31 Aug - Free Festival's Sarah Louise Young win's Three Weeks Editors Award -  I don't think anyone can fail to have noticed that in recent years cabaret at the Fringe, and beyond, has been revitalised. This is a very good thing. Helping to lead this trend in Edinburgh is the self-proclaimed Cabaret Whore. Our second winner has been appearing all over the Fringe this year, singing, dancing and making us laugh. Her various projects have included performances at both the Pleasance and Gilded Balloon, yet she chose to keep her flagship show free - very much the spirit of the Fringe. A favourite with our review team for several years now, our second winner is Sarah Louise Young.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore - - One4Review - click here

31 Aug - REVIEW: Incidental Combobulations  - - Three Weeks - Get ready folks! This is it! Shaggy-haired, maverick raconteur Matthew Highton is about to lead you on a Boosh-esque journey through a mind-bending world of moustaches, bald cats, evil clowns and interplanetary, confectionary configurations. If you like your comedy rambling, surreal and told by a man with great hair (and I most certainly do), this is definitely one for you. Although a few people did have the cheek to walk out of the show I saw, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they were late for a funeral. Or idiots. Personally, I could sit and follow the crazy tendrils of Highton's mind (and hair) all day. Every day. Inspired, ridiculous, interconnected comedy gloriousness. Go catch this fella while he's still free.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore - - Fringe Review - click here

31 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore - Erotic Review - click here

31 Aug - REVIEW: Ivor's New Show - - The Jewish Chronicle - click here

31 Aug - REVIEW: Lynn Ruth Miller - - The jewish Chronicle - click here

31 Aug - REVIEW: Dan Wood's Oral History  - - Three Weeks - This charming clutch of comic songs, proffered by an amiable man with an accordion, is loosely strung together to form an oral history. There is a touch of Victorian music hall about Dan Wood, with his gentle satire (kudos to him for rhyming 'Berlusconi', 'testosterone-y' and 'pony') and his merrily creaking instrument. He has excellent comic timing and is master of the wild-eyed key change, while the songs are lyrically and musically well-crafted - a historical ballad about the Soviet Union set to the Tetris theme is especially pleasing. Future generations might not learn too much about our civilisation from listening to these on their ipod jet-packs, but they are certainly enjoyable now.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Jam For Tea  - - Three Weeks - The irrepressibly perky Julie Jepson opened this varied hour of stand-up, informing us she "batted for the other team", before wondering "who's bowling?" Jepson was adept at chatting to the crowd, but her material did not garner so many laughs. The middle act, Marie Vagen, is an interesting proposition, but her bone-dry brand of wit and almost glacial stage presence did not find favour with the audience; she kept checking her watch, as if also willing the ordeal to be over. But last on the bill was the hugely likeable Alison Leitch. Her set, essentially a collation of funny things that have happened to her, had little discernable structure, but she is such an engaging performer that she takes you with her.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Coming, Ready or Not  - - Three Weeks - Three young comedians (David Head, Chris Errington, and compére Jared Jess-Cooke) dealt admirably with a fourth would-be comedian, a persistent heckler at the back, who at one point commandeered the stage to treat us to his baffling 'astrophysics dance'. The heckler barely let Head finish a sentence, but what we heard of him was very promising, Stewart Lee-inspired stuff: articulate and clever with an acid edge; the heckler cryptically suggested he get on the 16 bus and learn Polish. Errington seemed a little uneasy (understandable given the circumstances), but was endearing nonetheless. Jess-Cooke's observational material needs tightening, though he should be applauded for maintaining his composure and preventing the evening descending into total anarchy.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Set to Stun!  - - Three Weeks - Rayguns Look Real Enough are a musical comic duo specialising in mash-ups who, at the beginning of their hour-long gig, promised to rush through eighty songs. I didn't keep count, but they did go through every hit one can think of, taking in Britney Spears' 'Toxic', Europe's 'The Final Countdown' and Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' along the way. Paul and Ryan also promise to bring the audience stadium rock on a tiny scale, and that they do. With only the aid of a guitar, a tambourine and invisible panpipes, this duo offer a fun gig, successfully engaging the audience, either by flirting with the girls in the front row or by throwing around their inflatable (on a tiny scale too).

31 Aug - REVIEW: Rik and Jon Don't know any Better  - - Three Weeks - Jon Greenaway presides over an uneven hour of new stand-up talent, who are short on polish if not potential. Jane Walker had a good opener on the need for moisturiser to differentiate face from scrotum, but mainly encouraged us to laugh at her size, which is not inherently hilarious. Rob Kane inflicted some 'new material' (read: 'rubbish puns') on us before realising I was a reviewer, offering to buy me a drink, and falling back on jokes about motorway masturbation that had apparently gone down well in the past. Rik Carranza's confident set had a good flow, though his rather mild attempts to shock lacked satirical bite. Until these comedians do know better, though, this is a promising debut.

31 Aug - REVIEW: The Complexity of Nonsense  - - Three Weeks - This show was something of a mixed bag. Tucked away in Marchmont, it's a little off the beaten path, but there was a good sized, vocal crowd for what proved to be an eclectic assortment of stand up comics. First up was the affable Aidan Goatley, who had the audience in stitches before he even took to the stage. His rapport was instant, although his interactive material was better than his actual routine. Jaq Bayles was less confident, and much of her material felt dated and unfunny. Finally, Sam Savage was excellent, presenting a slightly demented persona; her punch lines were as hilariously off-kilter as they were sharply devised. Inconsistent, then, but definitely worth a look.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Dan Willis: Michael Jackson  - - Three Weeks - Dan Willis' enthusiastic humour is the most sincere tribute to Michael Jackson I have seen since his death. An unflinching fan since the 80s, Willis tells us the history of his fanaticism, revealing statistics he has amalgamated to mathematically prove that Jackson is worthy of the titular claim. He is aided in this oddly noble pursuit by a collection of entertaining video reminiscences which not only illustrate and compound Willis' admiration of the singer, but give us a confessional and heartwarming understanding of Willis' solitary upbringing and devotional nerdiness. Most laudably, Willis makes a discreet but intelligent stab at the dire Bashir documentary, which sheds light on the humorous side to Jackson's character, the Jackson who Willis always believed in.

31 Aug - REVIEW: In These Shoes  - - Three Weeks - Writer/performer Mandy Dassa's energy and infectious enthusiasm start this show on an engaging note; unfortunately the sketches, while enthusiastic, don't quite live up to this building up of expectations. The skits are largely forgettable, lacking both in punch and punchlines, and though Dassa and her co-stars - Jennifer Aries and Simon J Grant - are talented and highly watchable performers who are very committed to their characters, I would have liked to see what they could do with better material. The only memorable sketch is a recurring gag about a strange woman who is obsessed with the gym and her (married) neighbour, Jim - the pay-off there is both unexpected and bizarre.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Scraping the Barrel - - Three Weeks - This is the best of many shows I've seen in Espionage this year and, although the script is harebrained and the production clumsy, it was dependably, consistently funny all the way through. The story tells of a failing radio station risking it all on one final pirate-themed radio play, and banking on the prowess of Teddy, who appears from the blue claiming to be a Hollywood star. The potential of this play is greater than its outcome, but this isn't the fault of the writer or the performers: the maniacal conclusion at the end (when the pirate-play is performed) requires more intricate direction, organisation and, crucially, a bigger audience

