Does anyone remember the song Bits and Pieces? Apparently every farmer who has ever graced a “Turra Show” after party does, as was evident when Jim Smith took to the stage with the 90’s dance classic as his entrance music.
“Aberdeen, fit like? Ye weel?” was the opening line at Aberdeen’s Music Hall, quickly followed by the helpful guide on how to identify the status of every farming type in attendance according to the size of the checks on their shirt.
The smaller the check, the posher the farmer – in case you didn’t know.
Once the howls of laughter died down, Doric-spoken Jim sussed out the audience by asking if there were any English people in the crowd. One solitary hand was raised – which just happened to be my London-born husband. Talk about a niche crowd.
He took the inevitable heckling in good spirits, in case you’re wondering.
Farmer wars were set to kick off as a hilarious regional turf war broke out
Feeling like the only ‘toonser’ amongst a sea of self-proclaimed teuchters in checked shirts, it became clear that folk had come to Aberdeen from far and wide to see the critically acclaimed comedian.
Roars from sections of the audience when “Echt!”, “Mearns!”, “Angus!” or “Deeside” were met with battle cries in response to the simple query of “far ye fae?” made it obvious that he was playing to the right crowd.
As a city girl, I knew that not every agriculture-based punch-line would land with me, but they certainly did with the evidently close-knit community that made the trek to the Music Hall to soak up the tractor-laden comedy.
Having appeared in BBC mockumentary The Farm, Jim Smith is no stranger to sharing hysterical stories from his rural background with an audience, but the feeling that resonated through the crowd was that many may have heard his anecdotes over a pint or two at the village pub at one time or another too.
From Craibstone to Covid, yarns of farm days brought a crop of laughs
Ever wondered how you plan a homemade version of the Highland Show in the middle of a pandemic? Jim’ll fix it.
Apparently, all it takes is a few decorative plant pots arranged around your John Deere, a lot of free time, one neighbour, and you can make it happen – according to Jim.
Regaling the everyday problems that farmers face, such as “beasts oot on the road!”, there were belly-laughs all round at the familiarity of the seemingly average struggles of country life.
There wasn’t a tweed jacket-wearing soul in the crowd that didn’t identify with locally known dead heffer disposal expert Douglasbrae being crowned “the fourth emergency service in Keith”.
Tears of laughter at Jim Smith’s ‘udderly’ ridiculous tales
City slickers, young farmers and veterans of the trade alike were reduced to tears of laughter as Jim relayed his “udderly” ridiculous tales of everything from calf birthing, to sacks of tatties, to dreaming of bubble baths with Pam Ferris.
Leaving with a real sense of farm life, and having had my ribs firmly tickled, I can only encourage you, whether you’re the sheep-dipping type or not, to go and see Jim Smith’s show.
This farmer comedian is outstanding in his field.
Jim Smith’s show The Hills Have Ayes plays a second sold-out date at the Music Hall on October 30.
You can also find out how to snap up a ticket to his newly added tour dates here.
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