The Buzz
  Simon Evans talks playing the Fringe, ma ng a living and getting a  mily dog
Awell-known face on the comedy circuit, with appearances on Mock The Week and Live at the Apollo, Simon Evans (pictured right) freely admits that one of the best joke he's heard was from his daughter, who was a tender seven-years-old at the time.
" S h e wrote : ' H ow d o l i z a r d s f i n d t h e i r w a y a r o u n d ? - T h e y u s e gecko location'. They haven't been coming since. I thought I could put my feet up, but unfortunately it was a one off," he laughs.
Luton-born Simon is making his way to the Bedford Corn Exchange on September 5th to perform his latest stand-up, Leashed. The father-of-two said: "Recently we got a dog, and in the show I reflect on the difference between that and when I had a dog in my youth.
"And I've been to Bedford once or twice, but I have friends in the little villages in the county. I'm looking forward to it, as I look forward to all my shows."
Speaking on a sunny day from his family home in Brighton, the father-of-two is about to take his 10-year-old daughter bouldering (rock-climbing). Surprisingly, after having been working as a comedian since the 1 990s, Simon says it was almost by accident.
"I didn't mean to do it for a career, I thought of it as an evening spot that was fun. It was adrenalising and you haveto steel your nerves. You get a buzz and it became fun and I was started to be offered money.
"I didn't have anything else on at the time and I just went along with it. It's good fun and luckily makes me a living. The children get to eat, which is good."
With thousands of other comedians making their way to Scotland this month for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Simon is staying firmly in the south with a 1 0-show residency at the Soho Theatre in London.
He added: "It's right in the heart of the main lights and exciting bars and cafe culture. I've been to Edinburgh for the past two years and am taking a year out this time. It's harder on a young family when you disappear for a whole month. I love it, but it does seem a bit long."
Having written and appeared on TV in the past, I ask if he has a preference? Stand-up or TV?
"TV is wonderful because people tend to be nice and teach will get your coffee when I want it but I can't object to it. It can get tedious an awful lot of the time because of the time you spend in the wings just waiting for a nod.
"There's something much more immediate/animated about pe orming live. You do TV because it's a sign you're on the up."
Tickets: £15 from Bedford Corn Exchange on (01234) 71 81 1 2 or go to bedfordcornexchange.co.uk.
36 Phonebox Magazine
It's not a  in Edinburgh
As this is being written, thousands of comedians are making the annual pilgrimage across the Scottish border as they get ready for the largest arts festival in the world - the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. However, a few are gracing stages outside the juggernaut event, with Jason Manford's Comedy Club at The Crauford Arms on the 28th, featuring MC Micky D, Zoe Lyons, Ste Porter and Duncan Oakley.
Take a trip back in time at Campbell Park on the 1 6th, as part of the Drive In Cinema, and watch Steven Spiel­ berg's Jaws from the comfort of your own car. The fol­ lowing day The Park Trust holds its annual Open Air Film Festival, with showings including Toy Story 2, Hook and Top Gun (pictured right).
Award-winning artists
Whether it's a polished cover act or an award­ winning classical-crossover band, there's a wealth of live music across the three counties this month. Scottish indie-rock group ldlewild head to The Stables on the 21 st while Hats Off to Led Zeppelin pay tribute to the global rock stars, featuring performers from We Will Rock You and Thriller Live, on the 23rd.
Making his debut at the venue, Steve Earle (pictured top right) is performing rare solo concerts on August 24th and 25th. Brit award-winning harmony trio Blake return on August 28th and 29th, and The Diamond Decades on the 30th celebrates Neil Diamond's music.