(Some of the) best of the fest: Edinburgh recommendations
Now and again people request subjects for blogs. I like it when this happens, as it saves me from having to think of something of worth to say to the world. If you ever have anything you’d like to be tackled, don’t hold back on suggesting it. So, yesterday, Matthew wrote:
My wife and I keenly dashed out to HMV in Leeds yesterday to pick up the Edinburgh Fringe programme for 2011 only to spend the afternoon bemoaning how most of our favourites are absent this year (too big for the fest now) or not on when we are due to go (like yourself).
I wonder if you would be willing to devote one of your daily blogs to a Watsonian guide to the Edinburgh Festival with your tips for forthcoming comedy stars.
As it happens I was thinking of doing this anyway – I also did it last year. The Edinburgh Fringe these days is a baffling labyrinth of shows ranging from the excitingly good to the thumpingly awful, with a large sludgy middle ground of stuff that’s quite nice but not quite worth the money, or quite shit but with a couple of redeeming features. If it sounds like I’m not exactly selling it to you, I should add that if you know what you’re looking for, it can be the most fun you’ll ever have. You just have to be able to sift through the astonishing amount of crap and – almost as bad – the increasingly bloated marketing campaigns.
Your reward if you succeed in doing this is the chance to see a lot of great people who you wouldn’t have heard of if you rely on Live At The Apollo and Mock The Week and so on for your comedy tips. Edinburgh is teeming with comics just as good as the ones you see on panel shows; unfortunately it’s even more teeming with people who think they are, but will never really make it. How do you choose who to gamble on?
Here are some of my tips for this year. This is based on having seen them perform at some point. It doesn’t mean I have seen the actual show they’re doing this year, so I can’t really take responsibility if they turn out to be doing something rubbish (unlikely as this is- if someone’s good they’re pretty much just good). Also, in a couple of cases they’re people I haven’t even seen, but people I trust recommend to me.
I have not been paid by any comedy agency or by Tim Key to include people on this list. Also, it is not really in any order.
TIM KEY. The funniest man you will probably ever see. Book quickly, because last time he did a show he won a big fat award.
JOSIE LONG. A gloriously talented, articulate and intelligent lady and a good example of the Fringe’s tendency to showcase people who do not fit into ‘Apollo’-type moulds.
ERIC LAMPAERT. This is a man who looks quite a lot like Russell Brand and is faintly similar to him in the sense that he uses long words and disconcerting imagery. His show traces his bizarre life schlepping around a million different countries. It will be experimental and weird. It is worth taking a punt on.
ALEX HORNE. You know Horne. His Edinburgh shows are invariably great. Also, THE HORNE SECTION which is a very enjoyable late-night comedy/music affair where you might even see me.
PAUL FOOT. The ‘comedians’ comedian’. An avant-garde nutcase. Does material about things like vans, pies and so on. Very few, sometimes no, recognisable jokes. Despite or because of this, it’s brilliant. Trust me on Paul Foot.
SAM SIMMONS. Another lunatic. I guess I have a tendency to go for acts which are very distant from my own. Simmons is a surrealist, part-stand-up part-musician part-sketch part-no-real-term-for-it. As with Foot, not everyone likes it; indeed some people hate it. Several people on the list, I’ve recommended to people in the past and they’ve come back from the show and looked at me as if I’d done something wrong. But I am sticking to my tastes. See Simmons. He is Australian and quite big over there.
FIONA O’LOUGHLIN. To balance out the above, O’Loughlin is a stand-up pure and simple. She is one of the best ones in the world. Again, Australian. She’s middle-aged, has five kids, was a raging alcoholic. This show is about that. It’s very funny and slightly horrifying. She once streaked (naked but for boots) across the stage of my 24-hour show in Melbourne. She discusses this incident in her show. It’s stuff like that. She is a legendary figure in Australia and rightly so. I recommend her strongly. I am digging painfully into your back to buy tickets.
SAMMY J. A third Aussie in a row. Two shows: one with a puppet, one on his own. Again, may be a familiar figure to 24-hour-show-goers. A prodigiously talented musical comedian who is (this is hard to write) thinner than me. Worth seeing therefore as a phenomenon if nothing else.
FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET. Completing the Aussie-fest. These are two Muslim standups who do half the show each. You won’t often see practising Muslims do standup, and they caused quite a fuss in Melbourne.
EDWARD EXCEL. Another surrealist. If you like Key, you will like him. He does a dreadful shambolic amateurish act and gives the impression he would rather not be there (but in a good way). His show this year is called ‘Edward Axcel Does Not Exist’. He makes me laugh.
SEMINAR. This is my wife doing a character act where she plays a stress ‘expert’. Obviously I’m biased, but it is actually brilliant.
HANNAH GADSBY. Another highly-regarded Aussie comic not yet known over here, so get in quickly etc etc. Ultra-deadpan downbeat lesbian. Really good. There’s not really a British equivalent that I can think of. She’s on Adam Hills’s show in Oz. If you like me you will probably like her. Although for different reasons.
FRAN MOULDS. This is on the Free Fringe, so you will have to seek it out, but Moulds is a highly talented woman doing her debut character comedy show. She was formerly in the Umbrella Birds. She is a ‘dark horse’ tip for the top. Or if not the top, somewhere with at least a fairly handsome view.
BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE. A boy with tape on his face. Do not miss.
…that’s a lot of shows and if you saw even half of them, you’d have a whale of a time (or be disappointed over and over and conclude that your tastes are different from mine). But I may still have missed some important ones. If I have, I’ll publish a Volume 2 shortly. In the meantime get booking these ones. Thanking you.
Posted by Sue (DiB) on June 14, 2011
@Knox I’m glad it’s not just me: one weekend, four pages of ‘workings’ and a spreadsheet doesn’t seem so extreme now.
Posted by Knox on June 14, 2011
pre-ed blog with itinerary and preview list and everything!
http://wasi-somewhere-in-between.blogspot.com/2011/06/edinburgh-is-go.html
Posted by Knox on June 14, 2011
thanks for the tips – especially fran m’s, as i managed to miss her name in my perusal of the programme.
i realise i am possibly likely to be biased in this aspect, but the existence of ‘fear of a brown planet’ and the fact that they are muslim and immensely funny and political and have an appeal/humour that reaches beyond muslims just makes me incredibly happy (Aamer Rahman isn’t single by any chance..? – they do say you don’t ask, you don’t get. though i realise if it were this simple, there would be no need for dating websites and painful mosque aunty/uncle set-ups…)
i finished my edinburgh timetable today – i am absurdly pleased with it, and the whole, rather ocd process that produced it. to the extent i may well post pictures.
Posted by Andrew on June 13, 2011
Paul Foot, eh? The only times I’ve seen him on TV, he was dismally unfunny on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and dismally unfunny on Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive. Does this mean that TV in general (or possibly the format of shows like that) don’t suit him? Or is he in that Ted Chippington, anti-comedy mould where you need to be in the zone or it will just pass you by completely?
Posted by Sarah on June 13, 2011
I will add Nick Helm to the list purely on the basis of his youtube clip from Russell Howard’s Good News. I’m seeing him preview though, so will swerve it in Edinburgh
Posted by issey on June 12, 2011
Really wish I was going to Fringe now after reading this!
Posted by Rachael on June 12, 2011
If I were going I was want to see Joel Dommett and Chris Martin too…
Posted by Benjamin on June 12, 2011
On my Edinburgh list (5th year – been going since I was 11):
- Mark (of course; staying an extra couple of days just to see you)
- Tim Key
- David O’Doherty
- Jason Byrne (there must be a reason he’s so popular in Edinburgh)
- Jack Whitehall
- Richard Herring
- Josie Long
I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone. Mostly because tickets tend to sell out quickly and I don’t have mine yet.
- Josie Long
Posted by sarahthemonkey2 on June 12, 2011
I’ve seen Josie Long when she played the Lemon Tree. She was really great live and seemed suprised when my sister asked for her autograph. Can’t remember the warm up act that night but saw him again in the Lemon Tree and he was really good. Will try to look it out just incase he’s playing but won’t get to fringe this year maybe next year
Posted by Matthew on June 12, 2011
Thanks so much Mark and everyone else for your help in navigating the fest!
I’ll be sure to check out these suggestions – very much appreciated.