31 Aug - REVIEW: Dan Willis: Ferris Bueller... - - Three Weeks - An unashamed homage, Dan Willis presents his philanthropic arguments for why the film icon 'Ferris Bueller' is a far greater role model than Jesus. This secular solution is backed up with movie clips with a personal resonance for, and impact on, Willis's life and love-life. Willis has the advantage of being one of the most immediately amiable comics in Edinburgh, but his theme can sometimes seem stretched. The 'Bueller' narrative is quirky and interesting, but its relevance flutters between cinematic analyses, and goes off at easily forgettable tangents. It is also presented with such sentimentalised nostalgia that it becomes very heart-warming, but lacks an edge to nudge it towards hilarity. The intermittent anecdotes, however, are wonderfully vivid, and gregariously told.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Ivor's New Show - - Three Weeks - Ivor doesn't really have a new "show" as such. His last one took 5 years to write and he'd rather spend that time talking to you than making up jokes. Therefore, his spontaneous and quick-witted chat grows organically from audience input, and his friendly approach to stand-up leads to some genuine laughs. From asking you about past opinion changes about people and politics, to inviting you to guess what's in his sandwich, he makes comedic moments from seemingly-throwaway suggestions, a rare talent. The show, being mainly improvisation, does lack direction and can at times feel slow and stuttered. However, he doesn't admit latecomers and as a result gets to know his audience in this intimate, open and cathartic comedy hour.

31 Aug - REVIEW: hang Up The Moon - - Three Weeks - The Other Side Theatre Company If only it had been on twelve hours earlier, this adorable, audience-participation-heavy fable about how the crow's feathers became blackened would have made a fantastic children's show. As it was, helping a rainbow gush out from 'Dove's' foot, and dancing round in a circle as a girl in a flowing white dress strummed a ukulele and sang of world peace all felt like rather peculiar things to be doing in a pub, late at night. The aim of the two sweet-voiced young performers to unify us is noble, despite the naïveté of some of their attempts to address 'other cultures'. The vegan-cupcake-flavoured world they create has a certain integrity to it, but that wasn't enough to overcome the cringe factor.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Are We There yet? - - Three Weeks - Playing fast and loose with lyrics and geography, Dawn Foxall and Diana Sharp sing their way round the airports of Europe, crossing genres and time zones. Their repertoire ranges from 'YMCA' to 'Nessun Dorma' and they sing with style. The songs are held together with an extremely lightweight plot involving redirected flights which is really nothing more than an excuse for the duo to show off their voices and comic timing. The material may be too cheesy for some tastes, but the play embraces its cheesiness wholeheartedly. The pace slackens a bit in places and the ending needs more of a bang, but nevertheless this piece works as frothy, good-natured musical fun.

31 Aug - REVIEW: Paul Harry Allen - - Chortle - click here

31 Aug - REVIEW: Lewis Schaffer - - Chortle - click here

31 Aug - REVIEW: The Magical Faraway tree - - Chortle - click here

31 Aug - Edinburgh Fringe - Note of the large number of Free shows and Imran Yusuf's first free show to be nominated for bet newcomer in the Fringe's post Fringe press release - click here

28 Aug - REVIEW: Imran Yusuf - - The Skinny - click here

28 Aug - The Times - "An Exciting Fringe Debut" for Imran Yusuf - Is Imran Yusuf a British Muslim or a Muslim living in Britain? In this exciting Fringe debut, which has earned him a Best Newcomer nomination for the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards, the 30-year-old Londoner plays with pigeonholing.

28 Aug - REVIEW: Imran Yusuf - - The Guardian  - click here

28 Aug - REVIEW: Phil Buckley - - Chortle - click here

28 Aug - BBC - Hard work pays off for Free comedian Imran Yusuf -  click here

28 Aug - BBC - Report on Malcolm Hardee Award Winners, held at the Three Sisters -  click here; also Chortle; STV

28 Aug - BBC - Free Festival's Sarah-Louse Young wins a Marvyn Stutter Spirit of the fringe Award, plus report on Malcolm Hardee awards held at The Three Sisters -  click here

27 Aug - The Independant - Reviews of the Comedy Award Newcomer Nominees -  click here - Imran Yusuf

27 Aug - Various others on Imran Yusuf's award nomination and the Comedy Awards shottlist:

The Arts Desk - "It’s pleasing, too, to see that the judges have gone beyond the big venues to place Imran Yusuf on the newcomer list" - click here. Also:The Stage; The Guardian; Spoonfed; Chortle

27 Aug - REVIEW: Ivor Dembina's new Show - - The Skinny - click here

27 Aug - REVIEW: The Blue Lady Sings - Erotic Review - click here

27 Aug - REVIEW: The Magical Faraway Tree - - The Scotsman - click here

27 Aug - REVIEW: Rebecca Donahue - - The Scotsman - click here

27 Aug - REVIEW: Reality Vaccine - - The Scotsman - click here

27 Aug - REVIEW: The Olympic Gene - - The Scotsman - click here

27 Aug - REVIEW: Horse & Louis -  Chortle -   - click here

26 Aug - The Scotsman - The Comedy Awards, Imran Yusuf and the first free show to be nominated click here

26 Aug - REVIEW: Let's Learn English - - Three Weeks - this "interactive language course" (complete with handout) is akin to being taught English by Salvador Dalì. It follows Peter Fromage and his retired sex-worker girlfriend through a series of escapades, all narrated in the slow, stilted non-sequiturs that will be familiar to anyone who's ever learned a language. They create a fabulously detailed imaginative world (apparently located somewhere between 1980s Auchtermuchty and Jupiter) in which Madeira is the staple food, and most of the female characters (or 'gowers') are played by one morose, moustachioed man. It's difficult to judge how funny something is when you're the only one in the audience, but this course definitely deserves more students than just me.

26 Aug - REVIEW: Dead Dude Routine - - Three Weeks - What to do when an audience member dies? Why, weave a tapestry of surreal sketches and cheerful non-sequiturs around his corpse, of course! A jazzy smack addict, a hissing poet, a bumbling bestiality fan and many other quirky characters are all jumbled together in this rag-tag gag-bag. The show does run into the perpetual problem of how and when to end a sketch: a wonderfully whimsical look at posh crisps ends in a rather cheap pull-back-and-reveal; an awkward job interview threatens to go on till the end of time. Despite these imperfections, Smugly Beige are a distinctive comedic voice, equally beguiling and bewildering: they are at their best when they stop making sense.

26 Aug - REVIEW: Ashley Freize - - Three Weeks - Ashley Frieze delivers a charming, easy and inoffensive hour of musical stand-up. His central conceit is that there are only seven categories of song, and with the help of his guitar and piano, he sets out to prove his hypothesis. Frieze has some solid patter with the audience, and a great ear for puns, as well as a musical imagination that provides some truly comic moments. Unfortunately, his material is not as rigorous as he asserts, and the lack of a more revelatory (and convincing) closing number left me feeling a little short-changed. Still, if you're looking for something enjoyable, and a bit different, you couldn't go wrong with 'The Seven Deadly Sings'.

