Tripod have long been festival favourites. For years they have been a show punters are happy to shell out hard earned money for, knowing full well that they were guaranteed to laugh their way through an hour. Somehow combining a steady, reliable show with ever-changing material which always never feels stale. This year they return to a cabaret style, an hour of songs and banter which only has one theme: funny.

Scod will take to the stage each night to sing up a storm with Yon and Gatesy, but he’s also going to be appearing elsewhere during the festival. ‘It’s going to be a busy year, that’s for sure’ he agrees, ‘It’s just great to have a month full of gigs’. With shows each week as part of the Midnight Trade season at Trades Hall with band Scott Edgar and the Universe, extra gigs outside the festival at The Artery and if that wasn’t enough he’s also joining Cam Bruce and various guests to bring Bob Dylan songs to the masses with Dirt Road Blues. With the Dylan show requiring the performers to learn new music, arrange songs and organize their collaborations, it’s difficult logistically and requires a large amount of preparation for a once off performance. The challenge is something Scod is looking forward to though, given that it is a fun departure from his usual musical stylings. ‘If nothing else I’m going to be a better guitarist by the end of the festival’ laughs Scod.

With their television work on SkitHouse and now with Peter Hellier, radio on Triple J and live shows both here and overseas, the trio have reached massive audiences with work which is shaping up to be as strong musically as it is with comedy. Their singing voices seem to improve every year, as do their musical arrangements and instrument skills. From their awe-inspiring Radiohead finale a few years ago to Gatesy picking up the guitar this year, they are keeping their sound fresh and growing with every challenge they take on.

With strong seasons of Self Saucing already behind them, bringing the show to the festival in the small and cosy HiFi bar is something they are clearly enjoying. ‘We’ve just been having fun with it really’ says Scod ‘we’ve now got Gatesy playing guitar on stage, which has been good and we’re doing mostly newer stuff’. The festival in their home town is obviously one they can take pleasure in and with shows selling out already, audiences are clearly happy to have them back again.