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The Britpop Hour with Marc Burrows

 
Victor Black Review by Victor Black 4 Published: 18 Aug 2025 Underbelly, Bristo Square Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-25 Aug 2025

Marc Burrows times this show perfectly – bringing Britpop knowledge and comedy to the masses just as Oasis relaunch their world tour, Pulp score a #1 album, and pretty much every Britpop band you’ve heard of (apart from Blur, who did their thing last year) are touring again. Britpop Hour, hosted by the leading aficionado on the genre – or should that be “style”? – talks you through the entire history of one of the central components of 90s UK culture, with plenty of amusing anecdotes and insights.

Bringing Britpop knowledge and comedy to the masses

The show kicks off with a brief but hilarious exposé of some of the worst lyrics from some of the best songs. There are only two, though, and one feels he could have plunged deeper. Even so, it reminds you that, even if, like me, you consider yourself an authority on the subject, there are some wake-up calls in store. And we all need a little time to wake up.

There are certainly laughs throughout the show, and Marc is an able and confident frontman, though you should go in expecting an amusing TED Talk rather than a laugh-a-minute rollercoaster of aisle-rolling. That said, he does refer to a couple of his jokes being shortlisted in the Top 20 by leading newspapers.

Britpop Hour charts the whole history – from the bands who paved the way for the revolution through to its climax. Expect to learn more about my favourite 90s band, Pulp (PS, I am the proud owner of a Jarvis tattoo), and some of the surprising things they predate, having formed in 1979 (NB – a missed opportunity not to mention they formed before Thatcher came to power). His Jarvis dance tutorial was a real highlight, and I delighted in having the audience encouraged to try out his epic moves at the end of the show. Multiple brownie points were lost, however, for getting the lyrics to Common People wrong on the screen in the final crescendo.

There’s a good deal of variety here as well, with Burrows whipping out his guitar to demonstrate repetition in musical themes, à la Axis of Awesome, but abridged. I loved the graphs showing where different bands sit on the Britpop spectrum, and it’s enlightening to see someone talk about some of this nation’s greatest music with such passion to reach a new audience. I went with two Irish friends in their thirties and was shocked to hear on leaving the show that they had never heard the term “Britpop” before, nor had they come across Pulp! For shame!

So if you too know anyone in desperate need of a musical education, you can’t go wrong with treating them to this Britpop hour. Maybe you’re going to be the one to save them. Woo hoo!

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The Blurb:

Join award-winning writer-comedian Marc Burrows for a multi-media stand up celebration of one of British music's most iconic and enduring moments, marking 30 years since the Blur vs Oasis chart war. Music journalist Marc (Guardian, The Quietus, Big Issue) dives into the stories, rivalries, OTT personalities and some of the finest music the UK has ever produced. Part nostalgic love letter, part send-up, part rock'n'roll party. DoyaknowwhatImean? 'Funny, clever and profound... unmissable' ***** (StarburstMagazine.com). 'Utter joyful enthusiasm' (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (ThreeWeeks). ***** (Edinburgh Reviews).