71 episodes

A passionately laid back overview of the arts and culture scene in York and Harrogate with observations on journalism. This podcast is hosted by Charles Hutchinson and Graham Chalmers and regular guests.

Two Big Egos in a Small Car Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

    • Arts

A passionately laid back overview of the arts and culture scene in York and Harrogate with observations on journalism. This podcast is hosted by Charles Hutchinson and Graham Chalmers and regular guests.

    Episode 177: Seriously Taylor Swift; Amy Winehouse - Back to Black the Filmography

    Episode 177: Seriously Taylor Swift; Amy Winehouse - Back to Black the Filmography

    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.

    • 29 min
    Episode 176: Remembering Graham Naysmith from the Pale Saints; Philosophy Stars Chomsky and Baudrillard; Alex Garland's New Film, Civil War

    Episode 176: Remembering Graham Naysmith from the Pale Saints; Philosophy Stars Chomsky and Baudrillard; Alex Garland's New Film, Civil War

    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?

    • 38 min
    Episode 175: Steve Howe and Yes; Benjamin Francis Leftwich Live; Magna Carta Book Update; Beatles Exhibition; William Doyle

    Episode 175: Steve Howe and Yes; Benjamin Francis Leftwich Live; Magna Carta Book Update; Beatles Exhibition; William Doyle

    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.

    • 32 min
    Episode 174: Jesus and Mary Chain Back on Form; Monet in York; Suits You - The Fast Show in York

    Episode 174: Jesus and Mary Chain Back on Form; Monet in York; Suits You - The Fast Show in York

    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? 

    • 39 min
    Episode 173: Ruskin and Brantwood house; Rolling Stones Connection to York; The Holdovers; Steve Harley RIP

    Episode 173: Ruskin and Brantwood house; Rolling Stones Connection to York; The Holdovers; Steve Harley RIP

    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.

    • 39 min
    Episode 172: Interview Special with Music Journalist Dave Simpson

    Episode 172: Interview Special with Music Journalist Dave Simpson

    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. 

    • 37 min

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