★★★★
The Beehive Inn on The Grassmarket has a distinct vibe, from the sounds of an ‘enthusiastic’ busker wafting through the windows, to the ornate fireplaces and stale-beer infused carpets. The wankers in the big 4 would pay through the (coked) nose to create a set with the same authenticity of Edinburgh.
Talking of an authentic Edinburgh experience. Enter Ayo Adeneken who’s softly spoken ‘burgh accent belies a unique wit and observational stand-up talent which is far beyond his 22 years.
Adeneken talks about being black and Scottish, and how Edinburgh isn’t particularly multicultural. Ayo is naturally funny, and for such a young comedian, he doesn’t fall into the trap of copying other stand-ups, he doesn’t go for ‘edgy’ or some other vogue, he’s himself. Whether talking about being queer or getting a haircut from a white barber, it’s exceptional. The casual racism he experiences shows up everywhere from getting an anaesthetic to grindr hook-ups; what does it mean, that us, as a predominately white audience, are laughing at these experiences?
I got so lost in Ayo’s stuff, I didn’t realise it was a split bill. Enter Alvin Bang, who has done more for the Strathclyde tourist board than anyone else, explaining what Greenock is like to American Tourists in the audience. Bang’s punk aesthetic mixes with an eloquent and detailed storytelling involving his father Papa Bang, and his failed business ideas. Bang’s great to listen to, and as he points out, at a Scottish Festival, we hardly have any actual local Scottish talent, especially working-class talent at the fringe. Bang is doing us proud.
It’s a great hour of comedy, and far better than the polished, P.R’d stand-ups at other venues, I hope neither of them lose their innate qualities as they become super-famous, because it’s only a matter of time.
Ayo Adenekan and Alvin Bang: Abandon God is on at The Beehive Inn – The Lounge until the 25th August.
