In the extremely unlikely event that you had been pondering what you would get if you mixed Ireland, America and England together, I have your answer: Des Bishop.

Born in England, with veins full of Irish blood then raised in America, comedian (and sometimes rap artist) Des Bishop is a rare fusion of cultures with one very whacked-out accent. “I have more of a New York accent than an Irish accent. I’m a hybrid; I’m like the Toyota Prius of comedy. People don’t know what to make of me really.”

With Bishop’s hybrid identity in tow, one might begin to wonder where this cultural crossover leaves him when tackling Australian audiences. “I find Australian and Irish crowds very similar, but Australian crowds are not as rowdy as Irish crowds. At my shows in Australia, the Irish people will be shouting out, getting involved. They’re usually a little bit pissed and love to heckle but not in a bad way, rather thinking it’s all part of the fun to just say stupid shit. The Australians will be like ‘this is Queensland man, what the fuck is going on here?’”

In an effort to get closer to his roots, Bishop even took to learning to speak Irish, giving him the tools to dish out quick-witted verbal servings in not one, but two languages. “I always thought it would be funny to learn Irish and do a gig in it. But I also wanted to see if it could maybe make me feel closer to Irish society. So all in all, I was just curious. Once I learnt it I became obsessed with it, I couldn’t believe the power of learning a language and how it makes you feel more connected to a place.”

While he can tick learning another language off his presumably hefty ‘to do’ list, Bishop has also starred in a number of television programs, written and performed plays and penned a memoir about his father — but stand up is his favourite drug of choice. “I don’t do drugs, but if doing my TV shows is like smoking weed, then stand up is like doing coke. It’s more intoxicating and exciting, but maybe also worse for my emotional stability.”

While Bishop is most at home in the glaring spotlight on a lonely stage built for one, he isn’t afraid to push the boundaries — he has even dabbled in the unlikely realm of hip hop music. “I did write a hip hop musical back in 2001 and it was fun, it was kind of historical and a lyrical satire about Irish society. I also wrote a rap about Australian history too. I am not going to release a hip hop album, but my next show is going to have some fun, audience-interaction, hip hop stuff.”

You might even hear some of his Irish hip hop in his new show ‘Des Bishop Likes To Bang’, along with some material that may make you squirm. “Well I am learning how to play the drums, so I am going to bring my drums along. Because the show is called ‘Des Bishop Likes To Bang’, which actually refers to the drums, it also gives me the freedom to talk a little bit about banging … and the things we don’t like to talk about in terms of sexual behaviour.”

However audience members beware, there may be some singing involved. “I am going to need some people in the audience to help me out with a song. We are going to make music together live on stage, we are going make some beats so I really want people that like singing to come to my show.”

DES BISHOP PERFORMS AT THE BRISBANE COMEDY FESTIVAL AT THE BRISBANE POWERHOUSE, MARCH 20 - 25.