It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year!

Rich Spalding: Gather Your Skeletons

Location:   Pleasance Courtyard – Cellar (Venue 33)

Dates: Jul 31st Aug 1st-18th, 20th -26th

Time: 21:15

Price: £10 Concessions £8

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rich-spalding-gather-your-skeletons

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hello! My name is Rich Spalding. I’m a stand up comedian who lives in London, from Kidderminster, I’ve lived in Doncaster and been to France. If you google ‘Friendly Male’ and click on images my face is one of the first results. No idea why. But it is true. 

Tell us all about your show!

My show is largely about work and death, which sounds dull and depressing, but is actually neither. It’s based on a thought I had decades ago, about what might happen to us after we die, and how remembering that has, in some way, re-shaped the way I see life. It could do the same for you, who knows? Could be quite profound.

Will be quite funny. Crucially it’s in the Pleasance Cellar at 9.15 from the 31st of July to the 26th August. NOT the 19th. Cannot stress that enough. On the 19th I’ll be asleep. 

How did you come up with the name of your show that you’re taking to the fringe?

It’s actually a line from a song. I like choosing titles from song lyrics, partly because you generally have to choose a title long before you’ve written your show. The song in question is ‘Slipped’ by The National. The full line is “It’ll be easy to cover, gather your skeletons far inside, it’ll be summer in Dallas before you realise”. I liked the image of it. It’s evocative. And it gives me an excuse to talk about The National. Which I will do with anyone who asks. 

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

Oh basically everyone. I love it and want to watch as many shows as I can. I won’t be able to see Alexandra Haddow, who is excellent and also my flatmate for the month, because we’re on at similar times. But you should see her. Whoever you are. She’s very funny and absolutely does not need my help to sell her show (which is called Third Party and is on at Monkey Barrel at 10pm).

I’m also excited to see Hubert Mayr, who’s doing his debut show, Mr Uni-worse at 11am at the Brass Monkey. He’s also very funny and will be hungover for many of the shows which is a fun vibe.

Aside from that, Mat Ewins. Don’t even know if he’s going up, but if he is, then I will always see Mat Ewins. 

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe. 

I have never done a full run before, so I’m excited for that. I did 2 weeks of a work in progress show last year, and in 2019 did a split bill with Alexandra Haddow (god, stop going on about Alexandra Haddow, am I right?). But this is my first full month. So, really, I should be asking you for advice. What are your key pieces of advice? Come and shout them at me during my show. 

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

Well, excitingly, due to the economy, I’ll also be doing my day job while I’m at the Fringe. So my daily routine will be wake up (tired), write radio adverts for 8 and a half hours, eat some food, flyer some strangers, do my show, have a pint, stay up too late chatting to all the people I like, go to bed, repeat. On the weekends, hopefully replace writing radio ads with seeing shows I like. 

What is the best way to enjoy yourself at the fringe?

To be honest, it’s probably finding 2-3 people you really like and going to see the strangest show you can find with them. There are so many really unusual shows on, things you’d never see anywhere else, and they’re usually the best ones.

Also, on at least one day, it’s good to find 2-3 people you really like and just absolutely not see a show. Also there’s a shop near the Counting House that sells really good t-shirts. I went last year and couldn’t afford any of them but I’ve been saving up so might treat myself this year. I also sat in a KFC for an hour last year listening to a podcast about Liverpool Football Club, and that was really fun. But that might be more specific to me. 

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe? 

KFC while listening to a podcast about Liverpool Football Club. 

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

The people (yawn). Such a boring answer. Such a deeply, deeply boring and obvious answer. But it is, regrettably, true. The people in Edinburgh are lovely. Both the ones that live there and the ones that move in for a month to see or perform shows. Generally just good people. And they’re bloody everywhere. Cannot move for good people in that place. 

Top tips for travelling around the Fringe and getting to shows on time?

I tend to favour getting lost. That’s my main method in Edinburgh. I walk confidently in what turns out to be the wrong direction, almost every time. It’s not efficient but it gets your step count up. 

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

A light rain coat. A cool hat that makes you feel confident. 8 grand in cash. 

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

In my case it’s to have a more attractive girlfriend who does it for you. Last year more than half of the audience at any of my shows was made up of crestfallen men who thought they were in with a chance. 

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

I’m 34 so I’m not on tiktok for reasons of dignity. I do have twitter (@spaldingrich) although I tweet maybe once every couple of months. Instagram is probably your best bet. I’m on there a fair bit. @Richspalding11 if you would like to follow me. I’d genuinely really appreciate it. I would say I post enough, but not too much. 

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show? 

Life changing…maybe.