So Hi anyone looking at this. Never done anything like this before but have been musing on doing a fringe blog for, oo, the last four years. So finally I’m taking the plunge! The first fringe show I saw was way back in 1985, The Bald Prima Donna at Buster Browns on Thursday 22nd August for £2. That Prima Donna keeps coming back every year, still bald as a coot. So if you fancy a stroll along the byways and alley ways of my Fringe experiences, feel free to drop in.
Like I said, I’m new to this so there’s gonna be plenty mistakes (though at least my typing seems ok for a moose) as I’m not really up with this modern technology stuff. So wish me luck and do check in again!
Hello! Sorry but I’ve lost my spark, I don’t know where I put it, or even when I last had it, honestly I’ve looked everywhere, so I’m just going to start writing, hope it takes pity on me and makes an appearance. There’s still this year’s Brucies to announce, you know, the Bruce On The Fringe Fringe Awards, this is something I really need my spark back for, to come up with award categories. So I’m just gonna waffle about anything that pops into my head or that I can find scrawled in my notebook – still reading are you? Hahaha.
Notebook scrawls, I have plenty of those, quick notes written to remind myself of bits in shows, written with only the briefest glances down into the gloom. Often ineligible in the light and occasionally written over other notes that I didn’t notice were already on the page. Sometimes I’ll write a line thinking it will good a starting place, yeah, umm, what was that about? Those scrawls can be sitting there a long time, but recently I got tough and ripped plenty out. One still in there – do you enjoy laughing?
That line, do you enjoy laughing, was asked me by a flyerer. She was so lucky I didn’t pause to give a reply, I think I was on my way somewhere so dismissed the temptation as I didn’t have any time to spare. See, it immediately took me back years ago to when a friend of a friend told me I would like some band or other because – well, I like music, ergo, I’d like that music. What!?!? Huh? Our mutual friend managed to keep a straight face, inwardly howling with laughter as he knew I would hate them (I could see it in his eyes as he held back the tears). Back to the flyerer, I remember thinking as I strode away that I could have replied, “What makes you think your show’s funny enough to make anyone laugh?” Ouch, mean that, I kinda surprised myself, on the other hand, had I had the time to chat, a valid question.
Yes, I’ve seen the bloody rain – probably written one night in Whistlebinkies. This is about the old Creedence Clearwater Revival song, up there with I’m A Believer as songs I wouldn’t miss if I never heard them again, on the other hand, within a set of music that I do want to hear, it provides time for a loo break. See, I do look for the positives! Oh, and I don’t dislike either song, just, nah.
Did you know that in Holyrood Park there’s a patch of raspberry canes? Not a big patch, but not tiny either, reckon if I go at just the right time of year I could pick enough for a few jars of jam and the odd pie. Yes, I’ve made a note on my calendar to go check it out next summer; and no, I’m not going to divulge it’s exact location (they’re mines!!) And on the Park, I just noticed the other day that the fences were away from the start of the Radical Road at the Powderhouse Corner end, yay (quite how long I’ve been walking past without noticing, well!) It’s just reopened as far as the old quarry, with plenty of warning signs everywhere. I’ve been wandering up to the top of Salisbury Crags for the beautiful skies at dusk, a tad scary once it gets darker (it would have been for the no-doubt magnificent sunsets, if I could just get the timing right).
Oo, must mention how brave I was at Cineworld a couple of weeks ago. I was there to see Hope, a Korean monster sci-fi movie. It was midafternoon, only a few in, two of those few kept bloody talking to each other, just loud and often enough to put a dent on my enjoyment. One chap a few rows in front of them did move across the room, I vaguely considered it but I was in a great spot so felt disinclined to give up such a prime location. Another guy got up and went over to tell them to shut up, they did, for about five minutes. Emboldened by his action, I decided it was time to make a stand myself (here I should mention I was in the row behind them about eight or nine seats along), so I snuck along to right behind them … “Will you two either shut the fuck up or fuck off!” Oh, how they jumped, I gave them the meanest glare I could muster and went back to my seat. Reader, not another peep was heard!