26 Aug - REVIEW: The Hamwehads - - Three Weeks - Delightfully silly in places, 'The Hamwehads' is a wacky, if somewhat slapdash hour of puppetry, storytelling, and catchy jingles. The three performers are versatile and charismatic; the young crowd warm to them quickly, and are whole-heartedly willing to participate and shout encouragement, including the rousing pantomime favourite "he's behind you!" on numerous occasions. Noisy, pacey, and a bit chaotic, the story of Asa and Lola's quest to get home rattles along swiftly, meaning children don't get bored and restless; it's pleasing to see such an effortless connection being made with kids. Lovely furry puppets, a wickedly funny moment involving silly string, and some old-fashioned toilet humour make this a wonderfully daft performance.

25 Aug 14:00 - FREE FESTIVAL SHOW NOMINATED FOR FOSTERS COMEDY AWARDS BEST NEWCOMER - AN AUDIENCE WITH IMRAN YUSUF - The first ever free show to be nominated for the biggest awards in Edinbrugh, and for an act that has been a graduate of developing his material through Laughing Horse New Act nights in London, being discovered by his agents through compering Laughing Horse comedy club shows at the 2009 fringe, who has run Laughing Horse Clubs in London, and as well as his first solo Fringe show show this year he has been compering the Laughing Horse Late Night Comedy showcase at the Meadow Bar.

See Imran for Free this year while you still can:

4.30pm at Espionage, Mata Hari Room - An Audience With Imran Yusuf

11.30pm at The Meadow Bar, Laughing Horse New Act at the Fringe Compere

6.45pm at Espionage, Lizard Lounge - Comedy Selection

www.freefestival.co.uk

25 Aug - The Scotsman - A New generaion of Asian comics, including Free Festivals Imran Yusuf click here

25 Aug - REVIEW: Imran Yusuf- - The New Current - click here

25 Aug - REVIEW: Rayguns Look Real Enough - - (well, 4.5 but I don't have any half stars to put here!) - The Public Review  - click here

25 Aug - REVIEW: Are We Thre Yet- - Broadway Baby - click here

25 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore - - Edinburgh Spotlight - click here

25 Aug - REVIEW: Dan Willis - - Edinburgh Guide - click here

25 Aug - REVIEW: Tom Toal - - Hairline - click here

25 Aug - REVIEW: No Traveller - - Three Weeks - In Penny Pollack's one-woman-and-a-bucket show she plays Abigail, a cry-for-attention casualty, doomed to pass her time in purgatory witnessing other people's suicides. The plot may be hackneyed as hell, but Penny injects it with surprising sensitivity, black humour and sinister bite (a neat trick with an undrinkable glass of wine sets a dark tone early on). While her script is perhaps too fractured for the format, her performance is never less than absorbing. A real pleasure to watch, she flits and flings herself around the stage, an anarchic rock chick with intense focus, wild eyes and a wide emotional range. There'd be worse ways to spend eternity than watching this charismatic, confident performer.

25 Aug - REVIEW: The Best of Stevenson, Brice and Larter - - Three Weeks -There are new boys in town. Mark Stevenson, Ali Brice and Adam Larter are just embarking on the comedy circuit, but they already present quite a formidable set, each act exhibiting a very different style. Stevenson's high energy act included a brilliantly silly one-man play that went down a storm with the audience. Brice was completely bizarre: deadpan, yet totally off the wall; his act was a real highlight. Larter seemed the black sheep of the group, as his morose act was a bit too filthy for three o'clock, and his closing statement on ejaculations was a real let down. It's difficult not to imitate others when starting up, but these guys have managed to forge three very unique acts. Watch this space.

25 Aug - REVIEW: The Best of Stevenson, Brice and Larter - - Youth Review -This was a rather mixed show in my opinion with a three comedians who seemed to differ in style and ability. The first performer was Adam Larter, who wasn’t really my type of humour at all. It didn’t help that his girlfriend was in the audience applauding and laughing before every single punch line. Not really his fault, but it was rather off putting. Now, in contrast, Ali Brice I thought was really amusing which was a pleasant change from earlier. Finally, Mark Stephenson performed and it was funny at parts. However, it did seem work has to be done in order to make this a more consistently humorous performance. A mixed show which I would urge you to stay till the second act, Ali Brice is worth waiting for.

24 Aug - The List - About Sarah-Louise Young click here

24 Aug - REVIEW: The Olymic Gene - - The Scotsman - click here

24 Aug - REVIEW: Reality Vaccine - - The Scotsman - click here

24 Aug - REVIEW: Lynn Ruth Miller - - The Scotsman - click here

24 Aug - REVIEW: The Flat - - The Scotsman - click here

24 Aug - The Scotsman - "Dangerous" bubble blowing from Free Fest performer! click here

24 Aug - Fresh Air Interviews from the Free Fest Day: John Fleming; Tricity Vogue; Sarah-Louise Young; Music Club; Ivor Dembina, Max Dickens & Sam Gore

24 Aug - REVIEW: Seven Deadly Sings - Darkchat - 6.6/10 - Darkchat favourite Ashley Frieze returns to Edinburgh and we are drawn like a mouse to a lump of cheese. Although the main theme of the show was…questionable, at best (an hour trying to prove that all songs can be fitted into one of 7 vague categories? Hmm…), the artist himself as is enthusiastic and enjoyable as we remember. Nothing really stood out as exceptional or cutting edge, but he sufficiently kept a tough early-afternoon buzzing; considering the alternative option was the Leeds-Forest match, some Darkchatters chose wiser than others.

24 Aug - REVIEW: Malcom Hardee Documentary - Darkchat - 7.25/10 (review to follow)

23 Aug - Three Free Fetival acts Nominated for Malcolm Hardee Awards - Lewis Schaffer, Bob Slayer and Manos the Greek - Chortle; BBC

23 Aug - REVIEW: The Beta Males Picnic - Three Weeks - - Here is the cream: a free fringe show that is absolutely hilarious and charming. And free. Free! 'The Beta Males' Picnic Presents' comprised of a selection of manic, supremely silly sketches smacking of lashings of Blackaddery/Spike Milligany lunacy. Gleefully mad lines flew thick and fast: "Have you ever seen a naked man do star jumps in zero gravity? They call me the nightmare angel!", plus the group exhibited ease and charisma on stage. The show also featured a special guest appearance by Jay Foreman, whose witty songs on myriad topics from 'The Sooty Show' to the joys of stealing food (he's a veritable gastronomic kleptomaniac!) almost threatened to upstage this already sterling show. Oh-so-heartily recommended.

23 Aug - REVIEW: Rogues Handbook - Three Weeks - - Rogues Handbook return to this year's Fringe armed with the interesting concept of horror sketch comedy. Combining ridiculous costumes with well grafted story lines, the group creates an enjoyable hour's worth of entertainment which, although not particularly scary, is highly likely to make you chuckle. Tackling most of the notable horror personalities, they manage deft portrayals of characters such as an over emotional Dracula and a disabled poltergeist that requires the aid of home help in the form of 'Nigel'. Although this is far from perfect, it is definitely one of the better free shows available at the festival, and worth giving the time for.

23 Aug - REVIEW: - Too Middle Class for Chlamidia - Three Weeks - - Featuring entertaining music and embarrassing stories, this short piece of free comedy is a great way to start the afternoon. Based on the narrator's attempts to find the perfect woman, we are led through his back catalogue of relationship failures, including, as hinted at by the title, his tryst with STIs. The likeable personality of the performer meant that even when the occasional joke fell flat the audience was not left searching for the exit. The comedy songs showed genuine musical talent and added an interesting dimension to the uncomplicated piece. However the overall content was average and has largely been seen before, but for a break from the hectic Edinburgh streets this would be a good port of call.

