In the backroom of a record shop with a café, something hot is brewing — and it’s not just the espresso. Its name is Tim Biglowe.

At first glance, he describes himself as the sort of bloke who can get you into a music festival with a wink and a wristband, but there’s much more going on beneath the surface. What he delivers isn’t just charm and cheek; it’s a finely wrought 50 minutes of storytelling comedy with genuine heart.

The show takes us on a rolling journey about choices — the big ones, the small ones, and the ones that creep up on you when you least expect them. Much of it stems from his and his partner’s ongoing struggle to find somewhere permanent to call home. Where others might wallow in frustration, Biglowe turns it into comedy gold. The punchline? Their solution was to buy a canal boat — cue tales of trials, tribulations, odd jobs, life abroad, the misery of wedding planning, and one particular country’s strange cultural obsession with property ownership.

It’s not just a good set, it’s magnificent. He conjures up something both playful and killer. Unlike other comics who sketch a fair picture and leave you smiling politely, Biglowe drags you aboard and straps you in for the full voyage. His storytelling is tight, his timing immaculate, and his punchlines land with the inevitability of a barge knocking into the towpath.

And yet, it’s never predictable. Just when you think you know where the story is drifting, he steers into another twist or turn — and every detour is a delight. That blend of warmth, wit, and sharp social observation makes the show not just funny, but necessary.

While other acts this year might promise to take the world by storm and end up leaving you on the bus, Biglowe is already miles ahead — taking us further by canal boat than anyone else at the Fringe. At this rate, he’s going to need a bigger boat just to keep up with demand.

Another wonderful find in the Free Fringe. See him now before the comedy nymphs swoop in and carry him off.

*****

Reviewed by Steve H

Venue  Slow Progress Records and Cafe

Time 12.15

Until date 24th Aug