Nearly time to sleep, hopefully I’ll keep the momentum going and write again tomorrow. Maybe I can build up to announcing the winners of this year’s Brucies at the weekend, hmmm, as the clocks go back, Bruce takes a look back at this year’s Fringe, oh yes, that sounds good. But like I said before, I haven’t even decided on categories yet; see back in 2022 I was inspired by the wonderfully bonkers ACMS Awards, it was like the culmination of a month of absurdities, my spark was crackling, fizzing with all kinds of silly. Ho hum. Goodnight!
View over to the southside of town from St Leonards Crag
September has been quite balmy in Edinburgh, great for some late afternoon brambling in the park; well, just for idling in the park generally, making the most of the end of summer. I haven’t picked as many brambles as last year, but then I’m not going to make any wine this time, just lots of jam! Time for a terrible segue, Jed Potts was the guest host at the Handsome House Jam at Stramash on the first Sunday of the month, a fine evening of the blues. It was the second time seeing him that weekend as he and Nicole Smit were doing their thing in the Jazz Bar early Saturday evening, an interesting change from Binkies!
The next HHJ is this Sunday evening, I haven’t seen who the guest host will be; but I do know the Scat Rats are playing after that at ten o’clock, yay! That’s the only music noted on my calendar now until the end of the month – unless something pops up soon. I had toyed with the idea of a wee Highland trip up around Inverness to coincide with Carl Marah‘s gig at the Market Bar (this Saturday), but by the time I thought about it again everywhere cheaper than very expensive was gone, Inverness is obviously going to be very busy this weekend!
Ho hum, shouldn’t grumble, last week was ridiculously great fun; Glasgow on Wednesday for some blues harmonica, the Scat Rats twice on Thursday night (early in Stramash, midnight in Whistlebinkies), they were back in Binkies on the Saturday afternoon, mid-evening spot was Louis Crosland plus two, he was back in Binkies Sunday midnight with two others, that was after he’d played the ten o’clock slot in Stramash with the Moanin‘ Bones; and I didn’t miss a thing (apart from a few opening numbers, as per usual).
Saturday night Sunday midnight
Friday evening I was in Peebles for Show Don’t Tell, an evening of five short films from the Tweed Valley, by rural filmmakers, with live music afterwards. Okay, so the live music was a short set by Logan’s Close, they also starred in one of the short films, of course I went along! It was held in the Eastgate Theatre, an arts centre in a converted church. Wow, what a great place they’ve created! The auditorium is the actual church (there’s a studio area and cafe too) with well tiered seating (with plenty of leg room!) that can all be retracted back leaving the floor cleared, stairs on both sides up to the three-sided balcony. After the films were shown there was a long break while the band set up and the seating was just taken back a few rows, so that there was room for standing and sitting. I mean, what an amazing use of space! I would definitely go back.
Logan’s Close: Live at Maryhill was up first, quite a gothic feel to it, the lads performing in an old empty theatre, flouncy shirts, and a freaky, disturbing side storyline involving Scott and a surgeon (I would tell you more about it, but it was just really odd, okay?) The songs in it were Costume Changes, Chillz and Dans Le Jardin, beautifully shot in a slightly disorientating way. It was directed by Aidan Duckworth, our host for the evening and also director of GIMP the last film shown (his party, so why not two?). The others were Antlers, Cover-up and Cernunnos; short films, they throw you in at the deep end and expect you to survive confusion, gore, drama, BDSM, old gods and antlers (not just in Antlers!). Fun, but I definitely needed a drink afterwards!
I took a stroll down the main street to the Bridge Inn, a real ale pub that I visited some years ago, yay, they had a Stewart’s ale in. Just a half for me seeing as I was driving, then the stroll back to the theatre took me to almost time to head back into the auditorium and some music. Due to the first part of the evening lasting longer than expected, it was a shorter set than planned just five songs, opening with Babestation on to Costume Changes, Hot Blondes, very new one Cuck Chair, then with the crowd yelling for one more, the lads got the nod to go ahead, so they went out with the bloody magnificent Mock Marble Linoleum, yay! Needless to say, my soundtrack for the drive back to Edinburgh was my Logan’s Close Live at LimbicTV cd. All in all, a damn fine evening!
