Two Big Egos in a Small Car

Send us Fan Mail Graham declares that Nick Cave is no god - as he assesses the opening night of the British leg of his 'Wild God' tour at Leeds Arena last night. Charles reviews The Pretenders at York Barbican: why Chrissie Hynde remains the coolest woman in rock. Alex Cox's Sid and Nancy - The 70s never stopped: Graham is reappraising Alex Cox's 1986 film Sid and Nancy nearly...

Send us Fan Mail Graham tells us what he learned by talking to Sean O'Hagan from the High Llamas when he saw the band at Hebden Bridge last weekend. Graham has also been watching Fellini's Roma (1972) in Italian! And visiting the new William Morris arts and crafts exhibition in York, which of course Charles has seen too. The duo comment on the recent announcement that Watermark Gallery i...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Egos in a Small Car: X @2bi...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Heath Common in Harrogate and Gra...

Send us Fan Mail 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 latest...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Leeds City Varieties....

Send us Fan Mail 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 Simpson (from the band Magna Carta) a...

Send us Fan Mail 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 play,  Keep in touch wi...

Send us Fan Mail 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 band that deserves to b...

Send us Fan Mail 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 King (from York) and almost...

Send us Fan Mail 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 filmmakers who have most influenced and i...

Send us Fan Mail 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 attracted across the medi...

Send us Fan Mail 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 history . Respect your bar staff . Gra...

Send us Fan Mail 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 recent collections by the late Joan...

Send us Fan Mail 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 with reference to th...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Ono's art when v...

Send us Fan Mail 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 exhibition occupied three...

Send us Fan Mail 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 . Graham gets excited about...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Vinyl Sessions with R.E.M’s...

Send us Fan Mail 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 - a Western, - The Dead...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Simple8's new adaptation of...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Demarco. Graham announces that he li...

Send us Fan Mail 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 degree in Popular Music and a coveted...

Send us Fan Mail 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 David Hinton and narra...

Send us Fan Mail 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 the Monet exhibition at...