Daniel Petrie and Valeria Vulpe, The Caves, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Petrie is a likeable Glaswegian, if a little nervous on this occasion. Some good observational comedy derived from his own life, and generally enjoyable, but no big laughs in there.

Moldovan Vulpe is a class act. Her slow dead pan delivery belies excellent timing, and her punchlines often come out left field. Or she'll leave the audience to fill them in for themselves, which is often funnier. I found myself wishing for a lot longer than her allocated half hour.

I wouldn't normally blame an audience for a flat atmosphere, as it's up to the performer to adapt. But in this case I did feel Vulpe deserved better. You get the best rewards from her humour if you're prepared to put in a bit of effort yourself, which most seemed unable to do. If you love comedians who make you think different, and bring in a dose of the unexpected, then Vulpe is waiting for you.

Richard Herring RHLSTP, The Stand at W Edinburgh, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

 A recording of Richard Herring's regular podcast, with stand up and actor Amy Matthews as guest.  Herring is a perpetually amusng, self deprecating host, relaxed and confident in his craft.  He asked questions about her life and career, and delved into his 'emergency questions' list, such as had she seen a ghost (sort of but not really!).  It's not an uproarius hour, but always entertaining and a pleasant way to pass the time (other than the shock of the bar prices...!).

In Conversation With... John Davidson, Stand 3, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

 In conversation with? The host provided the odd lead in, but mostly this was John in full flow. And none the worse for that, as he’s a good speaker.

For those unaware, Davidson has tourette syndrome. He already had some fame in Scotland through a series of documentaries, dating back to his teenage years, about living with the condition. But achieved international recognition last year when a biographical film (and book) about his life was launched I Swear became a major hit, the lead man got best actor at the BAFTAs, and John (unfortunately) ticking during the ceremony ended up bringing even greater public attention to the difficulties he and others face in society.

So the conversation (cum monologue!) began with the film, his involvement (near constant), the aftermath and what it has meant to him (he gets recognised everywhere). And how the impact has been far greater than he or the film makers had ever anticipated. He talked about his activism, improving life for people (especially children) with tourettes on both a societal and individual level. Meeting Queenie to receive his honour. Meeting a childhood hero, Warwick Davies. Places he’s been, resistance met. There was a short audience Q&A session at the end, mostly reflecting how much he is admired and the breadth of his impact, even beyond he tourettes world. Also allowing him to explain why he didn’t tic at all during his talking, or not until someone mentioned it. Focus on a task prevents it happening.

The hour flew by. Entertaining, enlightening, inspiring.

Big Bite-Size Breakfast Menu One, Pleasance One, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

 VOWEL MOVEMENTS

A couple moving in together and very much in love.  She's from Surrey, he's from Leeds, and there's some north/south banter between them.  Then his sister turns up unexpectedly and brings the unexpected with her.  An amusing look at the power of accents and concepts of social class..

COUCH TO NO WAY

A jogger turns up, still looking fresh.  Shortly followed by her friend, who doesn't.  There's some tension between them and it's not just because of their differing speeds.  When a man joins them, looking like he's totally exhausetd, things get even tenser.  A complex love triangle where someone is going to get hurt.  Jealousy, challenges and laughs.

LOVE (TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY)

A dystopian view of the future dating scene.  Two potential mates have ten minutes to make up their minds, guided by the algorithm.  He wants to analyse, she wants feeling, can they find any common ground in such a short time?  Played for laughs, but there's a chilling edge to this one.

IN TWO MINDS

A cosy night in on the couch, films, maybe a takeaway, but a text message threatens to derail the evening, and maybe more.  What makes this one so funny is that we see 4 actors on stage - the couple and, stood behind them, their inner thoughts.  While the sitting duo say the things they think they should say, the voices behind tell us eactly what they are thinking.  A little slice of domestic disagreement made hilarious by this clever device.  One of the funniest Bite-Size offerings I've seen.

THE MALTESE WAITER

A man asking a psychiatrist for help.  His problem?  He's a superhero... of sorts.  His superpower is be able to turn any situation into a piece of film noir, and it's ruining his realtionship.  Can she help him resolve his issue and make the right choice?  Lighting changes help enhance the switches in mood, the American accents set the scene, and deliver a weird and funny story with a twist.  Great fun to end on.

Another enjoyable quintet of playlets, with In Two Minds standing out as one of the best I've seen over the years I've been going to watch this group.

