I’ve been under the weather somewhat since the end of Fringe. First my throat, then after what seemed like a full recovery, bam, my sinuses mutinied, usually the two run alongside a wee while before passing the baton. Not this time, just far enough apart for some false hope, but also a chance to the Scat Rats on Wednesday midnight at Whistlebinkies; by seven the following evening I was in no fit state to see the Rats again in Stramash, boo. At least I had the immense pleasure of a spur of the moment rendition of Fantastic Man (a song by William Onyeabor that Logan’s Close made a cover video of during one of the lockdowns), I do hope they play it again sometime.

The last couple of days Facebook memories have reminded me that it’s the time when I’ve previously announced the Brucies. What’s the Brucies? They’re the Bruce on the Fringe Fringe Awards, I was inspired after attending the ACMS Awards in 2022 (a silly, nonsensical, absurd event hosted by the Tuck); so just a light-hearted look back at my Fringe (it didn’t happen last year, those reading my blog at the time know why). And so without further ado…

Mesdames et monsieurs, ceux entre et ceux au-delà, bienvenue! The awards that nobody asked for, and mean absolutely nothing to anyone (except the little mooselets in my head), I give you the Bruce on the Fringe Fringe Awards 2025. Ta-dar!!

The Sublime: The Other Mozart

Most August: Thom Tuck

Best Veg-Rom-Dram: Tale of a Potato

Best Supporting Sidekick: Swimothy

Best Evening in an Afternoon: An Evening with Dame Granny Smith

Best Badge: Will & Noah: Too Much Time on Their Phones

Most Suave and he knows it: Troy Hawke

Best Musical Moments (all the nominations and the winner): Rob Kemp (Beatlesjuice and The Elvis Dead)

Best Use of a Building Since it was Public Swimming Baths: Finlay and Joe: Pretend It’s Fine

The Inevitable Award: Bad Clowns: Long Live the King

The Gromit Trophy: Iago in Iago Speaks up until Iago spoke

Oddest thing on the Cowgate: The Mothman Cometh-ing towards me

The Stuff of Nightmares: Aidan Pittman dressed as The Childcatcher

The Ridiculous: God’s Longest

And there you go, from the sublime, through to the ridiculous.

Toodle pip!