Sixteen acts, four venues, five days. As far as better known Fringe Festivals like those that occur each year in Edinburgh, Melbourne, New York, Edmonton and even Saskatoon, those numbers aren’t exactly awe-inspiring. But the Regina Fringe Festival, which started in 2005, is still very much a work in progress.

Slowly but surely audiences have been growing since the first two ill-fated forays when the festival was presented as part of Buffalo Days. This year, the festival should receive a real boost through the addition of Artesian on 13th as a venue. It joins other traditional venues like the Royal Sask Museum, St. Mary’s Anglican Church and the Unitarian Centre, helping bolster the link with the generally arts-friendly Cathedral Village area.

Among the performers this year is Reginan Sharon Nowlan (pictured above) who, in the guise of her stage personna Prairie Fire, offers an entertaining and informative look at the history of burlesque. For more info on the other performers, and show times during the festival’s July 2-6 run, see www.reginafringe.com

Be on the lookout too for posts tomorrow by myself and fellow prairie dog bloggers Stephen LaRose, Aidan Morgan, Craig Shutko and Laura Chalk as we offer mini-reviews of some of the plays after opening day. It’s a tradition at other Fringe Festivals, and will hopefully pique your interest about what’s going down in the Cathedral area over the next few days.

Finally, musicwise tonight Regina hardcore band Kleins96 is launching their new CD Modern Fortune at O’Hanlon’s Pub with an opening set by Royal Red Brigade Also, Aquilla is playing with severla local metal bands at the Club. ($5 at the door) and the Moose Jaw alt-country group The Rusty Augers are at McNally’s Tavern. ($5 at the door there too.)