Brendan Burns

Glastonbury Festival 2000 reviews

Brendan Burns
Cabaret Marquee
00:25 26th June 2000

Brendan Burns was at Glastonbury last year, but his name admittedly didn't stick. This year it will. He stormed onto the stage and into the audience singing the Cameo classic 'Wise Up', taking everyone aback. He launched into a number of one liners and stories centred around sex, speaking very candidly. He managed to balance his perspective, insulting both men and women equally, while maintaining audience love of himself! The audience lapped it up, particularly enjoying his virulent attacks on any brave hecklers.

He then leapt into a great anti-racism tirade, making the most of his antipodean heritage to highlight the ridiculousness of a racist. It was thoroughly enjoyable stuff, which brought tears to the eyes. His encore consisted of a backtrack to the issue of sex and some sound advice to young love makers - boys should take it slow and girls should make a darn good mess!

This is a comedian who would make it to the big time if his material was less harsh, but the harshness of it all was what made it so bloody funny. The Glastonbury crowd laughed, cried, scoffed and cheered: it was the last act, it was a great way to finish a mad weekend.