new flights of fancy after the perfect Cineman is pretty, pretty, pretty enticing. I’m sure he’ll figure something stellar out over the next few months.
Ayo Adenekan: Black Mediocrity (WIP) - Get in on the ground floor for this ridiculously talented Scottish newbie.
Amanda Dwyer: I Did Something Bad (WIP) - Dwyer’s first date has sold out but tickets are still available for her extra show. Expect exquisite misanthropic grumpiness.
Ralph Brown: Chronic Underthinker (WIP) - The blurb is promising some reflective hate. I hope this keen and agile comedy gem doesn’t chip away at himself too much!?
Walks On The Wild Side
Wholesome Prison Blues - They have been performing and workshopping comedy in Scottish prisons over the past two years. Will their hour feature former inmates performing or insider tales of getting laughs behind bars? Intriguing.
Chris Forbes: Christmas Show (WIP) - A festive themed show in March feels foolhardy. Yet whether the always fascinating Forbes uses his oodles of enthusiasm and talents to convert this into a Fringe hit or a December mainstay I reckon he might be working on a future goldmine with this concept.
Richard Brown: It Was The Most I Ever Threw Up And It Changed My Life Forever (WIP) - You can’t say you weren’t warned. Further bleak yet considered musings from Scotland’s cult hero. I’m in. I’m always in.
Ross Leslie Finds The Worst Audience Member - “Brand new improv comedy game show where a top Scottish comedian painstakingly interrogates the audience to find out which is the worst one. A prize on offer for being the biggest piece of sh*t!” What a format! Do I dare?
Plus dates from Edinburgh Laughter Bulletin favourites like Eleanor Morton, Mickey Overman, Sam Lake, Stuart McPherson, Ruth Hunter, Amelia Bayler, Paul McDaniel, Richard Herring, Rosco McClelland, Hannah Campbell, Stephen Carlin, Mark Jennings, Kemah Bob, Stuart Mitchell and Cobin Millage.
What is the Edinburgh Laughter Bulletin?
A fortnightly newsletter celebrating comedy in the capital city. Each post will give recommends to the 7 most exciting tours shows or mixed bills on in the city over the next two weeks. Plus special mention to new events starting up and advance warning of big names going on sale soon.
I’ll also try and include a comedian profile, mini interviews and Edinburgh gig reports (similar to what I already do at British Comedy Guide but as a bonus).