Big Bite-Size Breakfast Menu Three, Pleasance One, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Here we are again.  Another Festival Fringe, and another three shows from the Bite-Size breakfast team to enjoy.  The usual format, of strawberries in the queue, coffee and croissants indie, and five mini-plays ro entertain.  Five actors, three of them familair faces from past shows.  This was a preview show, but, apart from one brief stumble over a line, you wouldn't be able to teel that they weren't already half way through the run.  I remain a fan.  Today's quintet were...

RUNAWAY DRESS

A woman in a wedding dress, seeing how she looks.  A panic when she hears a knock at the door.  All is not what it should be, as two old friends end up sitting down and making a decision.  Some good laughs, certainly an enjoyable watch, but perhaps a tad predictable. 

THE COMMUNITY GROUP

Four members of a neighbourhood chat group relate their posts and interactions.  One is selling a wardrobe, one looking to connect with an old flame, another is seeking attention, and the last is happy to give his views on what's wrong woth the world.  While there's a bit of stereotyping going on I find that forgiveable in a ten minute play where character needs to be dlearly defined very quickly.  And the characters are very recognisable to anyone who has experienced these groups.  Very funny, very familiar, and a sharp comment on the low quality of socail media intercourse.

A PERFECT TWO.

Such a happy couple, they seem to have been made for one another.  But when she suggests they each give the other a mark out of ten it's a clear invitation for things to go wrong, and it will take a lot of numerical working out to try and get back to where they were.  Beautifully played two hander that shows up the dangers of ego within a relationship.

CAFFEINE

A couple sit to have coffee after their meal, looking uncomfortable.  Why are they there?  To meet up with frinds who are late, or is there something else going on here?  As they explore the possibilities there is something happening between them, but will it become more than just chat?  An enjoyably awkward mini-tragedy.  

ON MUTE

It's Greg's big moment, a conference call that could lead to a promotion. But things quickly start to go wrong in a most unexpected manner, and he finds his chances of success dependent on more than just his own talents.  A good one to end the set on, pure farce with a lot of laughs as the unexpected unfolds.

Bite-Size is as worthy of your attention as ever.

Blues Afternoon (Al Brown and the Bluelighters, Zac Shultz Gang with Jesse Garwood, Martin Harely Trio), Spiegletent, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

 AL BROWN AND THE BLUELIGHTERS

What these afternoon sessions need is a solid blues band to open, professional, but also a bit rowdy and fun.  Brown and co deliver what's needed.  Drums, upright bass, 2 guitars.  Brown very much the front man and lead vocalist, and a few reasonable jokes.  Proper R&B style blues, everyone gets solos, the crowd get their feet tapping, and it's fun for all.  The highlight was a version of Dylan's Gotta Serve Somebody, with a great bass line and the est guitar work of the set.

JESSE GARWOOD WITH THE ZAC SHULTZ GANG

Garwood was a late addition to the line up after band leader Scultz had an accdient and had to stand aside.  Cue a festival debut for the 19 year old guitar wunderkind, who has built up a substantial following on social media.  Accomopanied by the Schultz Gang bassist and drummer, he filled the gap admirably, with talent, skill, energy and volume.  Loud and fast, but able to deliver in the slower passages, and support his bandmates (one of the bass solos was excellent), plus expressive vocals, Garwood soundeded as if he had been playing with the others for years.  He was clearly enjoying himself too, as were the others playing with him.  This enthusiasm communicated itslef to the adience who were on their feet at the end.  An exciting set.

MARTIN HARLEY TRIO

Th slide maestro, ably supported by bass and drums, brought a bit of calm to the proceedings, a more mellow approach than the previous acts.  Not a problem for Harley, who looks so comfortable and relaxed in all he does on stage.  The best vocalist of the afternoon, the best reconteur, and a front runner in the guitar playing stakes.  A master in the use of slide.  A good mix of tempos and subject matter, lyrics that could move you or make you smile, and a feeling that we were in the hands of a man who knew exactly what he was doing.  Loudest isn't always the best.

Jerron Paxton, Queens Hall, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

The Blues (and, later, jazz, R&B and R&R) emerged from the folk singing of the slaves in the southern stat4s of the US.  From those roots it has itself evolved many interpretations of the style, and much of what passes for blues now isn't really technically of the ilk.  That applies to a lot of acts in this festival.  But Paxton may be the nearest we get to the real thing.

His idiosyncratic playing style and richly expressive vocals have the authenticity of a man steeped in the genre.  A multi instrumentalist who is able to swap around seamlessly (on the night he played guitar, banjo(s), harmonica, fiddle and piano).  A big smile and deep well of funny anecdotes make for an engaging presence.  Even the act of tuning up becomes a piece of entertainment.  But there's a man with his won view of the world behind the words, a thinker as well as a joker.  A proper troubador and always worth seeing.