Ha, since I started this, then paused a while for my tea, I’ve discovered that Louis Crosland (and whoever!) is playing the half nine slot at Whistlebinkies on Saturday, yay. Ha, a Binkies usual, a band was listed as playing that slot on the month’s list poster and the website, and then this week it was TBC on social media – but hey, that’s me happy! There was also confusion over last Sunday’s midnight slot; towards the end of the Scat Rats Saturday afternoon set Carl announced they’d be back the following night, a back and forth ensued between the Rats and George on sound as he was down to play bass with Louis then, I piped up that he was right, erm, they ended up playing Rock, Paper, Scissors for it, hahaha. All friendly banter, the Rats were having a great afternoon, a good, appreciative audience, they never sounded better (in part, thanks to George, he really knows his stuff), Funnel of Love was particularly exquisite 💛 Oh, and we even got an encore of two extra songs over time, sweet!
And on that note I shall bid you goodnight, bonne nuit, gute Nacht, buonanotte!
Oops! Hello, I kinda dropped out there. It’s been a whole week since the Fringe fizzled out for another year and even longer since I last tapped out any musings (oh, I’ve mused plenty but failed miserably to get anything done, bad moose). Ha, even just now I manage to distract myself thinking, I’m sure it didn’t used to fizzle out so pathetically, I should look back through all my Fringe planner calendars and see if there’s anything obvious …. much time later, maybe I should get back to writing about the end of this Fringe?! (the fizzle factor can wait for another time)
Ah yes, last thing it was Friday night, start of the final weekend and I was going to see BadSanta and the Angry Elves and then the Moanin’ Bones; such a fine evening, but so glad I remembered my earplugs, Bannermans is LOUD, kinda to the detriment of the music for me, but that’s the way they like it in there. The second time I saw the show there’d be a few changes, this time the band was purely rocking out sans storyline (hmm, did I mention that I’d seen the show again? well, I did), oh boy, was that fun! Certainly hope they make it back again sometime. Whistlebinkies wasn’t mentally busy, the Bones were great as per usual, but I headed home before the final set, left the loons to it (it was a full moon to be fair).
From having a number of magic shows in my pile of possibilities I only saw one, picked as I’ve never seen him before though he’s been playing the Fringe for years, Charlie Caper, obviously very popular as he’s in the Liquid Room Warehouse (it’s BIG); mind, that really doesn’t equate to whether I’ll enjoy an act. Reader, I loved it, I liked the vibe from him and he’s so good you can’t help but wonder if it really is magic!
I also hadn’t seen much in the way of absurd theatre, or anything at theSpace@Surgeons Hall (which is unusual for me) both remedied with Don’t Flush Me Yet. Gent goes to the toilet (an enormous one onstage) and poos a large sentient poo. Why? How? Who’s that chasing after the man and his poo? A silly, surreal, madcap, absurd caper, I thoroughly enjoyed it, though probably not for everyone.
One show that appeared on the Half Price Hut list most days was Louise: The Last Dance, I started looking out for it, oh, go on then. Wow, what a fascinating show! A one woman show telling the life story of Louise Weber, more famously known as La Goulue the original cancan girl at the Moulin Rouge (and a muse to Lautrec and Renoir), she led a full life from rags to riches and back again. A great asset to the show was the screening throughout of portraits and photographs of her and the area she lived and worked in; and to cap it all, there’s old film footage from 1928 when, at 62 and destitute living in an old caravan in Montmartre, she danced for a documentary filmmaker. A story worth telling and well told; I do quite like shows on interesting historical characters (you may have noticed).
I have mentioned in the past that compilation comedy shows are not always all they make themselves out to be (especially those with titles beginning “Best of …”). I’m a tad wary these days, but I’ll always get to Stand-up Science at some point, it’s fine,there’s Matt Hobs hosting, Alex Farrow as permanent guest and one more science-nerdy type stand-up, yup, guaranteed laughs and the occasional interesting fact. Did I mention seeing Stand-upPhilosophy earlier? Well, I did. The lovely Mr Farrow hosts, two other stand-ups, and some philosophy in the mix.
