Fringe Benefits

August means many things to many people. But for those among us who like a wee chuckle from time to time, it means it's time for the Edinburgh Fringe. Our intrepid Comedy Editor is there, providing news, reviews, interviews and all the latest day-to-day gossip, including a hot-off-the-press interview with Richard Herring.

Back here in London, and (apart from for Sean Hughes who says he's quitting stand-up. Again.) there's no letting up: Russell Brand crashed a £150,000 Lamborghini; Guns 'n' Roses have announced 2010 UK tour dates; Notting Hill Carnival's a comin'; Anish Kapoor has slammed cuts to arts funding; and Morrissey (bless his Fairtrade cotton socks) has denounced the British army's wearing of Busbies.

Mainly though, we're stoked about Radfest, which basically sounds like the best thing ever.

Thursday 5th

Top Irish stand-up Neil Delamere performs a limited five night run at the Soho this month.

Best known to UK audiences for his appearance on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, Delamere is also one of the few performers to consistently receive five star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Friday 6th

Awesome, it's the fifth birthday of the ever innovative Residence Gallery. Happy gosh darned birthday, The Residence! But not content with the usual cake and jelly and fizzy pop (or whatever it is one does to celebrate one's birthday these days) gallery director Ingrid Z is hosting a rather intriguing sounding exhibition themed around wood, as mate...

Broken Glass Theatre Company present a collaborative project that incorporates elements of theatre, illustration, literature and photography into one wicked sounding show at Nolias Bankside this August.

The online collaborative process between the artists involved has resulted in a series of quirkily captivating images.

Fresh from playing Field Day and the Underage Festival last weekend, New Zealand's favourite art-pop weirdo Conan Mockasin drops by CAMP tonight to headline a night of amazing up and coming shoegaze bands.

Support comes from local three piece, Blue on Blue, who mange to sound like the Cocteau Twins jamming with My Bloody Valentine on valium.

Saturday 7th

Scene Not Herd presents what looks like the finest noise event this year - a ten-hour spectacular featuring the best new bands the UK has to offer. Headlined by the awesome Drum Eyes, and featuring sets from Screaming Tea Party, Teeth of the Sea and Gum Takes Tooth all in the weird ramshackle delight that is The Others up on Lordship Lane, if

Mullets, aviators and white linen suits are three things The Old Queen's head are massively into. For risk of ridicule they can’t always show their appreciation for such items, but every year they create an occasion at their summer party to don their glad rags down some (lots of) beach cocktails. Entry is free, fancy dress is recommended and

Sunday 8th

An institution that's now entering its third year of existence, Sexbeat's Radfest is a magical day that's half old-fashioned punk all-dayer and half laid-back SXSW keg party. An all day chug-fest filled with rad bands, cool guys in Suicidal Tendencies caps, and enough beer to keep most of Romford happy, this year they've gone bigger and badder

Monday 9th

Perrier winner Nick Revell returns with his brand-new show. This year, Revell will be ripping into everything that annoys you about the modern world....

Oh, and probably some poetically elegant filth just for variation.

Tuesday 10th

Idealistic young Miles meets gruff Morgan and hard working Angus when he tries to find material for a new play. But when the isolated Canadian farmers let the city boy into their home, Miles' search for a story unearths a devastating truth that threatens to destroy the tranquil lives of his hosts forever.

The Drawer Boy is a multi-award-winning, bitter sweet tale of the power of storytelling, friendship, and the thin line between truth and fiction.

Wednesday 11th

Faris Badwan - he of bizarrely barneted, band-legged music-making types, The Horrors - is having a wee exhibition at The Book Club this August.

But before you scoff at yet another 'celebrity' turning their hand to art (yes, we're looking at you, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Vaughan, Pete Doherty...) Badwan is actually an artist.

He went to St Martin's, deisgns all the Horrors artwork (and probably their haircuts) and this exhibition of his sketches demonstrates his rather obsessive commitment to drawing.

Thursday 12th

An exhibition of work by three quite brilliant - and very different - contemporary photographers keeps the Cork Street branch of Flowers occupied during the art world's traditional summer break.

We particularly like Edward Burtynsky's exquisitely detailed and exactly rendered images of humanity's interaction with nature and Robert Polidori's fascinating and beautifully shot documentation of the restoration of Versailles.

Friday 13th

Well, this sounds totally brilliant. Record label and promoter Upset the Rhythm has joined forces with Peckham art space Auto Italia to present a weekend of live music and arty goings on.

Tonight the fest kicks off with sets from much-loved popcore merchants Male Bonding and awesome tough-guy garage rockers from Lovvers.

Whip-smart, razor-sharp and not afraid to darn well speak his mind, Perrier winner Scott Capurro is not a comic for the faint-hearted.

As part of this year's Camden Fringe, Capurro presents his brand-new show Scott Capurro Opens Up, unleashing his caustic humour on tales of meeting Nelson Mandela and other highlights of his illustrious and at times controversial comedy career so far.

A highlight of this year's festival, if you've not seen this man in action before he's not to be missed. Whether it's politics, race issues or sex he's deconstructing with rapid-fire wit, Capurro's material is always as funny as it is shocking.

Saturday 14th

In its 15 years in the game Ralph Lawson's label 2020 vision has gone from strength to strength, and tonight they pull it out of the bag again.

The 12 hour party includes a rare live set from 2020 Soundsystem and a host of quality live and DJ acts throughout the day and night.

With only 800 tickets and the early birds gone already you better get in there quick!

Sunday 15th

This urban American re-imagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize.

In the Blood follows Hester La Negrita, mother to five children from five different fathers, as she makes a home beneath a bridge on the streets of New York.

Driven by her need to provide a better future for her family, she bargains her hopes on the only people left in her world, and comes up short.