Send us a text

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 anyone else to her. He explains why.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 inspired him, from Orson Welles to Tilda Swinton.

Mark Cousins is a documentary filmmaker, author and curator. His films have dealt with subjects such as neo-Nazism, childhood imagination and the cinema of Iran. His feature The First Movie won the Prix Italia. His most recent film, The Story of Film: An Odyssey took six years to make. As an author, he has published several books, including Imagining Reality, The Faber Book of Documentary (as co-editor), the acclaimed book The Story of Film, published in Europe, the United States and Asia, the collection of essays on cinema: Watching Real People Elsewhere. Mark also famously took the Edinburgh International Film Festival to Sarajevo during that city's siege. He was co-artistic director of Cinema China, and of the Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams, part of his ongoing collaboration with Tilda Swinton. They recently devised a cinema in Beijing and did A Pilgrimage, in which they pulled a cinema across Scotland. He is honorary doctor of letters at the University of Edinburgh. In the past, Cousins directed and presented the BBC's Scene by Scene, which ran for five years, screening career interviews with, among others, Martin Scorsese, Jane Russell, Paul Schrader, Bernardo Bertolucci, David Lynch, Roman Polanski, Jeanne Moreau and Rod Steiger. 

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 Don't Hurt.

Graham also catches up with some old punks who never die. He watched Leeds mini legends, Cowton who were back from the dead at Brudenell Social Club.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 Herman Melville's Moby Dick at York Theatre Royal?

Graham is enthused by a clutch of mazing new albums by bands that Charm Magazine raved about years ago and who never made it big but just kept on going to the present day. Graham looks at one fine example this week with York band, Percy.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 likes Billie Eilish’s latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft!

Charles went to see the sublime Dexys at Scarborough and discusses the joy in experiencing Kevin Rowland live, with a focus again on last year's Feminine Divine album and even a cover of the Bee Gees’ To Love Someone. Much more like A Soul Passion Revue of old, he thinks.

Graham previews the return of his Vinyl  Sessions classic albums event in Harrogate this week with The Eagles' Hotel California. 

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 prize, the college’s musician of the year award. Her critically acclaimed 2011 debut album, Like No Other was followed by second album, Lose Control, in 2015 on her independent boutique label Tis Rock Music. Subsequently she has released the Shed Sessions albums, volume 1 and 2. After many years of touring and festival appearances, Chantel has made a gradual transition from conventional Blues to a harder, bigger and bolder rock sound with progressive influences. She is currently on a national tour which includes a date at Ripley Town Hall on 20 July.

Graham reflects on the strange nature of 1970s albums with elaborate 'fold out' sleeves, as typified by Isaac Hayes' 1971 double album Black Moses.

Charles raises the issue of Rich Sunak’s latest policy ahead of the General Election on 4 July - the decision to introduce a new National Service scheme and wonders if the arts can benefit from those who want to volunteer in the community rather than the military.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 narrated by American director Martin Scorsese.

Charles reviews Paloma Faith’s recent gig at York Barbican in an attempt to to convince Graham he should have been there.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 York Art Gallery, a new exhibition and as part of the National Gallery bicentenary. York Art Gallery’s Monet in York celebrates the National Gallery’s National Treasures Exhibition with an exclusive commission entitled Una Sinfonia by acclaimed contemporary artist, Michaela Yearwood-Dan.

As if two high quality exhibitions was not enough, Charles reviews sculptor, Tony Cragg's exhibition at Castle Howard.

Graham remembers the American musician and producer Keith LeBlanc, drummer and member of Tackhead who has passed away.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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

Send us a text

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 bestselling books stand up now.

Is Civil War the best film yet from  Alex Garland or is it too political?

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 on Magna Carta's Chris Simpson. Graham has been writing it for four years now so to lose it would be brutal. Just back from a trip to Scotland Graham is pleased to share that he has been able to advance the book and  is close to finishing his first draft.

The Spiegel Tent is back in Harrogate for the Festival. All praise the Spiegel Tent, there really is nothing else quite like it.

Meanwhile Graham previews a new exhibition The Beatles’ Mad Day Out at Harrogate's RedHouse Originals art gallery - which should be opening soon.