On the last Sunday night I didn’t stay up late enough for the ACMS Awards but earlier in the evening I did attend The Spookies: Horror Awards, it was mentioned in the Wee Blue Book (PBH’s Free Fringe programme, a must). I’d not heard of it before, ah, just in it’s third year, awards to recognise and support horror theatre, and why not? As a niche, it can get lost in the hugeness of Fringe, I’ll admit I didn’t know most of the nominees but had great fun cheering on those who attended in the hope of winning.
As I said, not a late late night for me, just late enough to end the weekend with a right couple of clowns, that would be the very talented, sublimely funny Dan Lees and Tom Curzon: The Sonic Joy Orchestra. Anything can happen and probably will with these two, but it will be ridiculously, wonderfully silly (honestly, you’d have to have a heart of granite not to warm to the pure joy and playfulness here). A fitting finale for my Free Fringe this year, it really doesn’t get fringier than than this pair.
What could possibly follow that on Monday?! Let’s see, the last day of August, hmm, august, a Thom Tuck double bill! How To Fringe: a chat show with Thom Tuck (for a second time), then a quick snack on the way to Hoots’ other Yurt at the Potterow Underpass for Heartwarming Animal Content (WIP). A most convivial way to finish a Fringe, and so interesting to hear anecdotes about past Fringes that I would never have otherwise heard (fifty pence pieces from a door bucket lined up on a pool table so that folk could play for free, yes! a true gent); and hey, I’ve been fringing for so long I could place each reminiscence within my own fringeframe.
And time to finish this post, methinks, it’s very late and a mouse just ran past me, nope, not caring right now. I’ll think of a title with a fresh head in the morning.
That would be the Fringe in 2021, yes, there bloody was one! Those who dared to come had a brilliant time, as August went on seating and distancing restrictions relaxed, more acts turned up to try their luck, shows sold out all the time; it was all quite joyous and a bit anarchic.
I met so many lovely people that year, including ex-philosophy teacher turned stand-up Alex Farrow, now a Fringe favourite of mine (and not just for the hugs, his stand-up is definitely worth a watch, folks). Oh, and the stand-up on that last night was okay, but his final punchline was superb!
WordPress had more memories for me, and this one does show that if Covid hadn’t happened the Fringe would have finished this late at the very end of August in 2020. How can’t people understand this? Probably the same folk who have to ask when the clocks go forward and back every bloody year! Duh.
The end is nigh! Okay, so the final weekend of the Fringe is here (it’s Friday evening just now). So far it seems a tad quieter than final weekends usually start, mind, I reckon this Fringe as a whole has not been as busy as it could be. There’s even been room to move on the Royal Mile!
Tomorrow the wind down starts with plenty of shows finishing up (and a few venues totally close too), of the rest, the vast majority end their Fringe on Sunday (sob!), just a few continue to the bitter end. Huzzah, Thom Tuck has a couple of PWYW shows in Hoots venues on Monday, of course he has! There’s a number of shows I quite fancy catching, so this weekend could be pretty busy, if I can get my act together. Oh, and that’s after another very late night of Bad Santa and the Angry Elves in Bannermans at midnight, then a trot up to Whistlebinkies for the Moanin’ Bones until chucking out time, erm, four, I think?! Oh hey, it’ll be the last late late night of my Fringe, well, for now, unless something turns up, of course.
While there’s shows I’d still like to see, and I’m sure there’ll be a few more spring to mind just as it’s too late, hey, I’ve enjoyed the vast majority of what I have seen, so I won’t dwell on what I’ve missed (a previous bad habit of mine). I say the vast majority, there was one real turkey and a couple just not good, hey ho, you take your chances. Of course, there are those I’m still hoping will appear on the Half Price Hut list, you never know; I have a scan through every morning after ten, just in case.