Posted by Jen on June 12, 2011
Oooo yep I’ll second Anna’s suggestion of David O’Doherty – he’s got two shows on this year-verrry funny!Jx
Posted by Anna Lowman on June 12, 2011
These are ace suggestions, Mark. I’ll be seeing both you and Horne Section on 19th and most of your other picks around and about… May I be so bold as to add a few…
Jigsaw (sketch comedy from Nat Luurtsema, Dan Antopolski and Tom Craine)
Tony Law (force of Canadian nature)
Tom Bell (“could read the phone book funny” funny)
David O’Doherty (y’know, David O’Doherty)
Claudia O’Doherty (not related)
Behemoth (sketch comedy from Nadia Kamil & John-Luke Roberts)
Posted by Lydia on June 12, 2011
One day I will be rich and do nothing but go to festivals.
Posted by Jen on June 12, 2011
I can’t wait…I’m going for a week this year rather than my usual couple of days…added extra day for your show Mark!Exciting!Hmmmm its a worry though when your bank ring to check your card hasn’t been stolen because of the amount of spending…eeeek…14 shows in total!!!Thank you for the tips!Jx ps I would recommend Paul Merton Impro Chums… very fun n clever show!
Posted by tracey on June 12, 2011
i am coming seeing you in edinburgh mark cant wait. saw you last year as well
Posted by tracey on June 12, 2011
i am coming seeing you in edinburgh mark cant wait. saw you last year as well
Posted by Joelle on June 12, 2011
I can’t speak for all of them, but I definitely recommend Sam Simmons, Hannah Gadsby, Sammy J and Fiona O’Loughlin. They’re all so great, all in different ways.
Although, if you have this new kind of homophobia going on where when someone mentions being gay you respond with “I don’t mind if you’re gay, just don’t go on about it or mention it” don’t go to Hannah Gadsby. It seems to be a common theme among gay comedians like Hanna, Tom Ballard and Josh Thomas that they get this reaction from people. Just thought I’d add that warning for any ‘I’m not homophobic, but’ readers. I’m sure you’re a minority though.
I’ll be at Edinburgh not next year, but the year after hopefully. Does anyone have any tips on how to survive the month there? Also if there’s anything that I should do while I’m in the area? I really should buy a travel book soon.
I’ve not commented recently due to exams, hope everything is going well, Mark
Posted by Madeleine on June 12, 2011
I’ve seen Sam Simmons, Sammy J, Fiona O’lauchlan and Hannah Gadsby and I would THROUGHLY second Mark’s reccomendations.
Also Asher Treavlan and Anyone for Tennis (very jealous of Georgie being friends with them) are indeed excellent.
This is making me very envious of the Brittish folk! One day I’ll make it over for the festival. One day…
Posted by Tibbs on June 12, 2011
Half of your recommendations are shows that are already on my Definites list. Which suggests that I should really check into the other half!
Isn’t Emily doing a play as well? ‘Baby Diaries’, or something like that?
And if we’re making our own recommendations, of the 42 shows on my list of ‘Must See’s, the one I would single out to tell people about is DeAnne Smith, since this will be her first Fringe so I’m guessing a lot of people won’t have heard of her. I first saw her on the Australian show Good News Week, although she’s actually Canadian. She is also gay, nerdy and delightful! Here is a clip of her from a few years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9O_2I0B_A0&feature=related
Posted by Miz on June 12, 2011
Ooh, thanks for those – seconding the Josie Long/Alex Horne/Tim Key, will definitely check out the others. I wonder if Tom Basden’s doing a show this year.
Posted by DiB (Sue) on June 12, 2011
I’d like to add another Australian, Asher Treleaven. Here’s a clip, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN2-gCQAzuU don’t listen to it at work.
Posted by Georgie on June 12, 2011
I won’t be at the fringe this year considering I’m half a world away and it clashes with uni… But I would like to make a recommendation that you may not have heard of, Mark, but you and everyone else should check them out!
ANYONE FOR TENNIS? (PREPARE TO BE TUNED) – an Australian musical comedy duo and good friends of mine. I see them every chance I can get in Melbourne (which is a lot) and they are amazing! This is their first year at the fringe so they will be very unknown but everyone loves them in Melbourne. They are favourites at all the comedy nights and their MICF show got great reviews.