Finally, Graham sums up his enjoyment of a gig by the enchanting William Doyle.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 anniversary of the National Gallery on 10 May 2024. Painted by one of the founders of the Impressionist movement Claude Monet (1840-1926), ‘The Water-Lily Pond’ (1899) will be the centrepiece of an exhibition which will bring together key loans from regional and national institutions alongside collection works, and a large-scale commission by contemporary artist Michaela Yearwood-Dan. 

Charles gets his laughs in An Evening With The Fast Show at Grand Opera House, York, 30 years on. Do sketches make for a sketchy live show? 

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 media and what the street art might mean.

Finally, Graham also discloses his idea for a play, though not entirely serious about writing it.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 the real enjoyment to be found in Alexander Payne's Oscar winning film, The Holdovers.

For Graham, there is personal sadness at the death of 1970s musician Steve Harley whose enduring hit song Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile) still manages to overshadow a back catalogue of considerably underrated songs.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 music journalists and writes on music, popular culture and regional issues for the Guardian, from a north of England base, and regularly appears on local and national radio programmes. He has previously written for the music press, having contributed to such titles as Melody Maker, Uncut and i_D. He is the author of The Fallen: Life In and Outside of Britain’s Most Insane Group (Canongate), which was included in the best music book of the year round-ups and voted in the Top 10 best music books ever by Neon Filler website.

His second book, The Last Champions: Leeds United and the Year Football Changed Forever was published by Bantam Press in 2012. 

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 seen on tour which Charles caught at York's Theatre Royal.

Graham introduces the just released second album by Leeds band, Yard Act and then discussed the perplexing talent of William Doyle as evidenced on his new album Springs Eternal.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 charm of Irish singer Roisin Murphy and her links to Marlene Dietrich and Jean Luc Godard.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 been marginalised in her profession. 

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 satirical super realism. Charles asks Graham for a definition.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 - of beautiful melancholia.

Charles and Graham discuss why Rory Stewart's Politics on the Edge is one of the best ever political memoirs - and best selling ones. Graham wonder if Stewart’s damning view of Westminster politics (under his own party's rule since 2010) is wholly justified?

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 credentials.

Charles draws attention to the recent decision by York Art Gallery to re-introduce a charge to enter its permanent collections gallery. Yet another sign of the problems currently being faced by cultural institutions around the country, struggling to balance their budgets post-Covid in the face of rising costs.

Charles and Graham reflect on the new film by Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 things wrong about Sofia Coppola's new film Priscilla. 

Graham stares back into the abyss of the past to reclaim the miracle of Mr Mick, Stackridge's 1976 cult album and rediscovers how it invented the future.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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. Gratitude not Attitude.

Graham is super excited to preview some of his upcoming talking events (including a new Vinyl Session) coming up in the autumn.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 yet another bland list of pop artists, Graham proposes that BBC 6 launches its own chart.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 flame was snuffed out at 65.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 for Graham on The Beatles' remarkable new single Now And Then.

Finally, Graham recounts what happened when he spent a night in Sunderland at the heart of the city's indie scene, watching Field Music's Peter Brewis in concert.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 eighteen years by The Rolling Stones with Hackney Diamonds.

Finally, Charles wonders if Martin Scorsese has finally exhausted the subject of American violence in his new film Killers of the Flower Moon.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 Loach's last films, The Great Escaper and The Old Oak and the Everyman York  screening and Q&A for The Streets' Mike Skinner's debut film, The Darker The Shadow The Brighter The Light.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 Didion and the late Christopher Hitchins compare to the late 'Gonzo journalism' writer Hunter S Thompson.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 John Godber’s touring premiere of Do I Love You?, a hymn to Northern Soul and celebration of working-class culture refracted through the experiences of three young drive-thru workers discovering the devotional music's power to uplift.

After interviewing Graham Parker of The Rumour, ahead of his Old Woollen gig in Farsley, and Five Star lead singer Denise Pearson, who now lives in Harrogate, Graham contrasts music stars of the 1970s and '80s.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 York Barbican as they tour their new album, The Feminine Divine, and both hosts ponder Kevin Rowland's history as one of the UK's great pop mavericks.

Graham explains why he was called upon to speak about David Lean's The Bridge On The River Kwai at the Harrogate Odeon for the Harrogate War Memorial project.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

For their 150th episode, Charles and Graham enjoy a rare night out together at the Old Woollen, Farsley, as bassist Martin McAloon switches to guitar and vocals to execute his own versions of Prefab Sprout hits, album gems and B-sides. Did this gig, played by only a single member of the sublime north eastern band, make Two Big Egos 'Swoon' or not?

