Josie Long

Josie Long guarantees a smile.

Article by Yasmin Ali | 12 Mar 2007
Josie Long graces Glasgow with Kindness and Exuberance: her acclaimed solo show, as toured at the Edinburgh Festival.

In 1999, Long burst onto the comedy scene as a BBC New Comedy Award Winner, and remains as exuberant as ever. Last year's Edinburgh run won her the if.comeddie Newcomer Award, to add to other accolades such as respected comedy website Chortle.co.uk's Newcomer Award 2005. But how long will Long remain a newcomer? Now in a second-run of her first solo show Kindness and Exuberance, and currently touring and performing sets around the country, perhaps it won't be long before she's a household name. She's also received high praise from celebrity comedians: Ross Noble declared his face hurt from laughing and Stewart Lee has declared her "the funniest 22 year-old woman in the country." Critics and commentators in comedy circles have been much enamoured with Long's candour and natural wit, though it seems mere soundbites cannot justly describe the Josie Long experience.

March sees another chance to catch Josie Long's comedic storytelling, this time at the much-anticipated Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival. Josie Long brings her solo show to Bar Brel on Ashton Lane, off Byres Road (12 March, 9pm). Brel, the Glasgow West End Belgian bar and restaurant, offers a side of laughter to accompany Moules Frites and other Belgian fare. An unusual and successful entertainment venue, Brel is housed in a former stable and coach house, and has a capacity of up to a hundred. Expect a full-house for Kindness… in March, judging on previous sell-out runs at Soho Theatre and The Fringe.

Offering endearing anecdotes, all delivered with natural charm, Josie Long guarantees a smile.
Josie Long: Kindness and Exuberance, Brel, Mon 12 Mar, 9pm.