A massive thank you to all our guests and collaborators, we've made it to our 200th episode! To mark such a special occasion Charles and Graham are absolutely delighted to welcome Peter Brewis, co-founder of Sunderland indie legends, Field Music. Peter is here to talk about the new Field Music album, Limits of Language. Keep in touch with Two Big E…

Graham discusses how his Supertramp Q&A session with legendary music producer, Ken Scott went in Harrogate. Ken Scott was shooting from the hip and taking no prisoners. Graham also reflects on the future of guitar bands as he attended an all-day gig at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. The arts world turned up for the funeral of Beatnik poet Heat…

Graham discusses his recent travels in modern Emilia-Romagna, how Romeo and Juliet mania is Verona's Harry Potter and why the absence of Ramones t-shirts worn on the streets is probably an expression of Italy's innate coolness. Charles applauds the 'annus miraculous' for Shed Seven's 30th anniversary tour and album releases amid the release of the …

Graham pays tribute to Harrogate poet and musician, Heath Common who has sadly passed away. Read Graham's obituary. Graham and Charles discuss how English Teacher winning this year's Mercury Prize finally recognises Leeds as a music city. Charles reflects on seeing the incomparable Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve at their 15 Songs in 50 Years gig at…

Charles and Graham talk to Leeds based writer and musician, Boff Whalley about his new musical for Red Ladder Theatre Company. Sanctuary - co-written with playwright, Sarah Woods - is a brand-new musical that welcomes us in and asks the question: do we want safety and freedom for only ourselves, or for us all? Graham reports on meeting Chris Simpso…

Graham and Charles discuss meeting Jim Moir (AKA Vic Reeves) at his new exhibition at RedHouse Originals in Harrogate which leads into a discussion about bird art. Graham has been listening to upcoming Irish garage-punk band, Sprints. Charles reviews Alan Ayckbourn’s new play, Show & Tell at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. It's his 90th …

Charles and Graham continue reflecting on their Edinburgh trip with a discussion about the Edinburgh Art Festival. Graham has finished his biography of Chris Simpson and the band Magna Carta and shares next steps and a few thoughts about what it was like getting to know the songwriter behind one of Britain's least known bands from the 70's - but a …

Graham and Charles reflect on another superb Edinburgh Festival visit. Charles talks about his favourite films at Edinburgh, whereas Graham opts to share some of his “celebrity encounters", including a memorable encounter with Argentinian-Italian director, Gaspar Noé. Graham was at Leeds Festival this weekend and saw Lana Del Ray but preferred Sun …

At the 77th Edinburgh International Film Festival, Charles and Graham take the opportunity to interview documentary filmmaker, author, curator and former EIFF director, Mark Cousins and talk to him, in particular, about his latest book, Dear Orson Welles and Other Essays, a series of ‘conversations’ with the artists, poets, directors, and filmmaker…

Graham discusses the decline of main stream films since the 1970s after having recently watching Woody Allen's Manhattan (1979) and John Landis's Animal House (1978). Coming up at the 77th Edinburgh International Film Festival what are Graham and Charles looking forward to? Charles reflects on Banksy’s latest artwork series, the coverage it has att…

Graham and Charles are looking forward to the 77th Edinburgh International Film Festival. Graham previews a new exhibition at Red House Art Gallery in Harrogate by Dan Baldwin Charles highlights the York Purple Signs campaign, and especially their posters trying to establish behaviour patterns in relation to drink. Go Steady! We’ve got enough histo…

Graham takes pleasure in hearing some unexpected hits from the current Deer Shed Festival in North Yorkshire including Simon Armitage and The Coral. Charles reflects on enjoying the sculpture park at Thirsk Hall, as well as the Himalayan Gardens near Ripon. Newby Hall and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Graham discusses great essay writers: How recen…

Graham spoke to bestselling crime author Mark Billingham at the world's greatest crime writing festival in Harrogate last week, the Theakston's Old Perculier Charles reviews Shed Seven in Museum Gardens, York. Futuresound’s three day festival with a homecoming celebration for the band - though they never left York. Graham discusses rock archaeology…

Graham continues his preview of this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival and why it is a return to its strengths. Graham considers why he genuinely doesn’t like tribute acts. Charles agrees but then adds how much he enjoyed, Sarah Louise Young's I Am Your Tribute, all about tribute acts at Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, Graham celebrates Yoko…

Graham discusses the brilliant new book, Ways of Art by the Sunday Times art critic, Laura Freeman. Ways of Art tells the story of art collecting legend Jim Ede, the creator of Kettle's Yard in Cambridge Charles reports on Bomb Squad's latest exhibition in York, Rise of the Vandals, which took place over three weekends at 2, Low Ouse Gate. The exhi…

Graham and Charles interview Pete Oxley, the guitarist and bandleader behind, Hejira - a group that celebrates the music of Joni Mitchell and is definitely not a tribute band. Their setlist is drawn from Joni Mitchell's live album, Shadows And Light. Comprising highly experienced jazz musicians, Hejira is fronted by the brilliant Hattie Whitehead. …

