Ukulele players from all over the world are descending upon the Edinburgh Fringe on Saturday to battle it out in The Uke of Edinburgh Awards.

The variety show, which is now in its fifth year, aims to find the best and funniest ukulele players. This year promises to be to be the biggest show yet, with the awards moving to the 650 capacity New Empire Bingo hall on Nicolson Street.

The winner of the prestigious event will get the opportunity to strum a ukulele mounted on the head of hostess Tricity Vogue, who says: "It's surprising what you can do with a ukulele. Every year I'm gobsmacked that people can do such jaw-dropping things with a small four-stringed instrument."

Tricity, talking about the show's growth, comments: "It's so exciting to be at the New Empire Bingo Hall. For the past four years we've been playing nightly to packed houses of 100 or more, so it's high time we moved to a bigger home, and the venue on Nicolson Street is perfect. It's gorgeous."

New York cabaret star Amy G; British banjo icon Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, whose solo show is packing the Voodoo Rooms; and star of Festival of the Spoken Nerd, Helen Arney, are three of the acts set to compete in the contest.

The show will start with a mass ukulele strum-along to You Are My Sunshine, followed by three heats and a grand final. There will also be a raffle for the first time, which will include a signed ukulele as the top prize.

Tricity comments: "If you've got a ukulele I would love you to bring it along and join in, whatever your level, and if you haven't got one, we'll have spares to give out, courtesy of Rae Macintosh Musicroom."

The Uke Of Edinburgh Awards 2014 can be seen at 4pm and 10:30pm at the 'Laughing Horse @ New Empire Bingo' venue on the 16th August. Listing

Entry to the shows is free, but people are being encouraged to book a seat via edfringe.com