For a Festival taking place in Scotland Scottish acts seem to get short shrift at the Edinburgh Fringe. Award nominees tend to be from abroad, London-based critics tend to home in on acts they know from the English circuit. But maybe that will change one day. A new wave of Scottish stand-ups could soon take back the comedy crown.
And if they do Liam Farrelly could well be leading the way. The impossibly youthful Glaswegian has been steadily building up momentum, thriving in stand-up competitions all over the UK. He won Scottish Comedian of the Year in December a month after he won the Frog & Bucket World Series in Manchester. And after an hour in his company it is easy to see why.
Despite still being in his very early twenties Farrelly has an assured, commanding style beyond his years. He is not in your face. He just immediately wins you over with his firm demeanour that suggests, with good reason that he knows what he is doing.
The most appealing chunk of his set is the story of having a nun in the family, hence the show's title God's Brother-In-Law. This church connection lends itself to a particularly funny routine that would be spoilt if we gave too much away. Needless to say Farrelly is not the first Glaswegian with the gift of the gab to get a big laugh out of the absurd side of organised religion.
Elsewhere he talks about working as a driver during lockdown, experiencing the full Turkish barber treatment for the first time and reveals a key reason why he might be so mature. He is already a father, which would make anybody grow up quickly. He might bemoan the fact that he can't party hard all night any more but there is also still a youthful glint in Farrelly's eyes as he speaks. I presume he has given up the pizza deliveries by now. Instead he is on the road to comedy greatness.
And if Farrelly whets your appetite for good quality Scottish stand-up stick around after his show for more. Farrelly is followed in the same room at 8.20pm by Connor Burns, who is another name that we are definitely going to be hearing a lot more of in the coming years. Tickets and more details about Burns here.
Liam Farrelly, Just The Tonic Nucleus, 7.10pm, until August 28. Buy tickets here.
four stars
