Alan Irwin: Wrestling, The Simpsons & Karaoke?

Alan's one of the stalwarts of the NI comedy scene having started back in 2010. From performing to empty crowds in the beginning, he's been a part of the ever-growing scene that it is today.

It's almost a running joke in itself that everyone has a podcast of some sort but Alan has found himself with two alongside his standup career. The first podcast he created was with fellow Comedian Heather Anderson during lockdown.

"Heather & I had been friends prior to her starting comedy but both big fans of The Simpsons, I believe that's what we initially bonded over."

Their Simpsons based podcast showcases "the bad years" of the show & asking the questions "is this worth watching?".

"It's fun because we have discovered there is some really awful stuff in there, some real dogshit. But we also have discovered some really great episodes that would actually fit comfortably in with all the great ones we love but so few people watch."

Which is so true, speaking to Alan he made the point not many people would go & put on a new episode of The Simpsons, it's only if you were scrolling past & seen it on Channel 4 or something that you'd give it a nosey despite them being on season 34 still going strong.

Having one podcast wasn't enough for Alan though as he looked to setup another Podcast with best mate and fellow Comedian, Ronan Linskey.

Alan & Ronan host 'The Worst There Was' podcast which started back in May 2022. Currently in season two of their podcast, "each season takes a period of wrestling which is notoriously bad."

"It's kind of masochistic we're watching a lot of stuff that you're not even enjoying watching but because a lot of it is twenty years removed has a certain level of irony that wouldn't have been there at the time."

"The best episodes are the ones where we can't even fathom what they were thinking. It's more fun to go I don't even understand why they thought this would be good?"

'The Stupid Sexy Podcast' essentially gives you the guided tour of an episode each one sifting through the 'waste' of the newer/lesser seen episodes saving you watching all the new ones. Having listened to two comedians talk through how terrible or surprisingly good an episode is can save you doing that yourself whilst also having a laugh before going & watching it; something I will be doing from now on.

I'm not saying these podcasts say anything about Alan but having two podcasts based on the worst of something he loves says something I'm sure to some psychiatrists out there.

"[Podcasts] have become a huge part of the NI comedy scene. There are guys who are talented but weren't shifting tickets in huge numbers but being on a lot of podcasts & being an entertaining guest, building an audience that way are now doing huge theatres and arenas."

The NI comedy scene's rapid growth has many factors none more so than the continued support within the scene itself; especially compared to other scene's across the UK and US in terms of stories of spitefulness & jealousy.

"There's more local comedians than there ever was, when I first started there was maybe 20 acts. It's still a small enough scene where everybody knows everybody or knows someone who knows someone. It's the word of mouth that works so well because everyone is accommodating & will take a chance on a new act because someone they know has vouched for them."

"One big difference between the NI scene and others is we don't really have many gigs that aren't ran by comedians & that lends itself to more commoradery because there's no promoter who's got a different set of priorities than an act. 

Alan himself plays a big part in this himself running the 'Kill Your Darlings' Comedy gig, again with Ronan Linskey. This gig is one I feel is such a great & unique concept but also one that's crucial to helping the scene itself grow here in NI.

Next month will mark seven years of Kill Your Darlings. The title itself is great taking inspiration from writer William Faulkner, 'in writing you must kill your darlings' essentially you've got to let go of your good material & parts you love for new ones.

"Ronan spotted there being a problem for more established acts that once they start getting booked for paid gigs it's very difficult to do new material especially when a fee is involved as there is an expectation.

It's set up that you have 10 minutes & framed that each act does new material so the audience are prepared that not everything is going to be the finished product."

The gig itself is such a unique concept but one I think is brilliant. From running at 3-5pm on a Saturday afternoon to both Alan & Ronan hosting on stage at the same time. It gives opportunities not only to established acts to try out new material but also newer acts to try material, showcases what they have which gives them a great platform for being booked for other gigs throughout the scene itself. 

If you thought that wasn't unique & different enough the pair also always close the show with some karaoke. "We thought the only thing that's more embarrassing than doing new material is singing publicly."

What would you say your worst ever gig was?

"Less than a year in I was booked for a gig in Antrim by Graham Watson that no-one turned up to so they went into the bar & grabbed people to come in for free which is always a disaster. Frazer Robb was on & Ciaran Bartlett was headlining.

Basically I went on stage, died on my arse for 10 minutes & at one point I took my shirt off, I don't know, I think I was panicking so I thought I'll do something mental. It just made it worse & I was on first half but was waiting for a lift so had to sit and watch the whole show while dying inside.

