Edinburgh’s Pleasance Theatre has, during previous Fringe Festivals, played host to some of the biggest comedic names in the UK; Frank Skinner, Al Murray, and Paul Merton to name but three.

Suffice to say, then, it’s far from easy to impress the management.

So it’s dark hats and sunglasses off to our very own Blues Brothers Banned, Chorleywood’s leading (and only) tribute act to the iconic US pair, for winning a thoroughly deserved invite.

The ten schoolmates (average age just 21) have caused something of a stir in recent months; serving up a riotous blend of high energy tom-foolery and vice tight musicianship at venues across the UK – a thoroughly good warm-up for their third crack at Edinburgh.

“We can’t wait to get up there, says 23-year-old Owen Visser, aka Elwood Blues.

“We’ve gone down well in the two years we’ve been before but to be invited to play the Pleasance is a massive honour for us.

“It’s amazing to think of the people who’ve played that same stage before us.”

What you may find more amazing, however, is how an act so young can have come so far mimicking a double act that (literally) died out in 1982. So what’s the big idea?

“We’re not your average tribute band,” adds Owen, who helped establish the act when still a pupil at St Clement Danes School “Obviously we’re inspired by the original Blues Brothers but we like to do our own thing; adding different styles of music and throwing in some newer songs.”

At first reading a tribute band that does its own thing is hardly conventional. But, then again, little about the original BB line-up (a notoriously anarchic act) made sense in the first place.

Indeed, in the 20-odd years since the death the death of John Belushi, the Brothers proper have seen almost as many line-ups.

It is this anarchic spirit, say the lads (and two girls), that they are really paying tribute to.

“They played covers in order to re-invent classic music of the past. Our aim is the same, but the decade is different.

“We’ve got some new songs up our sleeves for the audience and a show inspired by a Cowbell.

“We’re really just having a laugh up there. We’re not expecting too much from it but you never know.”

For a sneak preview of said Edinburgh show and the cowbell you too can check out the banned at Rickmansworth’s Watersmeet Theatre on Friday, July 25.

For tickets, priced £12.50/£10, call the box-office on 01923 71106 or visit www.watersmeet.org.uk The guys will be at the Pleasance from Tuesday, August 5 to Monday, August 25.

More info www.bluesbrothersbanned.co.uk.