Top Gunchained has been regularly on the HPH list, definitely worth getting a ticket (five stars from yours truly). A couple more that I’ve seen a few times that I haven’t previously mentioned are Strange Face: Adventures with a Lost Nick Drake Recording… The Story Continues, phew, so many long titles this year! A very interesting show this and, despite it saying continues no knowledge of what the first show contained is necessary, also, liking or even knowing who Nick Drake was is not essential either. It’s show about the effect music can have on folk, about one man setting himself a quest, and how quirky coincidence can be. I enjoyed it – I bought the book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another show that has popped up on the HPH list in the last few days is Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities: A Toy Theater Atlas and no I haven’t spelt Theater wrong, they’re from America. This is a table top production, so yes, it’s small but there is projection and the venue is well tiered, phew. How to explain this show? It’s unique, utterly charming, beautifully detailed; cities, landscapes appear out of boxes and tins, evolve and return again. I know that sounds bizarre, it is! It’s fringe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Before I head out, one more quick mention, I caught it early yesterday evening Vampires of Mississippi a one man show at the Banshee Labyrinth, a fitting venue for a tale of horror and despair. It sure chilled me, didn’t matter the ending was kinda obvious, the telling was really well done and the changes in lighting set the scenes so well. Yup, glad I finally got round to seeing it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yesterday evening I took myself off to the cinema to see Casino, showing as part of a Scorcese season at Cineworld, oh boy, such a brilliant film, so full-on and powerful (and a great soundtrack). Walking back along towards the Grassmarket I was definitely in need of something light and fun, it was very nearly eleven o’clock, so I took a right at Hoots @the Apex and went to see Beatlesjuice again! Yay! Okay, so Rob’s voice is starting to go a tad from the nightly singing, but for one, it’s fine for Beatlesjuice’s raspy tones, and second, with his exuberant performance it’s kinda endearing (to this moose, anyway).
《Edit Oops, I thought I’d written a review for Beatlesjuice when I saw it last week, nope! Well, it’s so brilliant I went back for more, nuff said ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️》
Afterwards, heading down the Cowgate it occurred to me that it would be possible for someone out Fringing to see Bad Santa and the Angry Elves which finishes at eleven at the Caves, to then walk smartly along to the Apex for Beatlesjuice at ten past. Honestly, ten minutes is enough, and besides the first five minutes is, Hello, has everyone seen Beetlejuice? Does everyone know the Beatles? Even the more obscure tracks? Like the ones by Ringo? And a bit more banter before starting proper. It’s doable, and wow, what a double bill!
Yesterday was one of those Tuesdays, so I headed up Niddry Street to Whistlebinkies and the Scat Rats for a couple of hours, sweet. I’ll be finishing off tonight in there as well, it’s Louis Crosland and whoever he’s rustled up to play bass and drums. Friday midnight sees Louis back in there with the Moanin’ Bones to bring in the weekend, yeah, the English bank holiday weekend and start of the Fringe fizzle down. Actually, a thought occurred to me the other day when yet another person asked how long the Fringe would be going on for, people, it always ends on the English Bank Holiday Monday, well, the few final bits of Fringe finish up. Why not, instead of a fixed ending, fix the start instead? Have it so that 241 Monday in the first full week is on the Scottish Bank Holiday Monday, ergo, more local and Scottish folk generally to come and see more shows and spread the word on what’s good? That way the end will be three sundays after that, no silly sad Monday leftovers. And breathe.
While I’m tapping away here I suppose I might mention a few more shows I’ve seen. It’s been some years since I saw Felicity Ward so I popped along to Cabaret Voltaire for an entertaining hour, and she says at the beginning it may be in the afternoon but some content is well, more for evening after a few cocktails with the girls. She is funny, just not as much my cup of tea anymore, palates change you know (still some howling funny moments for sure). Maybe if I’d had a cocktail on my way in ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Mind, I was also not long out of God’s Longest, one of the most darkly funny improvised comedy sketch shows I’ve seen. I went twice last year, this year they’re across from last year’s venue, in Supercube Cowgate, it’s one of those creepy karaoke room places (well, I think they’re creepy). Yeah, following that, Ms Ward had her work cut out. Yeah, this is one weird bunch, just hang on and enjoy the ride, oh, they have no clue where they’re headed either but they’ll go there and beyond. It’s part of the PBH’S Free Fringe so no particular prior planning is needed, Cowgate at half two. Yes, it’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ again.
