Barbican Film Podcasts

Graham introduces a new fashion slot, where he reviews the surprising return of a plethora of fashion styles enjoying a comeback. Charles takes a look at two current references to the Yorkshire phrase`’Now Then” with a look at Rick Broadbent's new book on Yorkshire, Now Then: A Biography of Yorkshire and Richard Hawley's new album Now Then and foll…

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.…

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.By Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

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…

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? …

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 …

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!By Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

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 las…

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…

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 polic…

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 c…

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 a…

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.By Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

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.…

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.By Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

Graham and Charles discuss the history of suits in rock music - triggered by seeing Interpol live in Leeds last week - which revives memories of famous suit sporting artists. Graham wonders if new award-winning Italian film The Eight Mountains really hits the heights or not? Royal Blood’s latest appearance as part of R1’s Big Weekend in Dundee prov…

Graham discusses Paul Simon's new magnum opus, Seven Psalms, versus Ed Sheeran's Subtract, and ponders Simon then and now. Charles wonders how Simon's veteran work stands up against Bob Dylan’s latest recordings. Charles catches Little Richard: I Am Everything at City Screen Picturehouse, York, wherein documentary maker Lisa Cortes states his case …

Charles finally gets to report on his experience at the Martin Creed exhibition at the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate. Graham shares an update on his return to his Vinyl Sessions music talks in a fundraiser for the Harrogate Hospital charity and lays bare his theories about the end of The Beatles in 1969/70. He also reports on a sublime gig by the Dav…

Graham and Charles discuss whether 2023 has been a bad year for movies so far but conclude that perhaps hope is on its way from the Cannes festival. Hope for sure with the new films by Martin Scorsese and Ken Loach. Should we look forward to the world of AI-generated films? Charles takes up the discussion about bad audience behaviour at musical the…

Graham and Charles look at the impact of the copyright court case against Ed Sheeran and the trend for confessional albums as Sheeran releases his latest, Subtract. Non-pilgrim Charles reflects on his frustrating encounter with the new film based on Rachel Joyce's novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry and Graham ponders what makes British fil…

Sympathy for the Sheeran: Why Ed deserves to beat Marvin Gaye in the current copyright court case. And why Status Quo's Francis Rossi has a point. Does the downgrading of old skool indie DJs Mark Riley and Gideon Coe mean the beginning of the end for BBC 6 Music? Brassed Off and The Full Monty have a lot to answer for: what the latest sentimental B…

Graham and Charles focus on art this week. Graham looks at three high quality contemporary art exhibitions on at the same time in three different galleries in Harrogate and Charles enthuses about York Open Studios, especially some of the artists opening up their studios for the first time. Charles raves about the riches of York Open Studios…

Graham reveals the decline in the Harrogate music scene. Charles reports back on Ryan Adams live in York. In the court of the Crimson King - Graham gets a little proggy and reflects on Ai Wei Wei’s memoir A Thousand Years of Joys and Sorrows and looks at what his new exhibition - Monet in Lego - alongside his move from Cambridge to Lisbon. Charles …

Charles catches up with U2's new album, Songs of Surrender. Graham reflects on the remarkable revival of Suede and why their gig in Leeds was one of the best he's ever seen. Graham reports on John Godber's new 'agit-prop' play Living On Fresh Air at Harrogate Theatre and why it makes all the right points but offers little hope. Charles is greatly i…

Charles and Graham eat humble pie after their Oscar predictions and reflect on the results of this year's Academy Awards. Graham looks ahead to Francis Rossi of Status Quo's spoken word event at Harrogate Theatre and how the man behind "going down down deeper and down..." is now happy to talk intelligently about his life and times. Graham reports o…

Graham reports on Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei's new memoir and on an encounter with classical pianist Martin Roscoe in John Ruskin's Lake District abode. Is King Charles III's Coronation Spotify list opening a window to the soul of the monarch? As U2 release new and stripped-back reinterpretations of their back catalogue on Songs Of Surrender, Charle…

In a whistle-stop tour of everything cultural, Charles reports on David Hockney's Yorkshire Wolds exhibition at Salt's Mill; Graham gives an update on where things are at for the Edinburgh International Film Festival and both Graham and Charles give their verdict on the key films at the Oscars ceremony. Graham provides further thoughts on Quentin T…

Graham is mightily impressed by Quentin Tarantino's meditation on film, Cinema Speculation. Charles and Graham look back on the BAFTAs and ahead to the Oscars with their own predictions. Graham reports on two contrasting gigs: Fairport Convention in Harrogate and Luke Haines and REM's Peter Buck in Leeds. The duo discuss their admiration for Leeds …

Graham eulogises about a brilliant but neglected Mexican-French film from 2020, New Order. Charles reports on the latest Told By An Idiot show, Charlie & Stan, alias Chaplin & Laurel, "the greatest double act that nearly was", at York Theatre Royal. Graham sees red on the bias of Anthony Beevor's recent book on the Russian Civil War, then celebrate…

