Scottish Comedy Highlights: July 2024

Heading to Glasgow just before Fringe is Dee Allum (6 Jul, Glasgow Stand, 5pm, £8-10). Roadtesting her debut Edinburgh hour, Deadname, Dee’s stand-up is super fresh and observational with her show celebrating the person she was pre-transition and her true self today.

At Glasgow Stand the same week is Stand Up for Al Harah (8 July, 8pm, £16.50), a benefit in aid of Al Harah Theater, Palestine. With a lineup yet to be announced, but sure to be packed with the cream of Scottish comedy talent, we’d recommend booking now for a brilliant cause.

As for Scotland-based acts squeezing in some final show previews before the festival cometh, take your pick. Let’s start with one of this month’s interviewees, Sam Lake who brings a WIP of Esméralda to Monkey Barrel (13 July, 8pm, £7). Mainly an uplifting show about grief, Sam's third solo hour gets bonus points from us as we’re desperate to know how this all links to the Ice Age films. Also on our WIP wishlists for July are Fringe debutante Chris Weir (10 July, Glasgow Stand, 8.30pm, £7-£8), low-key surrealism from Paul McDaniel (14 July, Glasgow Stand, 8pm / 27 July, Edinburgh Stand, 5pm, £8-£10) and a delightful sounding double bill from kind clown Phil O’Shea and honorary Glaswegian Josie Long (21 July, Edinburgh Stand, 4pm, £10-£12). And, a week before Fringe begins, make sure to catch Laura Davis’ new hour Albatross (24 July, Monkey Barrel, 8pm, £7), which delicately balances politics and settling into their new Scottish home with a trademark twist of whimsy.

Finally, one last hurrah before the Fringe, catch long-time legend Bill Bailey at Kelvingrove Bandstand (26 July, 6.30pm, from £49.50) for their only comedy Summer Nights session this year.