If you’ve been paying attention you’ll know I went to see Will & Noah: Dinner Dinner Chicken Winner after chilling in the Park yesterday. Sadly Peregrine were just closing up as I went past, so I didn’t get to have a cake, dammit, but I did make it to George Square Gardens in plenty of time. Will and Noah play off each other well, obviously having fun with the material, then they’d pair up together against some unfortunate audience member, haha. No no, they’re gentle with them, although it was hilarious how an audience member interpreted the sketch he was pulled into; note, I kinda picked up on it at the time so was not as surprised as Will and Noah, but I wasn’t surprised that the sketch had never been taken that way before (nope, I’m going to leave you wondering!). I think they’re trying new areas and pushing their boundaries, and why not, but for me it didn’t always land as well it might. Oh, I did enjoy it aside my niggles, these guys are very funny together and their interactions with the audience are brilliantly played out; the show has won an award, so why not check it out for yourself? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Anyhoo, I’ve been tapping this out through the day, time for Binkies again. More musings tomorrow.
I don’t usually write blog posts on my phone but it’s so lovely up here, just me and the crows and the odd snatch of far off conversation on the breeze. Where am I? High at the top of Moose Ridge enjoying the warm sunshine. I had intended to be up here much earlier, yeah, no, wasn’t going to happen. Hey ho, I have a while before my next show, and I have pumpkin seeds to munch on. Next show? Its Will & Noah: Dinner Dinner Chicken Winner at George Square Gardens. They had a cracking show last year and reviews are looking good for this time too. Mind, I expect nothing less than brilliantly bonkers from Will BF.
Last night I went along to see Moon Team IIIV again, yes, for a third year! But each time Will’s tightened bits and made tweaks, especially to Swimothy – at this rate that fish will have his own show next year! Indeed, Swimothy’s plaintive solo is quite a highlight, what a voice! Moon Team IIIV is what the Fringe is about, a mad idea brought to life, a spark of joie de vivre. Okay, for some this show will be just tooo silly, but hey, for this moose it’s silly to make the soul soar ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh yeah, before I head down, oo, possibly past Peregrine for one of their scrummy cakes, I went to see Hudson Hughes: At Your Service again, this time everything worked, every whistle whistled and every bell rang, and how! That ratcheted up the horror somewhat (but that second preview was glorious madness, Hughes was brilliant), and the imp, oh, he was great. Comedy horror to chill and tickle your funny bone, definitely worth that extra half star! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Must dash, I’ve an awards show, well, a show about awards, to see. Toddle pip!
It’s the start of another weekend, well, Friday night. No, I’m not stopping in, just taking time to write some more, I’m aware that I saw a great show this time last week but never got to mentioning it (at least I did a couple of IG stories). Time to rectify this, before I’m allowed out for any more fun. A warning though, there’s three Santa themed shows in the Cowgate area, I have no idea about the other two, the one I totally recommend to anyone with metal in their hearts is Bad Santa and the Angry Elves, no, I don’t mean people with heart valves, I mean those who love heavy metal, hard rock from the seventies onwards. Oh, it’s on at Just the Tonic in the Caves, at half nine, and not just an hour, this baby’s ninety minutes long, yay!
Oh, other people will have a great time too, but anyone who used to let loose at the local Rock Night back in the day, but then, somehow, life left all that behind, this show is for you! So many rock classics are in there with brilliant parody lyrics telling the story of how Bad Santa was banished from the North Pole (honestly, he’s not bad, just misunderstood) along with his posse of elves; blasts from the past like AC/DC’s Big Balls – three chords in was when my grin went full loon mode, stayed that way the rest of the night!
Bad Santa bares his soul
A wonderfully bonkers concept, yes, but Santa has one helluva band in those elves; all great musicians! You will be up dancing before the end, you won’t be able to help yourself! And there is quite a story to the narrative, the guy was done wrong, Bad Santa pours his heart out to us to make us understand what happened, this guy testifies!
A magnificent show, loved it, and yes, I fully intend to see it again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Now I must away, Louis’s playing at Binkies in ten minutes. Toodle pip!