23 Aug - REVIEW: Confessions of a smart Wrestling Fan Three Weeks - - - I certainly don't know my WWF from my WCW and I definitely didn't think I cared before Liam Mullan showed me the light. This Fringe virgin's free one hour show was heavy on the type of fan based minutia one only finds in the dark spaces of internet chat rooms, but his infectious enthusiasm carried the show. Judging from the audience reactions, those who know the Graveripper is a wrestler rather than a nightmare get more out of it and his occasional dalliances into observational comedy were less convincing and several jokes fell flat, but for a free show with complimentary biscuits, 'Confessions of a Smart Wrestling' fan is not a bad option for an afternoon's entertainment.

23 Aug - REVIEW: Two Bloody Queens - Three Weeks - - In this not-quite one-man show, Robert Inston takes on two of history's most famous women, with a little help from an incompetent jester. Performing as Elizabeth I and her royal rival Mary Queen of Scots, Inston captures two psychologically complete characters with distinct strategies and very different fates. Challenging the oversimplified perception of these figures, he tells their stories while pointing to the parallels between their time and ours; to the constants of corruption and politically motivated war. There's some awkwardness in the production; uncomfortable transitions between characters and a general lack of dramatic drive weaken the whole, but there's enough detail to hold this intelligent, satirical character study together. Much more than a mock-Tudor drag act.

23 Aug - REVIEW: Hi, How Can I help you - The Stage - click here

23 Aug - REVIEW: Lost Letters of Cathy G - Tim Arthur, Time Out - -  - Paul Harry Allen's show based around lost letters from a life forgotten is genuinely touching and gently amusing. A really charming hour

21 Aug - REVIEW: Nik Coppin - - Chortle - click here

21 Aug - REVIEW: The Flat - - The Scotsman - click here

21 Aug - The List - Shows that Make you Tipsy, including Free Fest's "Gin and Bacardi" click here

21 Aug - The List - Free Fest's Bruce Fummey warn's that the end is Nigh click here

21 Aug - REVIEW: Lynn Ruth Miller - - The List - click here

21 Aug - REVIEW: Amy, Fate and Me - - The List - click here

20 Aug - REVIEW: Beacon of Health  - Three Weeks- - With oozing desperation, the implausibly named Abigoliah Schamaun takes us through the basic staple of every stand up's set; the trials and tribulations of their own life (well the exaggerated version anyway). Schamaun's is that of a frumpy, self-deprecating, yet overtly sexual yoga instructor desperate to be famous. She regales the audience with amusingly bitter anecdotes about her failed attempts to lead the healthy life, and her (oddly familiar) sexual revelations. These stories leave the women in the crowd sagely nodding in appreciation, and the men in the hope that there are more woman like Abigoliah in the world. In a sharp routine delivered with much aplomb, this flexible Ohio girl succeeds in being both racy and hilarious.

20 Aug - REVIEW: Lara A. King - Three Weeks- - In a cramped room at the Counting House, the audience was treated to an evening's light comedy, interspersed with some competent music. There was no scathing political satire here, the jokes concerned the everyday: queues at Tescos, the DSS, or simply the process of ageing. King is a much better singer than comedian, playing some really melodic songs, but the combination of the two types of material make for confusing viewing: the comedy was irreverent, but the songs were earnest, meaning King's set has no consistent tone. However, there was a pleasant atmosphere to the proceedings, and for a free show, this is certainly worth seeing.

20 Aug - REVIEW: Jem Brookes - Three Weeks- - Most of his comedy was improvisation, based on audience response, and dealt with politics, countries and social classes, but I would have preferred to hear more of his witty, more polished material than his more off-the-cuff-stuff. Given his fast response to his crowd when improvising, Brooks' style was clearly aimed at the younger audience, and it created an environment resembling that of a university party, which has its own appeal. Needless to say it will be a different experience every day, and though not for me, I would recommend it for people who enjoy improvisational comedy about politics and the mainstream media.

20 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore- The Stage - click here

20 Aug - REVIEW: Lynn Ruth Miller - The Jewish Chronicle - - "The nice thing about dating at my age is you don't have to worry about meeting the parents." So says Lynn Ruth Miller, who at 77 is a self-styled "senior hottie". With commendable energy, and more than a dash of smut, the diminutive, twice-divorced singleton rips through the niche comedic area of septuagenarian dating in San Francisco, occasionally elaborating her tales with a smattering of fantasy, as when she pictures the effects of a romantic liaison on an oxygen mask-wearing suitor.  
Her chatty, if somewhat crude, delivery is admirably (relatively) fluid, though of the side-effects of being a senior stand-up is that you can be on a roll, and then suddenly forget where you were - a problem she artfully put down to the effects ot the inclement Scottish weather. There are some slick, well-delivered lines - "Old men, they only want one thing: sleep" and "My mother yelled at my father so loud that when she died he thought he'd gone deaf" being among the many examples. owever, the performance ends in a rather cringe-inducing bout of feminist bra-burning. And be warned: some of the imagery is definitely not for the squeamish.

20 Aug - Whatsonstage.com - John Fleming Blog click here

19 Aug - REVIEW: The Blue Lady Sings - Skinny - click here

19 Aug - REVIEW: Sarah Campbell - Skinny - click here

19 Aug - REVIEW: Allnut and Simpson - Chortle - click here

19 Aug - REVIEW: Manos the Greek - Three Weeks-  - Manos, who seems a friendly, funny and well spirited man, hosts a charming show for all nationalities. Attempting to woo the audience into becoming a little bit more Greek, he will teach you many interesting things from the meaning of the word paedophile to the cons of eating a kebab. This is not performed expertly, and Manos will not challenge the comedy greats, but is a free show which will guarantee laughs and a smile on your face at the end. Although patchy at times, with several jokes being very hit and miss with the audience, my advice to anyone looking for quick, cheap laughs is to drop by the Hive, see Manos, laugh and learn something along the way.

19 Aug - REVIEW: Obie - Three Weeks-  - With a strong Glaswegian accent and a red bull in hand, Obie cuts a likeable, if slightly scary, figure as he requests that we welcome him with rapturous applause and a rendition of the A Team's theme tune. He builds a warm affinity with a small, but responsive audience, getting to know each of us by name and high fiving us when we say something he approves of. His brazen routine is rather mixed - an iffy batch of one-liners, decent wisecracks about texting your ex when drunk and an improvised, devilishly perverse interactive story that shows off his impressively sharp photographic memory. Some parts are scrappy, but overall this is an amusing free hour of fiendish, self-deprecating banter.

18  Aug - REVIEW: Sam Gore & Max Dickens - Forth One - click here

17 Aug - REVIEW: Imran Yusuf - Chortle -  - Click Here

17 Aug - REVIEW: Cheeky Beggars Banquet - Broadway Baby -  - Click Here

17 Aug - REVIEW: Three Nights of Jolliness - Hairline -  - Click Here. (note: the performers in the show are Mike Manera and Mike Belgrave, the reviewer has gone a bit wrong with the spellings!)