Charles and Graham preview summer festivals including Deer Shed Festival and Leeds Festival. Graham revels in his exciting diary: meeting the star of Ken Loach's last film The Old Oak and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey in Harrogate in the same week. Charles reports on how the arts are being treated in the election manifestos. Graham previews the next …

Graham reports on seeing Pink Floyd, well Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets in York and Foo Fighters in Manchester in two days. Who won? Charles considers what makes a good new musical stand out, after seeing Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch at Grand Opera House, York? Graham reflects on Viggo Mortensen's new film as director -…

Graham reports on the return of Vinyl Sessions and the, perhaps, surprising, hidden depths of The Eagles, as the band's Hotel California is played in full in front of a packed and appreciative crowd in Harrogate. Charles has a fun and fascinating evening at a PechaKucha event in York and then asks: how do you evoke a whale inside a theatre in Simpl…

Charles taunts Graham with a review on Charles Hutch Press of Yes, live in York. Will Graham ever see Yes live? Graham discusses the book, Demarco’s Edinburgh (Richard Demarco and Roddy Martine, 2023) about the history of Edinburgh International Festival chronicling the struggles and success of legendary Scots maverick arts impresario, Richard Dema…

Charles and Graham welcome special guest, musician, Chantel McGregor. Bradford born, Chantel is a rock musician and female guitar prodigy, who enrolled at the Leeds College of Music and became the first student in the college’s history, to achieve a 100% pass mark at BTEC, with 18 distinctions. Chantel followed this with a First Class Honours degre…

Graham looks back on Return to the River's Edge; the cult 1986 teen film directed by Tim Hunter that foretold Twin Peaks and the Grunge movement. Charles reports on a new documentary about Michael Powell & Emetic Pressburger. Made in England : The Films of Powell and Pressburger - the under appreciated luminaries of British cinema - is directed by …

Graham reports on his meeting with David Remfry, Britain's coolest artist, aged 81. Graham met him at his new exhibition, We Think the World of You - People and Dogs Drawn at The Mercer Gallery, Harrogate's only public gallery, once again proving itself indispensable with a high quality exhibition of national interest. Charles is fresh from seeing …

Graham has a confession to make - he's worrying about Taylor Swift. Is it time to take one of the world's newest billionaires seriously? Charles is drawn to Graham's more positive view of the Sam Taylor-Johnson Amy Winehouse biopic. Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twobigegos…

Graham pays tribute to guitarist Graeme Naysmith, co-founder of the Leeds band, The Pale Saints and remembers when they played one of his own Charm nights in Harrogate. Time moves on - Looking back at two of the western world's greatest political philosophers of the last half century - Noam Chomsky and Jean Baudrillard and whether two of their best…

Graham recounts interviewing Steve Howe of Yes about their forthcoming UK tour and York Barbican gig. Benjamin Francis Leftwich live in Leeds? Yes please! Charles is captivated by a fascinating gig at Leeds' Brudenell Social Club. Graham enters the crazy world of data retrieval as he reveals how he nearly lost his entire draft manuscript for a book…

Charles and Graham get heady with the quality of the new album from the Jesus and Mary Chain and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Glasgow band. Glasgow Eyes is their best album in over twenty years. Monet in York. Monet’s ‘The Water-Lily Pond’ will be the central feature of a major new exhibition at York Art Gallery to mark the 200th anniversa…

Graham reports on his recent stay in John Ruskin's house at Brantwood in the Lake District- but is the Victorian art critic and social reformer really as relevant to the 21st century as his supporters claim? Graham also talks about his recent pilgrimage to a secret rock n roll shrine in a York pub related to the Rolling Stones. Charles talks about …

Graham and Charles take the opportunity to interview music journalist Dave Simpson as a followup to the previous episode looking at the grassroots music venue crisis sweeping the country. it so happens that Dave had just the other week written about this very subject in an in-depth article for The Guardian. Dave Simpson is one of the UK's leading m…

Graham focuses on the extreme difficulties being faced by venues and music artists as yet more venues announce closure. If the decimation of the live music circuit continues what will this mean for the future? Charles is thrilled by Emma Rice's version of Blue Beard for her company Wise Children, this remarkable piece of theatre is currently to be …

Graham calls for an emergency debate on arts funding and reports on working with Harrogate Community Radio at a music event last week at All Saints Church in Kirkby Overblow. The perplexing talent of William Doyle as evidenced on his new album Springs Eternal. Plus when is swearing funny in films? Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @…

Does new film, American Fiction merits a ton of Academy Awards? Graham Chalmers discusses his thoughts. Charles leads discussion around the value of musical biopics as against documentaries in the wake of the release of new film, Bob Marley: One Love. Graham reports on a new light installation coming to Harrogate and then explores the deceptive cha…

