Comedy news: Altitude 2010: Abandoman wows the Meribel crowd

Altitude, the annual comedy festival in the Alps has been in full swing throughout this week as many of the UK's favourite comedians head to the posh ski resort of Meribel for what is one of the most unique comedy festivals in the world.

The brainchild of snowboarding junkies Marcus Brigstocke and Andrew Maxwell, the festival is now in its third year and, though ski resorts are not normally known for their ability to harbour new talent, Altitude is building a reputation as the place to come to one of two of the comedy circuit's hottest new acts months before they hit the Fringe.

Last year Lady Carol was one of the festival's highlights with her unique style of musical cabaret, (Later that year she was ‘discovered’ at the Fringe ) this year it was the turn of Abandoman to take the festival by storm.

Booked at the last minute due to Rich Hall pulling out the improvisational rap duo who consist of Rob Broderick and James Hancox have only been together for a mere nine months, but they are already gaining plaudits from some of the biggest names in the comedy world.

The Abandoman act is made up of a series of improvised rap songs built from audience interaction. Whether it is ‘what’s in your pocket?’ - a song where Broderick wanders the crowd rapping about various unusual things sprung from people's garments - to a love song which picks two random members of the opposite sex and matches them with their dreams, Broderick has an inate ability to conjure up an improvised musical delight as if nothing.

And when you have Marcus Brigstocke as a willing beat-boxer you know the only way is up. The last time SSP saw Brigstocke so readily help out onstage he was being a groupie for Jarvis Cocker at Latitude, this time it was the tiny venue of Jacks Bar which saw the left-wing Argumental presenter take to the stage with his vocal equivalent of a magicians hat.

Speaking to SSP Broderick said: “We we’re walking down the road in Glasgow last week and were asked if we were free to perform in France. Next thing we knew we were here."

The accolades have certainly been coming in. Al Murray was good enough to stop the pair in the street to say how impressive it was 'to throw so many balls in the air and catch them again' while Maxwell and Brigstocke have been singing the pairs praises.

Expect big things from Abandoman in 2010 - and an interview on these pages in the coming week.

Coming up next week on SSP. Photo galleries from Altitude and interviews with Stuart Goldsmith, Dan Antopolski, Andrew Maxwell and Abandoman. Stay tuned.