17 Aug - REVIEW: Set to Stun - Rayguns look real enough - Hairline -  - Click Here.

17 Aug - REVIEW: The Bareback Banshees - The New Current -  - Click Here.

17 Aug - REVIEW: Post Me to the fringe - Three Weeks-  - Marmite, Slim-Fast and a wind up torch accompanied a man in a box to the Fringe this year via Royal Mail - yes, that's right - a man posted himself to the Fringe. This human package and his comedy sidekick hosted the comic hour and even performed a song, (available on iTunes apparently). The show is informal, like having a chat with some random guys you just met, about a crazy idea they once had. It was amusing but had no structure, which created some awkward silences and the duo might suffer if presented with an unresponsive audience. Luckily, in this instance the comedy duo cajoled a large Scottish gentleman from the audience to spend the entirety of the show in the box, which was comedy gold.

17 Aug - REVIEW: Herbie Treehead - The Stage - Click Here

17 Aug - REVIEW: Kunt and the Gang - Fest -  - Click Here

17 Aug - REVIEW: Phil Buckley - The Scotsman -  - Click Here

17 Aug - REVIEW: The Lost Trilogy (Part 3) - Fringe Review -  - Click Here

17 Aug - REVIEW: The Lost Trilogy (Part 3) - Three Weeks-  - Despite this multi-disciplinary show's overt messages about the state of our planet, it ultimately focuses on its creator and sole performer, Spencer. Maybe it is an expressionist self-portrait: Spencer reveals himself as devilish provocateur, strident eco-activist and motivational speaker in one. Tense and extrovertedly impulsive, his bloodshot eyes gleam with wild intent as he sings, jokes, dances, and generally holds forth. His extraordinarily snake-like hips alone are a sight to be seen. Although Spencer's music is not exactly slick and somewhat raspy, it vibrantly narrates his ideas on topics as diverse as climate change and lust. My personal favourite was the song 'Bus Route to Self-Realisation' - like much of the show it leaves a smile on your face.

17 Aug - REVIEW: Scout Durwood - Three Weeks-  - Scout Durwood is a charismatic performer with an attractive, smoky voice, and shines in this musical story of sex workers in New York on election night, 2008. The catchy songs are composed spontaneously through a series of live- recorded loops and would have provided great entertainment if the tech hadn't failed so disastrously. Of the entire show, it is these kind of feats that really impress: the live construction of a musical score is fascinating and the performance of multiple characters while on roller-skates equally so. Despite Durwood's disarming manner, however, the script is frustratingly 'American' - jokes about therapy and bipartisan government fall flat, and its political charge diffuses quite harmlessly over here. Good, if not great, musical character comedy.

17 Aug - REVIEW: Bruce Fummey - Three Weeks-  - Fummey calls this free show the 'cheap bastard version' of one that you might pay for - and he's right. As there is no prepared material, the show becomes spontaneous, casual, a series of half-improvised anecdotes fuelled by audience response. We are encouraged to move closer to him and huddle, which creates intimacy and a warm, friendly atmosphere that is sustained throughout the show. Fummey even invites a starting-out comedienne to the microphone for five minutes, generously but unnecessarily. An engaging and lively conversationalist, he rarely falls flat, however much material is taken from his own middle aged Scottish life, limiting its appeal. Nonetheless, it is well worth seeing this Afro-Celtic comedian for free.

17 Aug - REVIEW: Post Me to the Fringe - Youth review -  - I doubt that there will be anyone who can match Will Armstrong and his way of getting himself to this years Edinburgh Festival. His journey from Brighton involved a whole 376 miles of travelling in a large box, without getting out the box once. This isn’t really a comedy show, but it is a magnificent story told by Will and one you will be intrigued to hear. As well, Matt Bonner performs his musical talents and it was a relief to finally hear a singer songwriter who can play guitar and sing well. A fascinating story from start to

17 Aug - REVIEW: Mugging Chickens - Youth review -  - This was a good sketch show, but it wasn’t outstanding. One or two of the ideas are brilliant and it’s no surprise that those sketches feature Robin Jon Hill. He acts with enthusiasm and energy which really brings added humour to the sketches he is involved with. It’s not that the other performers are bad, it is just that he stands out among the rest.

16 Aug - REVIEW: Jeff Leach - Three Weeks-  - I can only assume that Jeff Leach is an altruist. Many performers on the Free Fringe are there to hone their skills, or build an audience, but on the strength of this comedic tour-de-force, Leach is in need of neither. From the moment he bounds on stage, eyes and grin equally wide and full of effusive charm, he had the packed venue captivated wholly. His routine, ranging over his life and loves, was surprisingly honest, and never less than hilarious. At times it was unexpectedly risqué for a lunchtime slot - you have been warned - and I suspect Leach would be more at home headlining one of the big venues in a late night timeslot.

16 Aug - REVIEW: Cheeky Beggars Banquet - Three Weeks- - Niftily adrift of the mainstream, this banquet had me choking on my shortbread (in a good way). Warning: This show is not for the prudish or faint hearted. However, it certainly is for those who want the darkly surreal with a witty edge, and to ask themselves whether they did really just laugh out loud at the clown unaware of the kid with a nut allergy in the pecan pie throwing contest. A sketch show should have you wanting to go home and repeat the entire thing verbatim to your girlfriend without realising you can't possibly do it justice. The Cheeky Beggars had me laughing all the way back to the station - it was definitely worth the long walk.

16 Aug - REVIEW: Pig with the face of a Boy - Three Weeks-  - As comfortable as it is competent, these guys are nothing special. From the outset, the two talented chaps behind 'Pig With The Face Of A Boy' give the first impression of a duo a la The Amateur Transplants: a frank and no holds barred collection of song writing that will leave you writhing as intensely as your smile is wide. The subject matter, however, swiftly begins to get flabby, soft and slightly trivial. Certainly go if you want cheering up and want to leave the show with a light grin and slightly chirpier than when you went in. You won't leave raving, though; these songs certainly are shiny and comic, but they are not worth writing home about.

15 Aug - REVIEW: Mat Ricardo -  Fringe Guru -   - click here

14 Aug - The List - Twonkeys Cottage article in the List - click here

14 Aug - REVIEW: Gill Smith -  One4Review -   - click here

14 Aug - REVIEW: Sound & Fury's Testaclese and Ye Sack of Rome- Three Weeks-  - 'Fakespeare's' lost masterpiece of infidelity, matricide and fake boobs is once more brought to life by these three exuberant actors. This is essentially a comprehensive compendium of classically-inspired innuendos, a platter of crudities artfully arranged to form a play: think Kenneth Williams, but more American, and less dead. Sound and Fury are no strangers to the Fringe: this show has been performed here before, though it has been updated to include some material about Lindsay Lohan's Sapphic leanings. As they encouraged everyone to boo and cheer in a Panto-like fashion, the trio proved themselves experts at handling the crowd ('Ooh, matron'), many of whom had come before (nudge). 'Testacles' illustrates the old adage, 'When in Rome, do ass - the Romans do'.

14 Aug - REVIEW: Laura - Three Weeks-  - This heart warming and moving show inspired by 'The Glass Menagerie' follows the delicate heroine Laura, distressingly shy and easily broken. The honesty of this piece is what truly succeeds in capturing its audience, whilst the careful balance of character construction keeps the chemistry between the two actors vivid. The performance starts slowly with a Beckettian reflection on the frustration of Laura, and it's a shame that the effect is diminished by distractions from the next door show. Nevertheless, poetic imagery and a beautiful score keep our attention and, when the rhythm of the elegant writing is picked up, the relationship between characters is entrancing. Expertly directed and featuring Marie Rabe's insightful interpretation of Laura, this show is adorable. A true gem of the Free Fringe.