I got dropped off on the Lisburn Road & my plan was to get a taxi but I was so depressed that I walked home in the rain the whole way from Belfast to Lisburn. Took me about two and a half hours & it rained so much that the notes that had my material on it fell to bits. That probably was a good metaphor.

When I started the walk I thought I'm going to have to stop doing this & by the time I got home I kind of felt better about it but that still sticks in my head as one of the worst ones I've ever done. It was awful.

Honestly if I'm ever feeling depressed I just shut my eyes & I can see the eyes of the people looking at me in that gig. It was just dire, it's hunting, I'm even getting shivers thinking of it."

What's your favourite venue to play?

"The Green room in the Black Box. 

Not just because of Kill Your Darlings but I did four hours of different material; I did a best of show, an hour show on Eastenders (because of course he did) & a panel show on American Politics.

For someone like me who doesn't shift a lot of ticket's its a nice room. It holds 50 but you get 25 people in there & it feels lovely. They have a nice range of beer, nice part of town, I do love it.

Lavery's would be a nice runner up it's the nice professional room of Belfast.

I have just got that affection for The Black Box because it has that slightly shambolic vibe which fits me. I'm a kindred spirit with the green room."

What would be the best venue you've played?

"With what's currently around, Lavery's is probably the best. It holds about 160 people which is a great number to get in there & has the screens for the audience.

In terms of I've ever played? I think it's hard to beat the old Mandela Hall. It was a perfect room, lovely painted black with the balcony at the top. That was probably the best room but currently it has to be Lavery's.

Full credit to Colin [Geddis] he put in a huge amount of work. I remember being on at Lavery's when they were getting 10 people at it. He and the bar both knew they were on to something & kept plugging away & it took a long time to get there. 

[Laverys] is the perfect example to keep plugging away & Kill Your Darlings was like that at the beginning but we haven't had a quiet one in years."

What would be the dream venue to play?

"The Opera House would be class, that old theatre is an amazing aesthetic. I love the Ulster Hall for the same reason. I have this mild obsession with old time comedians, gag guys & vaudeville, those sort of guys would've been on at the Opera House. 

There's something very old school about the Opera House & The Waterfront too in particular is a great setup of a room but doesn't have that antique aesthetic to it that makes the Opera House special."

Who would you say is the most underrated comedian in the NI scene?

"Luke McGibbon. I'm a little bit biased because he's one of my best friends but for my money there's not really anybody who's generating good material like Luke has this last few years."

Like Jazymnne Sierra said in a previous interview with me, Luke McGibbon in her eyes was the most underrated on the scene.

"For a long time Luke has been in the background but over the last year or so hopefully I can see the start of him getting his flowers. He's the best comedian you've never heard of." 

"Running the Pavilion for 10 years, I did it for 18 months & it nearly killed me, there's very few people on the scene who's been doing it for less than 10 years that Luke didn't give them their first gig & nurture them early on. He often sends us people that we should book because they're really good or has great potential & he's a good eye for talent.

Luke's been gigging since 2011 but I'm hoping 2024 is going to be his year. He's ready to be a big star."

Dairy Milk or Galaxy?

Before answering his own important final question Alan insisted for the record that Haribo Starmix is superior to Tangfastics after Jazmynne hadn't even heard of Haribo Tangfastics (something I hope has been rectified since).

"Dairy milk any day of the week. Galaxy is nice, love a Ripple in particular but no, Dairy Milk or Dairy Milk Caramel. I basically can't have them in the house is what I'm saying, it's too risky. A million percent, Cadbury."

Was great to have a sit-down with Alan & chat about his career from over the last decade. Was fascinating to hear from someone who's essentially been there from the start of the NI scene & one who's crucial for the continuation of it succeeding. I'm definitely going to be getting myself down to a Kill Your Darlings show as I think the concept is fantastic!

If you'd like to see Alan soon here are some of his upcoming gigs:

Monday 29th January - The Pavilion
Sunday 4th February - The American Bar
Wednesday 7th February - The Deer's Head
Tuesday 13th February - The Empire
Sunday 18th February - Accidental Theatre
Thursday 22nd February - Bennigan's, Derry
Friday 23rd February - Glenowen Comedy Club
Saturday 24th February - Kill Your Darlings, The Black Box
Sunday 25th February - The Sunflower Bar