Don’t Ask Me
Oliver Gray and Richard Williams are sent to their rooms to have a good think about what they’ve done.
With numerous references to accidental drinking, missed opportunities and Birgit’s potato salad, this cautionary tale is the story behind the stories – the perfect audio companion to Oliver’s never-ending series of books about things that people don’t usually write books about.
Oliver and Rich discuss schools, pies, emergency brandy and Oliver’s repetitive eating habits. Oliver explains why some people do German and others do French, and Rich has a horrific story about mouthpieces.
Oliver and Rich discuss mint cake, crampons and the Baader–Meinhof Gang. Along the way, Oliver commits an act of vandalism in a newsagents’ car park, and Rich and his friends do a spot of crowd control at a royal wedding.
Oliver and Rich discuss Oliver’s book ‘Zander’. Meanwhile, Melvyn Bragg is on holiday.
Oliver and Rich discuss Rock Club, dodgy DJs, bad teachers, and the Comic Sans of the chattering classes. Oliver buys a cheap house off a woman in a Portakabin, while Rich activates the Potter’s Wheel protocol.
Oliver and Rich discuss being in a good band, being in a bad band, and being in a band with Ron Purse. Oliver gets interrupted by Lucy and Rich sees a pattern forming.
Oliver and Rich discuss premium strength lager, famous siblings and local newspapers. Oliver gets dive-bombed by Stukas while Rich, Pete, Sam and Becs massacre a tight 36.
Oliver and Rich discuss confusing names, German pop-stars, and never-ending guitar solos. Oliver writes some tunes and Rich gets stuck behind a curtain.
Oliver and Rich discuss Chuck Prophet and just what it takes to make the monkey dance. Oliver pulls off John Murry and Rich falls off a bus.
Oliver and Rich discuss what they did during lockdown. Oliver gets attacked by Poppy and Rich keeps his clothes on at the lake.
Oliver and Rich discuss listener feedback, bands they can’t remember, and a load of stuff about language learning. Oliver does a fine impression of both Hans and Lieselotte, and Rich has a problem seeing verbs.
Oliver and Rich discuss The Tower Arts Centre. And that’s about it, really. Oliver finds himself on the wrong side of a sliding door while Rich gets misty-eyed about the best job ever.
Oliver and Rich discuss Gosport’s finest – The Time. Oliver hides behind the drum kit and Rich refuses to Google ‘goat yoga’.
Oliver and Rich discuss pubs, bars, and boozers. Oliver embarks on a grand tour of Winchester watering holes while Rich just repeats the word ‘Fulflood’ over and over again.
Oliver and Rich are joined by James Knights to discuss the past, present, and future. Oliver sets a quiz, Rich has some colours, and James forgets to heat-up his mulled wine.
Oliver and Rich discuss work, working, and word salad. Oliver finds himself in the pay of Big Copy, while Rich leverages The Redskins to maximise ROI.
Oliver and Rich discuss the hazardous life of the farmhand, unlikely combinations, and eureka moments on ferries. Oliver flies high on a tsunami of slurry, while Rich is impressed by the girth of his wages.
Oliver and Rich discuss black metal, Eurovision, and Scandi-noir plot points. Oliver is reborn under the name Grammaticon, while Rich is either Hesitant or Confused. Probably both.
Oliver and Rich discuss Annabel, Hannah, and Sara – AKA The Sense. Annabel forgets her sticks, Sara has a tasty snack, and Hannah breaks a guitar. Along the way, Oliver demonstrates his drumming skills and Rich has a presidential dream.
Zander
The debut novel – written and read by Oliver Gray.
When American roots musician Corey Zander sets out on his first UK tour, things start badly and rapidly get worse. Not even his drug-strewn rock and roll past could prepare him for the violence of his reception in provincial England.
Oliver Gray’s first foray into fiction places love, crime and travel in an authentic context of rock history.
Aftershow
An irregular and unedited series of talks, lectures and fly on the wall chit-chat from the off-stage world of the creative industries.
The Occasion, a Glasgow based theatre company, toured Scotland in Spring 2018 with their show ‘The Monster and Mary Shelley’, ending up at Lyth Arts Centre, the UK’s most northerly mainland arts centre. Post-show, director, Peter Clerke, writer, Stewart Ennis and performer, Catherine Gillard discussed the production with Lyth’s co-Artistic Directors, Tom Barnes and Charlotte Mountford and various audience members.