-All times in BST- Chris Grace: Sardines (A Comedy About Death)

The first time I saw Grace perform was at a show by the popular improv musical troupe Baby Wants Candy, where he was, by far, the standout. I tend to see BWC at least three times each Fringe, and I found myself praying that Grace was part of the cast (they rotate members each night). At Fringe 2023, I was ecstatic to hear about his solo show, Chris Grace as Scarlett Johansson (also happening Aug 8-12 at Fringe 2024). It was in my top five of 2024 and continues to tour worldwide. Grace is back with a new show, Sardines, and few comedians can balance nuance and jokes per minute like he does. He is always a must-see. Jul 31, Aug 1-26

Assembly George Square Studios - Studio Five - 13:40 - 14:40

Pete Heat: Bogus

Fringe is filled to the brim with magicians and comedians, but what happens when the greatest magician I have ever seen is also funnier than the majority of Fringe comics? You get Pete Heat. I first saw Heat in 2022 in the Wee Room at Teviot. Anyone who knows this room can attest that it's way too small and WAY too hot. With about seven other people, I sat in the room to witness Heat and his show, Blimey, which was ridiculously up my alley. Incredible tricks (and in a room that small, it is basically street magic) and top-notch, dry British humor marbled in. And I saw Kevin Quantum, David Alnwick, and plenty of others that year already. In 2023, his show HUGE won my Show of the Year for being the perfect mix of everything that makes Fringe wonderful. My favorite comedian, Mike Birbiglia, performed his Broadway show at Fringe in 2023, and I still juggled in my mind if Heat's show was better. Vastly underrated and needs to be bigger than David Blaine and Criss Angel, it is time for Pete Heat career to truly scorch.

Jul 31 Aug 1-12, 14-25

Pleasance Dome - 10 Dome - 20:30 - 21:30

Jazz Emu: Knight Fever

The pipeline of Fringe to Tiktok star is stronger year over year, and Jazz Emu is an example of a longtime Fringe act finally getting their due. After two Free Fringe shows in '17 + '18 as government name Archie Henderson (or I guess Archibald would be gov't) and debuting his persona in his "debut hour" in 2019, Jazz Emu has been exploding. Last year's You Shouldn't Have and Pleasure Garden were bonified hits, and he is back with a fresh show, Knight Fever, sure to be filled with new and old, retro-yet-fresh comedy bangers. He's like Flight of the Concords (Fringe alumni), time-traveled to the '80s but only had current-day topics to sing about.

Jul 31, Aug 1-11, 13-25

Pleasance Courtyard - Pleasance One - 21:00 - 22:00

MC Hammersmith: The MC Stands for Middle Class

What would a private school (or "public school" in England, still do not understand that whole thing) educated middle-class strapping young lad know about rapping? Growing up on the hard aisles of Waitrose, MC Hammersmith is here to share his strife through improv comedy flow. After hits 1 Man, 8 Mile, and Straight Outta Brompton, Hammersmith is back with The MC Stands for Middle Class. Although the names are different, the shows contain the common theme of hilarious, improvised rap with different ways to show Hammersmith's incredible skills. With ample audience participation and sharp jokes, including plenty of self-deprecating humor (like all rappers do) the shows will always be remembered as a highlight. Aug 1-5, 7-12, 14-19, 21-25

Monkey Barrel Comedy - Monkey Barrel 1 - 13:55 - 14:55

Olga Koch Comes From Money

Olga Koch is another great story of a comedienne committed to producing a new hour each year for the Fringe until they can sell out Monkey Barrel One. With last year's Prawn Cocktail, she did just that and is back with Olga Koch Comes From Money, sure to prove she's ready to add her name to the list of Fringe Comedy Must-Sees. Prawn Cocktail featured a story of her meeting a man at a wedding and suddenly deciding to travel all the way to Japan just to see him again. With her expert use of audio recordings intertwined with her hilarious bits, Koch produced one of the most somber and nuanced endings of any show I saw last year. Koch is truly an act comfortable in their identity and ready to experiment to craft the masterful hour that will break them into worldwide fame. Jul 29-31, Aug 1-25

Monkey Barrel Comedy - Monkey Barrel 3 - 17:40 - 18:40

BLOG EXCLUSIVE BONUS

Ania Magliano: Forgive Me, Father

Magliano is a skyrocketing up-and-comer whose breakout hour at Fringe 2022 brought her into a rare feat, a full sold-out 2023 show before Fringe even began with her hour I Can't Believe You've Done This. A young comic who has truly worked hard to be in the right places, such as writing for Chicken Shop Date, plenty of BBC Panel Shows, and opening for Ed Gamble and Marc Maron, she shows, again and again, that she is ready for the big time and having that Netflix hour before she's 30. God, does that make us all feel old. Note: This show WILL sell out! Jul 31, Aug 1-11, 13-25 Pleasance Courtyard - Above - 18:40 - 19:40