The Glasgow stars who will rock this year's Edinburgh Festival...
The Edinburgh Festival is back and it is bigger than ever. From this Friday there will be 31,000 performances in the main festival and the fringe, featuring acts from around the globe.
Favourites such as comedians Ricky Gervais and Jerry Sadowitz are back while major drama productions will be a staple on any theatre lovers' to-do list.
Here KIRSTY BEATON chooses her top 10 Glasgow acts at the festival...
Famous Fringe actsFRANKIE BOYLETHE quick-witted and foul-mouthed Glaswegian, below, was a Fringe hit before he found national fame for his outrageous observations on BBC2's Mock the Week. BILLY CONNOLLY Scotland's most famous comic, below, is an old Fringe hand. Although it's not known how his September gig in the capital will be received after he said last year: "I don't find Edinburgh people all that funny. They're interesting and nice, but you wouldn't point to funny as being one of their features." EWAN McGREGOR THE movie heart throb launched Shallow Grave at the Fringe. The film was a huge success and he went on to star in blockbusters such as Moulin Rouge, Trainspotting and Star Wars. ROWAN ATKINSON THE rubber-faced funnyman made his festival debut way back in 1976. Over 30 years later Rowan is one of the best loved comics in the UK. THE MIGHTY BOOSH AFTER several successful stints at the Fringe - including winning the Perrier Best Newcomer award with their debut show - the weird and wonderful antics of The Mighty Boosh have since landed creators Julian Barrat and Noel Fielding a radio show, three TV series, and a devoted cult following. JIMMY CARR FAMED for his deadpan delivery, Carr, left, has been a Fringe staple since his debut in 2002. Now one of the UK's most successful comedians, his stand-up tours usually sell-out fast and he is in demand to host any number of dodgy, but lucrative, TV panel shows. |
SCOTT AGNEW
THE Scottish Comedian of the Year 2008, below, is a festival virgin.
The 27-year-old Glaswegian, who has been delighting audiences at the city's Stand club for years, is not for the easily offended, and will be talking about weight loss, boyfriends and tramps and will no doubt perform his hilarious Chic Murray impersonation.
Underbelly, Cowgate, Until Aug 25, 7.50pm, £6 to £10.50.
AN AUDIENCE WITH JOHN SMEATON
SCOTS folk hero and the world's most famous baggage handler, John Smeaton, centre right, will take to the stage for the first time to talk cigarettes, suitcases and terrorism.
Smeato will also chat about life as a newlywed and how his world has changed since the day he warned terrorists: "This is Glasgow. We'll set aboot ye."
Assembly, George Street, August 17-23 and 25-30, 11.25pm, £12 (£11)
THE RAW KINGS
SOME of Glasgow's coolest underground bands perform at the Fringe for one night only.
Combining retro and futuristic rock n' roll, the line up at The Raw Kings event promises an unforgettable night of musical mayhem.
Sneaky Pete's, 73 Cowgate, August 13, 7pm. £5.
SUSAN CALMAN - THE LAST WOMAN ON EARTH
RETURNING to the festival with her own stand up show for the second year, Susan is fast, observant and very funny. After an audience member once told her that they wouldn't sleep with her if she was the last woman on earth, Susan ponders exactly that. What if she and the audience were the only people left in the world - would they sleep with her then?
Underbelly, Cowgate, August 6-25, 8.10pm, £6 to £10.50.
JAMES KEENAN
THE Cumbernauld actor makes his festival debut in (A Tall Tale from the) Fame Factory. James plays Sharkey, a criminal hired to kidnap a reality television star. The play centres on deceit and just how much power the media has to manipulate the public.
Augustine's, George IV Bridge, August 25-31, 10.40pm, £6.
ANDREW PANTON
THE director behind the outrageous High School Musical spoof advert for Irn-Bru is taking three musicals to the Fringe this year, including the controversial Jerry Springer - The Opera.
The satirical look at American talk shows has sparked debate and religious protests everywhere it has been performed.
l Musical Theatre at George Square, George Square, August 6-31, 6.30pm, tickets £6 to £13.
MINISTRY OF BURLESQUE
THE Glasgow-based burlesque troupe take their raunchy High Tease routine to Edinburgh for the second year. Making his festival debut is Glasgow's only male burlesque performer, Cherry, who will tantalise with his fan dance.
Organiser, Sunday Blue, said: "After the huge popularity of our night in Glasgow's Fruitmarket earlier this month we are taking our male can-can troop to the festival too. They perform a can-can in kilts to the music of Braveheart. You have to see it to believe it."
Voodoo Rooms, August 12-23, 9.30pm, £15.
FRIGHTENED RABBIT
RIDING on the wave of their internationally successful second album, The Midnight Organ Fight, Frightened Rabbit play the festival for the first time at this one-off show.
The West End based band, consisting of brothers Scott and Grant Hutchison with Billy Kennedy and Andy Monaghan, has toured pretty much constantly for over a year now, so a great set is guaranteed. The indie folk rockers are heading back to the United States soon so catch them on home soil while you can.
Queen's Hall, Clerk Street, August 18, 7pm, £11.
GILCHRIST MUIR
The 31-year-old Gorbals-based actor and funnyman is going through a bit of a personality crisis at this year's Fringe, playing seven characters in two shows.
Gilchrist laughs: "This is probably my biggest challenge to date. Throughout the shows I play a busty landlady, an eccentric farmer, a camp socialite and a safety man. It's hard to remember whether I'm coming or going half the time."
Gilchrist stars in Ae Fond Kiss, a comedy romp through the life of Robert Burns and kids' science show Doctor Austin and Doug Safety's Time-tastic Time Tale.
l Ae Fond Kiss, the Scottish Mining Museum, Lady Victoria Colliery, 7.30pm, tickets £10.
Doctor Austin and Doug Safety's Time-tastic Time Tale at the Underbelly, George Square Gardens, 2.50pm, £5 to £7.
GRAEME ROONEY AND KEVIN O'LOUGHLIN
THE RSAMD graduates are the comedy brains behind a hilarious sketch show, The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek.
With celebrity followers such as James McAvoy and Nathan from Snow Patrol declaring them a "must see", Glasgow boys Graeme, 26, and Kevin, 29, are gearing up for sell out shows.
Along with their Geordie friend, Paul Charlton, the boys all write for the Comedy Unit and between them have appeared in Taggart, River City and Rebus.
Kevin says: "A few years ago I was called up by David Schwimmer, of Friends fame, and asked to audition for a part. Obviously I thought it was one of my friends taking the mickey so I told him to P*ss off'.
"Unfortunately it was David Schwimmer, asking me to audition for Run Fat Boy Run. Funnily enough I never got the part after that."
Just the Tonic at The Caves, August 6-30, 4.10pm, tickets £5 to £10.50.