Charles reflects on the enduring success of the play, The Woman in Black and why it is the perfect introduction to theatre for audiences more used to television and film. Graham reflects on class and the arts as Lashana Lynch, one of the stars of the new Bob Marley biopic One Love, makes the point that people from a working class background have be…

Graham reports on how the unfairly maligned The Last Dinner Party's just released debut album revives 1970s Queen and ABBA with 21st Century attitudes. Charles and Graham discuss why Jonathan Glazer's remarkable new film about Auschwitz - The Zone of Interest - is only part of a new wave of provocative directors working in the new cinema of satiric…

Graham has been to see emerging Leeds band, English Teacher and reflects on a superb night at The Crescent. Charles by contrast went to see ABC with the South Bank Symphonia at York Barbican performing hits including the glorious Lexicon of Love. Graham also discusses how Bill Ryder Jones's new album Iechyd Da hits new heights - or perhaps depths -…

Graham discusses two jarring moments in an otherwise brilliant new book about Pauline Boty, the most overlooked British Pop Artist of the 1960s. Charles and Graham reflect on the new film by Greek director, Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things, which features an astonishing performance by Emma Stone and is a film dividing audiences over its feminist crede…

Graham wants to correct some wrong perceptions about indie bands Bar Italia and The Last Dinner Party. Former guest (Episode 153) Rick Witter's band Shed Seven gets its first Number One album and Charles challenges the view that they are not as important as other bands of the same era. Graham confesses that in last week's episode he got a few thing…

Graham and Charles take a look at what Sofia Coppolla's new film Priscilla says about Mr & Mrs Elvis and contrast it to Baz Lurmann's own take on the couple in his film, Elvis. Harrogate gets a mention in a brilliant new book on Pauline Boty, the most overlooked figure in the British Pop Art movement of the 1960s. As the charts of the year reveal y…

Graham's Christmas presents are, possibly, the best arts-related presents anyone got this year anywhere on the planet and very well worth talking through. Graham wonders if Michael Mann's new movie Ferrari is finally the first great film made about cars. Charles considers what has been popular on TV this Christmas Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in…

Charles and Graham continue looking back at their cultural highlights from 2023, this time focusing on their films of the year. Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twobigegosDoor Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

Charles fights through the floods to join Graham for a review of the cultural year. The duo discuss the films, plays, books and albums that most impressed them in 2023. Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twobigegosDoor Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

Longer wording: Charles and Graham are moved to discuss just why why Harrogate Theatre’s pantomime is the best in the world. Graham discusses Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman's chemistry and why May December is Todd Haynes's slipperiest film. A sombre conclusion as the great songwriting talent of The Pogues' Shane MacGowan is considered after his…

Charles reports back on his return to Berlin after 34 years and how he felt about the changes since his visit there with Graham in November 1989 immediately after the wall "came down". Charles and Graham reflect on meeting Barnsley bard Ian McMillan in Bradford at the St George's Hall premiere of his very Yorkshire version of Rossini's opera, The B…

Graham unexpectedly introduces a new fashion slot, where he reviews the surprising return of a plethora of fashion styles enjoying a comeback. Charles explores the Yorkshire phrase "Now Then” with a look at Rick Broadbent's new book Now Then: A Biography Of Yorkshire and Richard Hawley's new compilation album Now Then and follows up with questions …

Graham is wondering just what is the role of BBC 6Music in light of the latest official radio listening figures after a scheduling revamp? Plus, why if MOJO magazine is 30 years old does it feel more like 80? Graham contests that The Rolling Stones had an underrated role in inventing punk rock. Charles spots dinosaurs hoving into view. Keep in touc…

Graham recounts his recent encounter with Sir Ranulph Fiennes at the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival. Charles asks Graham to choose a winner from threw new albums that have piqued his interest: The Coral's Sea of Mirrors. Peter Brewis of Field Music's with his new album, Blowdry Colossus and the first new album of original material in eighte…

Graham reveals how close he is to finishing his book on Harrogate band, Magna Carta and one particular highlight, when Chris Simpson and Magna Carta played the Gaza strip and there was a riot. Graham also reports on the news that Edinburgh Filmhouse appears to have been saved...Charles shares his thoughts on three new films, Michael Caine and Ken L…

Charles and Graham speak to Rick Witter of Shed Seven, discussing the story behind the York band's new album, next January's A Matter Of Time, the upcoming autumn tour, early band names for Witter and Paul Banks, and what it takes to be among the great survivors of Britpop. Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twob…

Graham recounts his adventures in Portugal after a trip to Lisbon: taking the temperature of the music scene in Europe's oldest and hottest city as he celebrates his 20th wedding anniversary. Charles reviews Alan Ayckbourn’s latest play in Scarborough, Constant Companions, his 89th, as he foresees human-android relationships of the near future, and…

Charles turns all autumnal, reflecting on music just right for the month of September and confesses he enjoyed a brass band recital at Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington. Graham delves into poet John Cooper Clarke's 2021 autobiography I Wanna Be Yours and wonders what makes a classic memoir? Charles reports on seeing Dexys in theatrical mode at Yor…