14 Aug - REVIEW: Jay Sodagar - Three Weeks- - The crowd was a comedian's worst nightmare: in the bowels of Espionage, Jay Sodagar had the unenviable task of performing in front of three reviewers, a stony-faced couple from South Africa and two French guys who admitted they barely understood English. However, the personable stand-up faced this challenge with good humour, and made a sterling attempt to keep us entertained with his passionate tirades against racists and the arms trade, and more personal material that confronted the tragedies of his own life with honesty, wit, and not an ounce of self-pity. Although not quite able to dispel the sluggish atmosphere tonight, Sodagar is an engaging performer.

14 Aug - REVIEW: Kitty Go Miaow - Three Weeks- - This is a stand-up comedy routine delivered in the form of a faux talent show, pitting Carla Bruni against Lady Gaga, amongst others. The impressions are intentionally half-arsed, which only adds to the comedy, as did the clearly rigged finale. Highlights include Rose West's ventriloquism and a bitter song from a relationship counsellor questioning her ex-husband's sexuality. Unfortunately, for every joke that landed there was another which prompted only a chuckle, and another which missed the mark altogether. This gave the routine a stilted, inconsistent rhythm, which is unfortunate as when she's on form Thompson is very funny indeed. With a more consistent routine, and fewer jokes that require intimate knowledge of London boroughs, she would definitely be one to watch.

13 Aug - REVIEW: Aaaaaaargh! Malcolm HArdee Documentary - Three Weeks-   - Harry Enfield, Jools Holland, Mark Lamarr: if you don't know the name Malcolm Hardee, the odds are you'll have heard of some of his protégés. This tribute to him is something of an anomaly in the Fringe programme, since it isn't itself a comedy act but a documentary about one. Painting an intriguing portrait of Hardee, his anarchic brand of humour, and the Tunnel, the underground club he ran, this is a well-made film that, amidst the plethora of people trying to be funny at the fringe, provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on comedy as a social and cultural institution. And, actually, compared to much of the tepid stand-up around today, Hardee's experimental antics still feel exciting and fresh.

13 Aug - REVIEW: Richard Crawley - The Boy - Three Weeks-   - Seeing Richard Crawley casually chomping on a banana whilst he meets and greets his audience leaves one wondering just what to expect from this one man show. What follows is utterly bemusing physical theatre delivered with such charisma, commitment and composure that it's hard not to be dragged along for the ride; a fanciful life story about a good looking boy who grew up, hit the streets of New York, was inspired by Dirty Dancing, dated former pop singer Sinitta and became metaphorically lost at sea. The acting is so over the top that it's almost tongue in cheek, yet it's carried off with such gusto and conviction throughout each scene and musical number that the results are strangely enjoyable.

13 Aug - REVIEW: Reality Vaccine - Three Weeks- - Ian Souch clearly has a facility for carrying out interesting tricks. Over the course of the show he performs feats so impressive they make him appear psychic, ranging from simple things like guessing cards to more complex tasks like predicting the number an audience volunteer will look up in a telephone directory. He makes good use of music to enhance the atmosphere, but it's a pity that his delivery is not more confident, as there is plenty here to be confident about. A little more chutzpah and a bit more direction to the show, as well as a clearer definition and explanation of mentalism at the outset, would transform this show from simply interesting to truly entertaining.

13 Aug - REVIEW: Doggett & Ephgrave -  Chortle -   - click here

13 Aug - Festival previews - Twonkeys Cottage interview - click here

13 Aug - Festival previews - Cabaret Whore Video - click here

12 Aug - REVIEW: Imran Yusuf - The Arts Desk - - click here

12 Aug - REVIEW: Paul vickers -  Music Review -   - click here

12 Aug - REVIEW: Malcolm Hardee Documentary -  Fest -   - click here

12 Aug - REVIEW: Imran Yusuf - Youth Review -   - The show begins without Imran Yusuf and a guest MC in former actor turned comedian James Redmond. The actor who appeared on Casualty and Hollyoaks is amusing and provides a good platform for Imran. Yet I am surprised that an MC was required. Imran Yusuf could quite easily perform the whole hour himself. I am sure there is a certain reason for him not doing so and I guess I wanted too see more comedy from Imran, which is surely the sign of a great show and comedian. This show is hilarious and just outstanding. I feel I can say now that you will not see a better free comedy show in Edinburgh this year. It is no surprise that this man will be appearing with Michael McIntyre on the big screen shortly. All I can say is get yourself along to see this act before you have to start paying.

12 Aug - REVIEW: The Johnny Foreigner Comedy Show - Youth Review -   - A bonus with this show is that comedians will vary each night. However, one constant is that Manos the Greek will host and he gave a good performance on how to host with a mixture of his own comedy and chat with his audience. Performing that evening was Dag Sørås from Norway who brought a hilarious set of dark comedy, Lasse Nilsen from Sweden who showed his talents in mime and comedy, Linus Lee and his fear of ice, and Ryan Carl from Canada who discussed his disappointment in his nations positioning in the FIFA world rankings. The whole show had lots of points of hilarity and I would imagine that this show will be consistently funny each night.

12 Aug - REVIEW: Ku Klux Flan - Youth Review -   - Ed O’Meara presents ‘Ku Klux Flan’ and a show that I enjoyed. He had good interaction with the audience at all points during his show and this enabled him to create a couple of personal jokes with individuals. Ed also showed that he was quick and witty on the spot and this is vital for any stand-up at the Festival. If you like your comedy from fresh faced comedians then this is perfect show for you.

12 Aug - REVIEW: The Lost Letters of Cathy G - Youth Review -   -  It can be hard to create originality in the field of comedy, but Paul Harry Allen has managed to do just that. He tells a heartfelt story about Cathy G after finding a large collection of letters dating back to the 1960’s addressed to her in a charity shop. At points I felt the show was almost too fast paced and should be slowed down to make things slightly clearer. But with so much to get through it is understandable that pace needs to be kept in order to maintain time. However, don’t let this this put you off what is a highly enjoyable show with great use of the venue. This show is a guaranteed laugh for all, but I would certainly recommend it to all those who were teenagers in the 60’s as this show will appeal to you even more.

12 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore -  Broadway baby -   - click here

12 Aug - REVIEW: Maxina Todd NVQ -  Three Weeks -   - This 'modern musical Sweeney Todd' follows a barbarous beautician as she turns her parlour into a processing plant for pies. It's undoubtedly low brow stuff, but I found myself grinning idiotically at the plot's gruesomely absurd developments. The jokes and lyrics are by turns surprisingly clever and laugh-out-loud awful; 'Lenny Lovett's Puffy Pies' is campy, catchy, and quite a dexterous number. The cast are game, and while the performances and vocals aren't exactly impressive, they can't really be faulted either. A flimsy, over-designed set adds to the hilarity. It's free, it's funny, it'll be far better when you're drunk... it's Fringe!

