THOUSANDS of music and comedy fans will descend on North Berwick for the 10th anniversary of Fringe by the Sea.

Demand for tickets for the festival, which gets under way on Monday, has been high once more this year, with headline act KT Tunstall already sold out.

There are no tickets left for Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Philip Contini’s Be Happy Band (6pm show) but organisers told the Courier this week that there were “plenty” of tickets remaining for other performances.

John Shaw, one of the organisers, said: “The weather forecast isn’t great, but it can’t dampen the enthusiasm we’re experiencing about Fringe by the Sea 2017!

“We’re already selling out a number of gigs, so we’re hoping for a record year. And why not, with so much good stuff? The Big Comedy Nights will be brilliant, but there’s still some tickets left so you can see your favourites from Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and Dead Ringers!”

Jane Thomson, another of the organisers, said she was “excited” for the festival to start.

A walk of the town with former councillor Dave Berry will be the first event of this year’s festival, while KT Tunstall’s performance is the standout event on the opening day.

Monday will also see Philip Contini’s Be Happy Band perform, while on Tuesday performers include Mr Boom, Spirit of Skiffle and Chris Barber Big Band, as well as the Saltire Ceilidh.

Wednesday sees legendary Tranent sprinter George McNeill tell his story, while the Eric Bibb Band take to the stage.

Among the many other events in the festival’s opening days will be an appearance of Ailsa Fortune, author of women’s golf book Par for the Ladies, on Tuesday, and a hometown performance from North Berwick band Arlen on Wednesday.

A host of top comedians take to the stage on Big Comedy Thursday, while on Friday festival favgourites Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham perform.

The highlights next Saturday (August 12) include a performance from ska band Bombskare, a showing of the movie Tommy's Honour partly filmed in East Lothian, and more great comedians for Big Comedy Saturday.

After well-known comedienne Elaine C Smith takes to the stage, a tribute night featuring Dirty Harry and the Springsteen Sessions will conclude the festival next Sunday (August 13).

The roving box office will be making its way to the town’s harbour on Monday and will then be open from 10am to 10pm. For more information or to book tickets, visit fringebythesea.co.uk