We at British Comedy Guide think musical comedy performers are pretty genius, as not only have they had to perfect the art of delivering funny jokes like all the other pros at the Fringe... on top of that, they have to deliver the music too.

Audiences can experience a taster of the finest musical comedy acts performing at the Edinburgh Fringe with one ticket this weekend as the Musical Comedy Awards 2010 Showcase lands at the Udderbelly. The two evenings will be hosted by founder of Avin a Larf, Ed Chappel and up and coming musical comedian and semi-finalist at this year's competition, Tom McDonnell. There's a different line-up for the Saturday and Sunday night, but both shows feature top-draw names, with names like Loretta Maine, Ginger & Black and James Sherwood turning up to perform.

Now in its second year, the Musical Comedy Awards is a unique competition that aims to celebrate and support the emerging musical comedy community. Earlier in the year, the UK's top forty emerging musical comedians were selected by Time Out Comedy editor Tim Arthur and judges from www.musicalcomedy.co.uk to compete in a series of eight completely sold out heats in London - and it is some of the best acts from the competition who will now be appearing in the showcases this weekend in Edinburgh.

Ed Chappel explains more: "If there was any doubt that musical comedy deserved its own dedicated platform, the last two years at the Fringe have been something of a wake up call for the comedy industry. In both 2009 and 2010, it has been musical comedy acts that have stolen the show: 2009 saw neo-cabaret duo Frisky and Mannish crowned the undisputed hits of the Edinburgh Fringe after receiving eight 5* reviews, while this year has seen the explosion of Abandoman, an improvised hip-hip comedy phenomenon that have won not only the 2010 Musical Comedy Awards crown, but also the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year."

Ed adds: "The breakthrough of an emerging musical comedy scene is not really a surprise when you consider the genre's recent resurgence in commercial and critical success through superstar acts such as Tim Minchin, Bill Bailey and Flight of the Concords. The Musical Comedy Awards provides an important platform for developing the genreʼs stars of tomorrow, celebrating the diversity of talent and itʼs place as a standalone genre in the comedy industry. These showcases will present the very best of this yearʼs emerging and established talent."