Check out their youtube channel if you don’t believe me: http://www.youtube.com/aftcomedy
They’re recording a live album on Wednesday so they have merch to sell over in Edinburgh, too. Exciting!
Posted by Kathryn on June 12, 2011
Oh, would that I were going to the Fringe. My friend is in show- I think it’s a musical version of Hamlet or something similar. So yeah, go to that. Also definitely follow Misha’s recommendations, she knows a lot.
Oooh, a Cambridge May ball. I do know a bit about those. Sort of. If our one has comedy it will be awesome. But not exactly on the same level as all the lucky people going to Edinburgh.
Posted by Emily on June 11, 2011
Like others, this will be my first Fringe so this is very helpful.
I went to a Cambridge May ball last year, and saw two comedy acts – Frimston and Rowett were warm-ups, and Totally Tom were the headliners of the evening. I cried with laughter at Frimston & Rowett, and left halfway through a sketch by Totally Tom. They both have shows at the Fringe this year; I’m sure anyone reading can guess which of the two I’d recommend.
Posted by Alex on June 11, 2011
I suppose I should plug Rock ‘n’ Soul by NUTS (no, not that nuts). It should be good. The one they did last year was called Cannes and it was great. Also Recursion. I know who is in that one should so I can say with some confidence that it almost definitely will be good.
Posted by Alex on June 11, 2011
@alot of rachels- Dude! Murwin’s in that! I bloody love Murwin. Small world eh? I will definitely be going to it. I’m actually vaguely planning my fringe around it. Heh. This is odd.
Anyway. I have a very good friend called Sam Simmons (@a lot of rachels may also know him), and he is also very much a lunatic. He convinced most of our theatre group that he owns a race horse called Lightning Strike. He doesn’t. When we were in Turkey he spent at least an hour arguing with another friend about the time she kicked a rabbit off a cliff. This never happened.
Still find it weird that someone knows Murwin…
Posted by alot of rachels on June 11, 2011
oh also if you feel like some university drama show then check out my drama society: Reading university, they’re performing Cigarettes and Chocolate.
I don’t know much about the story except the plot but I must say the directors and cast are all brilliantly talented so do check them out!! (and except the flyers if they pounce on you)
Posted by alot of rachels on June 11, 2011
I’m not up at the fringe this year (>.<) so not entirely sure who is doing shows but would love to see
Thom Tuck,
Mathew Crosby,
Michele legge and Robin ince.
Lloyd Langford
and probably much more if I knew they were doing shows but I've stayed away from it all, man I'm just realising how much I wish I was going o Edinburgh now.
Posted by Misha on June 11, 2011
Edward Aczel not Excel
I’ve got a list too, based (again) on shows i’ve seen or comics I know are good.
I won’t give reasons though or this will be a never ending comment. Nick Helm, Thom Tuck, Jigsaw, Chris Boyd & Nat Metcalf, Ellis James, Josh Widdicombe, Anyone for Tennis, Sammy J, Randy (Puppet), Princess Cabaret, Helen Arney, James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Delete the Banjax, The Behemoth, Comedy Countdown, Alun Cochrane, Tom Webb, Tom Searle, Humphrey Ker, David Reed, Matthew Crosby, Karaoke Circus, Joel Dommet, Stu Goldsmith, Ben Target, Jon Richardson, Michael Legge, Robin Ince, Adam Hills…
I could go on.
Please, don’t hesitate to tweet me and i’ll rhapsodise for hours.
Posted by Ingrid on June 11, 2011
This is great!
Like Cathy this is my first fringe, and i had no idea what to go see. I just spent hours looking through the fringe book and not knowing where to start, so this really helps. (:
Posted by Cathy (traineeflorist) on June 11, 2011
Thanks Mark … this is really, really useful for a Fringe virgin such as myself. I am coming up for a few days specifically to see you perform, however I would like to take in the whole Fringe experience without wasting too much of my short time there doing/seeing the wrong thing due to inexperience of said Fringe.
Thanks again … I’m still coming on Monday for book signing excitement, well the most exciting Monday I’ve had for a while anyway …