Charles reports on "the future of theatre" as presented by An-Ting Chang's Kakilang at York Theatre Royal Studio in their multiverse production of Home X. Graham gets spooked by Imitating The Dog's multi-media production of Macbeth, set in Estuary City, on tour at Harrogate Theatre, while recalling Andrew Manley's groundbreaking days there. Why the…

Graham reports back on seeing singer/songwriter Hamish Hawk at Leeds Brudenell. Charles and Graham reflect on Todd Haynes' Velvet Underground documentary with Charles also referring to the latest Andy Warhol documentary. Graham reads from Jon Stewart's Dylan, Lennon, Marx and God and the duo argue disagree on the merits of Wet Leg.…

In this week's episode, Graham and Charles pay tribute to the unique sound of Television's Tom Verlaine and the American guitarist's contribution to punk and post-punk music. Now that the Oscar nominations are finalised, the duo try to second guess which films will triumph at the March 13ceremony. Finally, Graham compares and contrasts two music bo…

Charles and Graham pick up their discussion of the new Cate Blanchett film, Tár and explore the furore surrounding its controversial depiction of a female conductor, then turn the spotlight on two contrasting hymns to bygone cinema: Babylon, directed by Damien Chazelle, who made the Oscar- winning La La Land, and Sam Mendes' oh-so English Empire Of…

Still feeling rough, Graham reports on his interview with Simon Nicol from Fairport Convention. Inspired by a discussion with Jon Boden, Charles challenges Graham to come up with songs that could survive the Apocalypse. Graham remembers Robbie Bachman and the duo pay tribute to Lisa Marie Presley. Graham reflects on his reading of British military …

In this special extended edition, Charles and Graham interview York musician Chris Helme - co-founder of The Seahorses with Stone Roses guitarist John Squire. As he marks 25 years since their debut, Do It Yourself, by revisiting the songs on a solo acoustic tour, Chris spills the beans on his journey from busker to Glastonbury-playing front man, Ho…

AS the old year ends, Graham and Charles reflect on the progress to try to save the Edinburgh International Film Festival. In a year of many high-profile deaths, Terry Hall's seems particularly poignant, prompting Charles and Graham to explore Terry's legacy as a frontman and songwriter and the influence he has had on many other artists. Graham loo…

Charles and Graham talk to co-founder of Deershed Festival, Oliver Jones.By Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

Graham interrupts early with André Rieu news, then goes back to the future...again with Stereolab at Leeds Stylus. Charles turns all immersive about the cutting-edge attempt to entertain us with Van Gogh's art in a York church. Graham details what links Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums with Thomas Pynchon's Vineland.…

Graham confounds Charles with an early interruption about musician Pete Doherty's Yorkshire days. Charles reflects on the achievements of York Theatre Royal chief exec Tom Bird as he announces his move to Sheffield Theatres. Graham reports on #MeToo film of the moment She Said, prompting fellow hack Charles to join the discussion on journalism in c…

There's Christmas in the air as Charles takes a look at the up and coming pantomime season and reflects on his experience of Castle Howard's new Christmas lights event, Into the Woods. Graham looks at the new Harrogate exhibition for Norwegian artist, Danny Larsson and then explores the latest music venue to be thrown into crisis, Manchester's Nigh…

Graham recounts a slightly tense encounter with rock and pop writer Bob Stanley at the Harrogate Literary Festival and previews his new book, Let’s Do It - the Birth of Pop. Charles previews a new play about York born Guy Fawkes. Anthony Burgess was famously dismissive of the Beatles and did not believe classical music could be bettered. Graham rep…

Charles starts to unpick the repercussions of Arts Council England's NPO funding announcements. Graham gives a quick update on the plight of the Edinburgh Film House and International Festival before looking at the work of film director Ruben Östlund including comparing his new film, A Triangle of Sadness with the original 60's adaptation of the sa…

Charles and Graham take a look at the controversial to stop funding English National Opera, unless they move out of London - probably Manchester. Charles tries to enthuse Graham with a musical based on songs by Cher. Graham explores the contemporary resonances within Kingley Amis's classic novel, Lucky Jim and shares the joy of meeting Dave Hill, w…

Graham explores the new film by Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin, provides an update on the future of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, reviews the new album by Sheffield’s Arctic Monkeys and the leads discussion about whether some books remain better as books, even though there have been highly successful film versions. Charles …

As the mourning begins, Charles and Graham discuss who was allowed to do what and when as the Queen’s death was announced. Graham gives an insight into what it is like to visit Sir Clough Williams-Ellis’s eccentric and beautiful village of Portmeirion. The duo reflect on the rise of having gigs signed for the deaf ad hard of hearing and Charles ent…

As the nation mourns, Graham revisits another of his now classic fallings out with celebrity interviewees. The duo pick up on what films like A Hard Day's Night and The Ipcress File say about class in Britain in the 1960's and then explore how playing HM Queen Elizabeth II suddenly gained traction across stage, theatre and film.…

As the country reels from yet another political crisis amid the scratching around for a new PM, Graham reports on seeing the incomparably thorough Mark Lewisohn present his latest show based on his studies of Beatles' history, Evolver:62. In a restless week for Graham, Charles grills him on his response to seeing veteran Roxy Music reconvene in Man…