Wilson Dixon - Comedy Festival Review

Wilson Dixon - Greatest Hits: Comedy Festival Review

The cowboy from Cripple Creek rolls into town one more time and you'd best saddle up and join for mirth and merriment are on the way.

If you've not succumbed to Wilson's charms before, then you need to make sure you check out this pony tailed country singer who regales his audience with a skewed eye on the world and a lyrical arsenal at his disposal.

These shows for the comedy festival from Wilson are a chance to catch one of our finest country songwriters at work and appreciate the issues he has dealing with family problems and relationships.

But as ever with Wilson, that's only half the story.

Smart, lyrical couplings, lashings of country styling and some faster than a bullet wit are all trademarks of his show - and after a couple of years of success, the man is smart enough to regale us with some new songs about his sister, as well as a truly amusing ditty about the quirks which begin to grate at the end of a relationship.

Throw in the ongoing problems with his violent horse, Andrew and you've got a show which drips with dry, laid back, laconic humour and a superior intellect, wise enough to know when to hold back to let the audience catch up with what's just been said. Ripples of warm loud laughter rock the audience during this show and to be honest, you've got no choice but to give in and bask in the comic genius at play.

Add into that already brilliant comic mix, the smart interplay of a quick wit and warmth to deal with anything the audience throws in (although to be fair, it's not heckling, so much as whistling and even a sneeze) and you're pretty much guaranteed a great night out. Part of the charm and charisma of this show comes from the unexpected wordplay and the tangents - it's unexpected pleasure at every turn.

But you have to admire Wilson; he's smart enough to not rest on his laurels after doing so well with a recent string of hits and shows off some new songs (like "That thing you do - please don't do it") as well as mixing in a few old favourites (such as the brilliantly reflective "The Mirror") into the show. It's a deft move and the new ditties show a lyrical charm and simplicity to render them extremely catchy and make them feel like new best friends by the time they're over.

Wilson ends the show by meeting his audience and giving them the chance to "experience the nostalgia of paying for music" in the foyer afterwards, ensuring that he is a comedy favourite and a welcome face on the annual scene.

Once again, this warm, charming and whimsically laugh out loud funny show is one of the best doing the rounds - here's hoping The Greatest Hits show becomes a nationwide tour and everyone gets to enjoy the Wilson Dixon experience.