Surviving the middle day of this year's Leeds Festival, Graham reflects on his meeting with James Smith of Leeds band Yard Act.

What makes a classic album cover? Charles and Graham put their spin on the latest public poll on the best sleeve designs of all time.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Graham discusses Christopher Nolan's epic movie Oppenheimer and how it sheds light on American politics as much as  the race for the atom bomb - and hopefully leads a revival of film-making rooted in this world's realities, not comic book fantasy.

Still with Graham, former snooker world champion Steve Davis stole the Deer Shed Festival at Topcliffe - until The Comet Is Coming hit the stage, that is.

Charles headed to Wentworth Woodhouse, near Rotherham, for its debut exhibition: The Vanity of Small Differences tapestries by Grayson Perry. 

And finally, why Graham was wrong about Blur's new album, The Ballad Of Darren.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Charles and Graham give their verdict on this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival and discuss some of the other events they attended too. Undoubtedly, the star attraction was the tram system!

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Ahead of their annual visit to Edinburgh, Charles and Graham wonder if the revived Edinburgh International Film Festival can revive the magic in its 76th year.

How big is the real audience for this year's crop of new albums and this year's Mercury Prize nominees? 

Graham gives his thoughts on what two of the most successful British novels of the last 30 years (Ian McEwan's Amsterdam and Martin Amis's Time's Arrow) say about British writers.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Graham and Charles begin by looking at two of this summer’s blockbusters: Mission Impossible -Dead Reckoning Part One - the seventh film in the franchise - and then Barbie, which has now become part of a double-header moment in the revival of mass cinema attendance, alongside Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, with some audiences choosing to see both. The arrival of Blur’s second comeback album, Is the Ballad of Darren a welcome return to form? Graham reports on his experience at Harrogate’s Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival - the twentieth anniversary edition and wonders what makes crime writers so different from other types of writer.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Charles and Graham discuss Glastonbury and its headliners, including the allegedly last UK appearance of Sir Elton John. Charles reports on the decision by Curzon Group to close its cinema at Ripon and the duo discuss the health of independent cinema.  Graham gives his verdict on Wes Anderson's latest, Asteroid City and the launches into the local comedy scene in Harrogate and how it reflects current trends. Charles urges listeners to listen to the latest track by Dexys.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Having seen Alison Goldrapp at Manchester International Festival over the weekend at new venue Factory International. Graham gives his verdict on the £200m that it cost to prepare for his arrival as well the gig for solo Alison.

Charles and Graham discuss how new albums are making a comeback this year or was it all the fault of HMV's stocking policy in the first place?

Graham asks if Tom Cruise has saved Hollywood for the second year running or is it a mission impossible?

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

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 the sound equipment used by Pink Floyd for their famous gig at Pompeii which was on display at the recent North West Audio Show in leafy Cheshire.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Edinburgh International FIlm Festival is saved! This year's programme has been published with a new generation of film fans at the helm, Graham looks at what this means for its future existence and then reports on his meeting with Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Charles has dried off and lived to tell the tell of seeing the revitalised Pulp live at Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Graham is looking forward to his first visit to Factory International - or is that the name? The new multi-purpose venue in Mancheaster, as aprt of Manchester International Festival. Finally, Graham reports on the work of a talented young female Scottish artist who curated last year's Alan Davie exhibition in Edinburgh,  Siobhan McLaughlin.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Graham reports on a Beatles event with Beatles historian, Mark Lewisohn and then presents part two of the book,  A History of India in 50 Lives.  Charles discusses the Ultimate Punk Celebration - an event at Crystal Palace this July. Graham recounts his meeting with artist Martin Creed.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Graham introduces a new book, Incarnations - A History of India in 50 Lives by Sunil Khilnani and what it says about India and Britain. Graham’s stint as an MC and DJ at BedFest  - the all day music event in the baking sun of Knaresborough. Charles looks back at a solo gig he saw this week by US musician Steve Earle.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos

Send us a text

Charles and Graham interview Kate Bramley, artistic director of York-based rural touring theatre company, Badapple Theatre On Your Doorstep, who are celebrating 25 years.

Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car:

X
@2big_egos

Facebook
@twobigegos