Ace comedians, ace musicians and, yes, ace Huffington Post bloggers Frisky And Mannish are an Edinburgh Festival must-see - not least because they're taking two (count 'em!) shows up to the Fringe this year. But we'll leave it to them to explain all that. Take it away, guys...
Pitch your Edinburgh show in 25 words or less.
We’ve got two shows - does that mean we get 50 words? [Yes - Ed.] One’s the classic F&M - loud and popmusic-y -that’s Extra-Curricular Activities at Assembly Hall; the other’s a bit dark and weird, that’s 27 Club at Assembly Gardens. Is that 50 words? Jeez, this is harder than the Fringe brochure blurb...
Your best Edinburgh moment?
Probably in our first year when we got a five-star review from Chortle. It was the thing that got us noticed - Steve Bennett is a hugely respected comedy critic, and where he leads, the national papers, broadcasters and international promoters followed. We litch couldn’t believe it.
And your worst?
Also in our first year, when Frisky got swine flu. We were just starting to enjoy the success following the aforementioned write-up, and she was quarantined for the best part of a week. The moment she tried out a song to see if she could go on (before we knew it was swine flu) was particularly dramatic. It was like a scene from La Vie En Rose (just replace Milord with The Wheels On The Bus Go Round).
You've got one hour free in Edinburgh - what do you do?
See something! If you walk through the nearest doorway, it will be a Fringe venue, and there will be a show on. We love going to see plays and sketch comedy in the afternoon - early enough that you still care, but not so early that you’re still drunk.
Which Edinburgh landmark/venue/place would you give a five star review to?
We’re big fans of The Voodoo Rooms. It’s like walking into a Victorian salon, with the whispered decadence of a '20s speakeasy. It takes you out of yourself the moment you walk in (the AMAZE cocktails definitely help with that), and the cabaret shows they have on there during the Fringe are usually top-drawer.
Give us a secret Edinburgh tip!
There is no finer place for recovery/heart attack food than City Restaurant on Nicholson St. And when we were but young and foolish, they used to let us sit in full makeup and costume to eat the breakfast with everything. They didn’t have to do that. It meant a lot.
Deep-fried haggis or deep-fried Mars bar?
Haggis.
Kilt or trousers?
Both. Neither with underwear.
Arthur's Seat or Arthur Smith?
Arthur Smith - we don’t do outdoor activities where there are so many bars to choose from. And Arthur is blates more fun. Do you think he’d let us paint his nails?
Complete this sentence: “In Edinburgh, I will be mainly...
...making new friends! Hopefully the paying kind. These shoes don’t buy themselves.”
Frisky & Mannish’s show 27 Club is at 23.45 at the Assembly George Square, 20-22 August. Their show Extra-Curricular Activities is at 19.30 at the Assembly Hall, 16-26 August. Find out more and book tickets here.