12 Aug - REVIEW: Lewis Schaffer -  Three Weeks -   - Lewis Schaffer, as he points out, looks exactly like the kind of guy you'd expect to be a famous comedian. But he isn't one... and this is the shtick his comedy is built around. That, and having an opinion on everywhere in the world. And being bitter about his ex-wife. And dealing with self-loathing and a Jewish mother (possibly related). This shtick is funny, but is a comedy archetype. Nonetheless, Lewis is very personable, the belly laughs abound and he even manages to coax laughter from a poker-faced German in the front row. Much of the set is spontaneous, and it's delightful to see someone working a room without relying on carefully rehearsed script.

12 Aug - REVIEW: Lewis Schaffer -  The Scotsman -   - click here

12 Aug - REVIEW: The Blue Lady Sings -  The List -   - click here

13 Aug - Whats On Stage - Ansy Moseley's Guest Blog - click here

11 Aug - REVIEW: Roman Around -  Three Weeks - - Ryan Millar's one-man show, 'Roman Around,' is a whimsical, witty account of his time as a tour guide in the Eternal City. A Canadian who trekked to Rome for love and spent two years shepherding gormless punters around the city's most famous sites, Millar's droll personal anecdotes are intercut with several of the Italian capital's choicest historical and mythological yarns. Millar would make a most excellent drinking buddy, with chat educational enough to make you feel like downing a pint with him was a virtuous undertaking, and he can segue seamlessly into a good Michelangelo joke - quite the rare find. Millar's show is a perfect example of the gems to be found in the Free Fringe.

11 Aug - REVIEW: Keara Murphy -  Three Weeks - -Standing on-stage in heels like some Glaswegian Amazonian, Keara Murphy introduces her Travellin' Circus focusing on the clownish antics of life. Her material ranges from unhealthy emotional attachments to sex toys to impersonations of Oprah Winfrey's televised world domination, and her tone is warming and indulgent; she speaks with a constant undertone of incredulity, as if perplexed by her own eccentricity. Material is sometimes a mite predictable: reliving her Catholic education conjures up familiar jokes about clergymen. Failed jokes, meanwhile, are repeated rather than abandoned, and it's all a bit forced after the fourth repetition. Yet Murphy is endearing enough to help you live with these faults, and overall, her homage to the carnival of life will definitely tickle your fancy.

11 Aug - REVIEW: Those Bloody Teenagers -  Three Weeks - - Teenagers' really are group of teenagers. These young stand-ups come up with some good material but lack experience; the chuckles in the audience were not really abundant, but when they did laugh it was obvious that the teenage comedians were getting their message across. Of the ensemble, the first comedian, who was of Nigerian extraction, was the most seasoned. Whether it was due to maturity or experience, he definitely connected with the audience and responded to feedback with ease. Overall, I admired their daring in tackling controversial subjects but the sets were not executed as well as they might have been; it's a problem that a bit more time and experience might cure.

11 Aug - REVIEW: Rebecca Donahue -  Fresh Air -   - click here

10 Aug - REVIEW: The Blue Lady Sings -  The Scotsman - In what is quite possibly one of the weirdest shows I've ever seen at the Fringe, the vivacious Tricity Vogue takes on the persona of Vladimir Tretchikoff's famously kitsch portrait, The Blue Lady, and belts out a series of blue-themed songs (Born to be Blue, Summertime Blues - you get the idea). Halfway through she breaks out of her "frame" and starts picking out audience members to croon to or, in one instance, eat a banana splattered with blue paint. Finally she transforms into Kali, the blue Hindu goddess with multiple arms (cue more audience participation). All refreshingly bizarre in the way that only a show at the Fringe can be.

10 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore -  Three Weeks -   - The first thing I thought when leaving Sarah Louise Young's show was: this is too good to be free. She can sing, act and be funny all at the same time, proving herself a true performer and a force to be reckoned with. She greeted her audience as an old Broadway diva, ushering us to seats and cleverly building the excitement, before introducing us to a range of characters, each complete with accents, outrageous costumes and well rounded back stories that enhance their believability. However, all this pales in comparison to the genius of the songs, especially the lyrics: with witty choruses and satirical verses, there was a joke for every sense of humour. Go, sit back and smile.

10 Aug - REVIEW: Kooky Babooshka -  Three Weeks - - Forget 'Mitchell and Webb'. Forget 'Little Britain'. Here comes 'Kooky Babooshka'! Brimming with talent, this female four piece showcase their hilarious sketch show for free! As good as, if not better than, an average episode of 'Not The Nine O'clock News', these girls combine the surreal and the farcical to great effect. Like most sketch shows it was hit-and-miss, but the good bits were absolutely spot-on: their inspired take on 'Poker Face' was a gem I won't forget for quite some time. Although at times slow, Kooky Babooshka did not outstay their welcome and if they don't get their own TV Slot within the next five years, it would be a sin

9 Aug - REVIEW: Bob Slayer -  The Scotsman -   - click here

9 Aug - REVIEW: Chris McGlade -  The Scotsman -   - click here

9 Aug - REVIEW: Online Courting -  The Scotsman -   - click here

9 Aug - REVIEW: No Traveller -  The Scotsman -   - click here

8 Aug - REVIEW: Online Courting -  The New Current -   - click here

8 Aug - REVIEW: Lewis Schaffer -  One4Review - - click here

6 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore -  The Public Reviews - - click here

6 Aug - REVIEW: Cabaret Whore, Encore -  Edinburgh Gude - - click here

3 Aug - The Guardian - Events at the Fringe, including Free Festivals 'Mary's extraordinary Story club' - click here

3 Aug - The Times - Lynn Ruth Miller - (linked from the journalists blog as actual article is behind Rupert Murdochs Paywall) -  click here

3 Aug - Sletoh.com - Top 10 free shows, freaturing several of our shows click here

3 Aug - Fringe Review - Reccomended Laughing Horse shows click here

1 Aug - Independent on Sunday - Malcolm Hardee Documentry rated as number 1 favourite comedy show - click here

29 July - Sletoh.com - Top Free shows - click here

29 July - Chortle - Lynn Ruth Miller writes about the Fringe - click here

27 July - Chortle - Late Night Talky Talk's Linus lee talks abut audience numbers - click here

26 July - Fringe Guru - Preview of Incidental Combobulations - click here

26 July - PREVIEW REVIEW: No Traveller in New York - click here

26 July - PREVIEW REVIEW: Patchwork at The Camberwell Arts Festival

The Honourable Society of Faster Craftswomen weave a captivating performance from the yarn of everyday experience. An endearing reflection on the simple things in life, and the stuff that gets in the way, Patchwork is storytelling with a heart - and a beat! hrough modern embarrassment and old-fashioned love, Laura Eades warmly leads her audience on a pictorial and musical journey that cannot fail to charm. Her willingness to lay herself bare is a real strength. That it is delivered with such style and pace makes for a well-crafted, accessible, and above all simply enjoyable, piece.Good-humoured and gently humourous, Patchwork is an autobiographical show remarkably lacking in self-obsession. Hand-drawn slides, musical elements and overt reflection are seamlessly incorporated into an inspiring tale of work, wasps and wool. Clearly a labour of love, Laura Eades' performance felt to me a precious gift of her time, and never an imposition on my own.

