Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

It's the Fringe, so of course, Caitriona Dowden isn't the only person in Edinburgh with a harp – but she surely IS the only person presenting a low-key history of the folk music of the British Isles as an antidote to apocalyptic anxiety.

Given all the global doom and gloom, she wanted to write a heartening show, inspired by her late grandfather and containing no negativity, only passion - which is a strong noun for such a muted performer. 

Dowden says that Sesh Head offers the ‘high-energy’ version of herself, but she remains the subdued antithesis of the Jagerbomb-downing lad her ironic title suggests. Her acknowledgement of pub culture is, instead, about how the Irish diaspora, to which the aforementioned grandfather belonged, led to a revival of folk music in the expat bars of London.

Embracing the esoteric – and her background as a researcher in medieval studies – she drops a few historical facts into the mix. Who can’t be charmed by the story of Roland The Farter, the jester paid to perform ‘a jump, a whistle, and a fart’ every Christmas at the court of King Henry II? A moment she recreates, in a manner, with an audience volunteer.

In the more recent past, she was slightly surprised to find ancestors who belonged to the IRA in the 1920s, as she presents an alternative pitch for the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? 

It’s interesting material, and Dowden’s quietness draws the curious audience in. As a languid performer, her setups are long, more about creating mood than hammering punchlines, but no one seems to mind.

She evokes a nostalgia for Ireland, and for youth, with descriptions of a whimsical childhood she fears has been lost for subsequent generations. The enchanted atmosphere is enhanced as she plucks melodically at her harp. It’s quietly, relaxingly beautiful – certainly enough to prove that her imposter syndrome concerning the instrument is misplaced – but obviously not funny…

Wilfully anti-populist, the geeky Dowden is clearly catering for a specific subset of comedy audience, sharing her interests with sincerity and gentle wit that goes down well with a like-minded crowd.

Review date: 31 Aug 2026
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: PBH's Free Fringe @ Carbon