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A stand-up comedian who has brought laughter to Scotland’s three biggest cities is to launch a new comedy club in Inverness.
From tomorrow night (Friday), Invergordon comedian Matt Black will host the bi-monthly Inverness Comedy Club at the city’s Market Bar, building on shows in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
The venture, every second Friday from 7.30pm to 9pm, will showcase the best new and established comedy talent in the city.
It will also serve as Matt’s preparation for some high-profile future dates in Scotland.
The 39-year-old is already taking it by storm as audiences have tentatively entered comedy in 2022, just after the pandemic.
He has performed at The Stand in Edinburgh and recently won Comedian Of The Year at the 2024 Aberdeen Fringe Festival.
“I’m preparing for my first solo show at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival in March 2025,” said Matt.
“Joe Sweeney and Rab Mulheron, who have been very instrumental in getting me involved in comedy, are also performing, along with local comics Robert MacGregor, Marc Ross and Stephen Clark.
“We are hopeful that the Inverness Comedy Club will prove popular.
“I’ve lined up Marc and Robert for the first one in Inverness and it will be a bit different. They can come to the Market Bar, have a bit of a laugh and then go somewhere else on their night out.
“We’re going to have some fun with it in a more relaxed and less formalized comedy show.
“In places like Edinburgh and Glasgow it’s easy to get to the microphone maybe three or four times a week. Here it is much more difficult, so hopefully it will be a great addition locally.”
Matt’s passion for comedy makes him dream of trading construction sites and steel beams for anecdotes and one-liners full-time.
His first steps into comedy were quick and impressive, instantly building a bond with audiences wherever he appeared.
“I first started at the Tooth and Claw where they have a night where I could get some time between bands,” Matt said.
“I didn’t even know how to get into comedy at first, so I also want the Inverness Comedy Club to become a permanent fixture where people can come along and try it for themselves.
“I’m going to do a 90-second special where if someone wants to try live comedy for the first time, they don’t have to produce a five-minute set like some places are asking for.
“I always wanted to start it, but never knew how. My first appearance was during a Zoom appearance in a competition called “So You Think You’re Funny?”, a national competition that I entered from my son’s bedroom.
“Then I did some open mics with Pat Dennis, who is well known in Inverness. I really enjoyed it and got in touch with Joe Sweeney, another local comedian, and it just snowballed from there.
“My humor is very observational, story-based, dealing with family life as a father and other anecdotal things.”
Once his next run of dates is complete, Matt will look to plan a Highlands and Islands tour for 2025, once again bringing his craft to new audiences and venues that may not be used to such shows.
“It will be my second performance at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, but this is my first solo performance. I feel like I’m ready for that now since I have an hour of material.
“I’m doing my first solo show in Aviemore on December 26 and then the plan is to launch a tour of the Highlands and Islands in 2025. I’d like to take an established show around the towns and cities that don’t often see comedy acts.
“I would like to work on comedy full-time. That is definitely my dream.
“I have three children and my wife to think about, but if I could go full-time I definitely would
“I supported Wray Thompson at Tivoli in Aberdeen last month and that really gave me a taste of performing in front of a big crowd.
“It was brilliant – what an experience – and it certainly leaves me wanting more.”
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