Funny man to headline festival

AUSTRALIAN comedian Luke McGregor admits to a combination of nervousness and excitement about this first visit to Toowoomba.

As a headliner for the inaugural Curious Arts Festival this month, the Aussie funny man hopes he doesn’t bomb, forcing the cancellation of future events.

There’s slim chance there’ll be anything but laughs for the comedian, known for his work on the ABC comedy series Rosehaven, having proven his stage skills and stand-up acts across the country.

For the sceptics, McGregor was named the 2013 Melbourne Comedy Festival Best Newcomer, and the 2014 Sydney Comedy Festival Best Newcomer.

“Hopefully I don’t go badly and they decide to cancel the festival for future years,” he said.

“The great thing about comedy is that it brings people together.

“It’s fun to be able to go to a new place and be able share something you find funny with a bunch of people you have never met before and feel like you have made a connection with them.”

“If I didn’t have comedy, I would probably have two friends maximum, but since I got started in stand-up I now have five.”

McGregor described his comedic style as a self-depreciation style of humour.

He said he thought people related to his style of humour because it would resonate with them.

“There is something about being able to own your flaws or hearing that other people do the same silly thing as yourself,” McGregor said.

He got his start in stand-up comedy back in 2007 in Tasmania, filling a spot at a raw comedy competition when one of the contestants didn’t show up.

The next year, he was selected as a Raw Comedy national finalist and, in 2013, his first solo Melbourne International Comedy Festival Show was a sell-out.

He then went on to perform a hugely successful season at London’s Soho Theatre.

Luke McGregor’s show will be on March 16 at the Armitage Centre from 8.30pm.

For more information about the Curious Arts Festival, which runs in Toowoomba on March 15 and 15, visit curiousfestival.com.au.