Flo and Joan bring their sharp, funny sibling comedy to Gardyne

By Andrew Welsh

November 4 2022, 8:30am

Nicola (left) and Rosie Dempsey are making it big as Flo and Joan.

Observational comedy with a musical twist is the stock in trade of deadpan duo Flo and Joan.

The Portsmouth-raised pair, aka Nicola and Rosie Dempsey – they’re sisters – bring their epic Sweet Release tour to Dundee on Thursday, armed with their trademark piano, along with a percussion section.

It’s a blend of songs – often in a spoken word-type style – and improvisational gags based on heartfelt truths that’s these girls’ signature style.

Sibling rivalry, domestic mayhem

Flo and Joan have been poking around topical matters in front of UK audiences since first coming to prominence on these shores almost five years ago, when they appeared in a string of memorable ads for a leading bank, proffering folksy lyrical expression on such themes as sibling rivalry and domestic mayhem.

Flo and Joan do observational comedy with a musical twist.

Previously, they’d tasted online fame for the first time in early 2017 when their Youtube video The 2016 Song went viral.

Now based in London after living in Canada for a number of years while learning their craft in front of audiences all over North America, the twentysomethings enjoyed a month-long, sold-out run at Edinburgh’s Assembly Roxy during this year’s Festival Fringe.

They also completed a successful international tour prior to starting their 28-date UK jaunt in late September, with their Gardyne Theatre appearance one of just two Scottish shows.