There is something rather fitting in the choice of venue for James Dowdeswell’s comedic exploration of the world of fermented grape juice in “Wine.” The Baby Belly is built into the caves and cellars under Edinburgh’s South Bridge regularly conjour up ghostly sightings through the year, but Dowdeswell happily takes what could be a tough venue and manages to evoke the idea of sitting in a Wine Cellar - not only comforting and siding with the audience, but setting the atmosphere perfectly.

The show is a gently formed trip through Dowdeswell’s discovery of wine in the last two or three years, which happily digresses away from trips with his Father to French vineyards, snap appearances as a top wine journalist at the largest Wine Fair in London, to take in anything and everything that he cares to handle. Both a strong story and a sense of off-the-cuff ‘ooh that happened as well’ randomness kept me entertained and engaged.

And what would a show about wine be without some of the liquid to sample yourself?

Edfringe.com Link: James Dowdeswell - Wine.

A complimentary show to last years critically acclaimed ‘All of Me,’ Amos is a stand up who can dance around with his audience, while gently probing them for their foibles, quirks and hiccups, spin those around with a rapier wit, and disarm any unlikely hostility with charm and modesty. You cannot fail to like this man, melt in his presence, and watch the time fly - and holding my sides with pains of laughter.

And then you step back and realise that Amos is talking about some of the most painful periods of his life; being sperated from his twin sister at school; an awkward adolesence; university flatmates; and waiting on Lenny Henry to move on… Well maybe not that last one

A true master. Rush to his presence at all costs.

Edfringe.com Link: Stephen K Amos, More of Me.