23 July - The List - Q Fusion article - click here

22 July - News Shopper - Tim Toal on going to Edinburgh - click here

22 July - Three Weeks - Fringe Legend Lynn Ruth Miller Returns! - click here

21 July - What's On Stage - John Fleming Blog about the Malcolm Hardee Awards and shows - click here; and again about the Frank Chickens here

21 July - PREVIEW REVIEW: Beach Hut Mutts in The Latest

Hutchins and Haase shows are so cleverly casual that the show seems completely and confidently ad- libbed. But you know it's not really. Only some of it definitely is... In living comic-strip style Roy and Tony play themselves plus Coral - an elderly sun worshipping dog-lover, Teabag - a hippy anarchist beach hut-squatter, their dogs Pootle and Nostradamus, plus actual comic- strip hero Gold Man and his creator Professor Palindrome. Despite the lack of props this is less like mime and more like a cartoon, complete with sound effects and punctuated with mad songs and we are happily taken on a surreal journey featuring sub-let beach huts, dogs as political metaphors and the Soviet muff market. Not to mention stolen Nazi gold bullion and a cameo from Kate Moss. The unwitting mayhem, the dogs, create results in our very different protagonists realising just how much we all have in common. Life-affirming at its most barking mad.

20 July - PREVIEW THEATRE REVIEW: Are You Lonesome Tonight at The Buxton Fringe - click here

20 July - PREVIEW COMEDY REVIEWS: Kooky Babooshka, Roland gent and Phil Buckley at The Buxton Fringe - click here

20 July - The New current - Lots more interviews.... Ryan Millar, Tricity Vogue 1, Trricity Vogue 2, Jim Bowes, Jay Cowle, Plahing fate, Politically erect Comedy, Gill Smith, The Fools.

18 July - Festival Previews - Interview with Sandra Risser - click here

16 July - Edinburgh Festival Guide - Article on Swedish and Norweigan comedians coming to Edinburgh - click here

16 July - Edinburgh Festival Guide - Three Free Fest venues listed in the best bars and beer gardens:

City Cafe: One of the city’s first ‘style bars’, the City Café still attracts a good-looking crowd. The décor is American diner-inspired, making it a favourite pre-club spot and an ideal place to grab a hearty plate of food. 19 Blair Street, 0131 220 0125

The Pear Tree : One of the capital’s biggest and best beer gardens, The Pear Tree’s large outdoor benches and weekly BBQs make it the perfect watering hole, whether your want is to while away an afternoon or catch a quick pint in the sun, on the way to the Underbelly, Pleasance or Teviot. 34 West Nicolson Street, 0131 667 7533

Three Sisters: Smack bang in the middle of the Cowgate, Three Sisters is one of the more energetic beer gardens in the city. People spill out onto the courtyard from inside, where three floors of bars and dance floors ensure the party never stops. 139 Cowgate, 0131 622 6801

15 July - Fringe Guru - Preview of Lewis Schaffer's Show  - click here

14 July - PREVIEW REVIEW: Beach Hut Mutts in The Argus

As The Edinburgh Fringe looms large on the comedy circuit, it’s time for Brighton once again to prepare itself for a mass migration of all things humorous. Luckily for those who need a quick comedy fix to tie them over, help is at hand. Beach Hut Mutts is the latest show from Hutchins and Haase and it’s as cute and quirky as all their others. The structure is another carbon-copy of their previous shows – a plethora of crazy, over-the-top characters pitched together in an everyday scenario peppered with impending disaster and a twist of the extraordinary. This is a recipe that works and the “deeply distinguished beautiful audience” on Monday were committed fans. Knowing exactly what to expect, they were putty in these expert comedians’ hands, happy to participate or to be implicated, loving the twists and turns of the cleverly layered narrative, the sparkling chemistry between the performers and the crafty reincorporations. But mostly they simply never tired of watching these two lovable rogues make the very difficult look like the most natural thing in the world.

14 July - Fest - Two Free Fest venues listed in the best bars and clubs:

The Pear Tree The Pear Tree may be overpriced, and inside there may be little to distinguish it from most other pubs in central Edinburgh, but it does boast the biggest and best beer-garden in town. On a sunny day in Edinburgh, that’s certainly worth paying a little over the odds for. The ranks of tables mean there’s rarely a problem finding a seat, and occasionally during August there’s live music on the corner stage. There’s not many better ways to enjoy the sun than over a pint in the P.T. [AC]

City Cafe Forget the numerous thespy Festival drinking hubs, the real Edinburgh can be found in bars like City Café, the Capital’s original pre-club venue. Half art-deco chic, half shabby 50's diner, City Cafe has been an Edinburgh staple for over 25 years. Mainly utilised as an upbeat late-night primer for nearby Cabaret Voltaire, the bar actually has a decent vibe at all hours, attracting a genuinely mixed and unpretentious clientele. 'Trendier' bars come and go but City Cafe has a timeless, enduring appeal. A genuine Edinburgh institution. [SF]

6 July - Such Small Portions - Talking about Tony Cowards unique Twitter Fringe show - cllick Here

27 June - The New Current - Various Free Fest shows previewd, including Lois Mills, Charm//Offensive, Mat Riccardo and Hatty Ashdown (and many more)

24 June - The New Current - Lewis Schaffers latest PR stunt... click here

22 June - The BBC - Story about the Free Festival loosing it's sponsor at the last minute for this year - click here. Anyone want to sponsor us in our last minute sponsor auction? click here

18 June - New Current - Fringe preview, and somebody else impressed with all the Free shows - click here

12 June - Caledonian Mercury - Report of the Fringe Launch, and the impressive amount and quality of Free shows - click here

12 June - Guardian & The Herald - An Early Fringe Pick for the Free Fest, for "Confessions of a smart Wrestling Fan" : "Neil Cooper of the Herald had his eye caught by a stand-up comedy about professional wrestling (presumably the show entitled Confessions of a Smart Wrestling Fan, if page 49 of the guide is anything to go by)."

11 June -  The Scotsman - seem confused that Lynn Ruth Millers "Granny's Gone Wild" has an 18+ rating... In a new-look programme, all shows, not just those for children, were for the first time asked to put an age rating on their productions, from U for Universal to PG for Parental Guidance, or flagged up by age.  A string of late-night and comedy shows carry an 18+ recommendation, although Fringe staff yesterday stressed it was a guide, not a rule. One show, Gemma Goggin: Get Laid or Die Trying was rated 16+, while another, Granny's Gone Wild, came in at 18+"

11 June -  The Scotsman - Reports on Malcolm Hardee getting the traditional 1st position in the Fringe programme.. Aaaaaaargh! .

10 June - Fringe Programme Launch - The Huge rise in free shows is noted at the Fringe's Programme Launch, with free shows making up a 5th of the Fringe programme - with this noted in numerous publications including The Stage, The Guardian, Scotsman and several others.

30 May - PREVIEW REVIEW: Laura in Three Weeks - click here

30 May - PREVIEW REVIEW: Jim Bowes in Three Weeks - click here

30 May - PREVIEW REVIEW: Bob Slayers Punk Rock Chat Show in Three Weeks - click here

30 May - PREVIEW REVIEW: Laughing Horse Pick of the Fringe in Three Weeks - click here

30 May - PREVIEW REVIEW: Seven Deadly Sings in Three Weeks - click here

21 March - PREVIEW REVIEW: Phil Buckley in City Life - click here

While you are waiting for more of   2010's press to come in, you can have a look at some of last years news and reviews - click here for 2009's press and reviews!