Site search

Karma Weekender 2025

Writing Crime Fiction

Alternative sister duo ALT BLK ERA talk songwriting, honesty and working with Wheatus

From a MOBO award nomination and TikTok fame to playing packed tents at the country’s largest rock festivals, alternative duo ALT BLK ERA became one of Nottingham’s big breakout acts in 2024. With their highly anticipated debut album Rave Immortal set for release at the end of January, 2025 is shaping up to be an even bigger year for sisters Nyrobi and Chaya. To find out more about the making of the record and their plans for the upcoming year, we sat down for an expansive chat…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #13: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from ALT BLK ERA, Jayahadadream, Pretty Windows and Alice for Breakfast...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #11: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Grain Mother, ALT BLK ERA (with Wheatus), and Drew Thomas...

Rachel Cooke On Women’s Friendship, Through Fiction, Diaries and Letters

Club Wormhole: Wormhole Weekend Showcase & Alternative Comedy Cabaret @ Nottingham Comedy Festival

Non-fiction Book Group: Empire Of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism by Robert Chapman

Fiction Book Group: Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton

The worms are coming! Our homegrown alt comedy troup are taking over.

As Nottingham's alternative comedy venue prepares for its first ever Wormhole Weekend, alternative comedian Rosa Keaton takes us for a worm's-eye view.  

Fashion Fictions - Mending Workshop

Fiction Book Group: the Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante, Translated by Ann Goldstein

From alt-rock and grunge, to football and surrealism. Here's what's on in Nottingham, 23 -29 September

There's no shortage of energetic gigs, side-splitting comedy, or thought provoking art and design shows, to keep you busy in Notts this week. Here's what's on. 

Babylonia and historical fiction with Times bestselling author Costanza Casati

Young Italian author Costanza Casati shot into The Times’ bestsellers list with her first novel Clytemnestra, respinning mythology through a woman’s eyes. Her follow-up Babylonia is doing just as well, so we caught up with her in Nottingham during her recent book tour to brush up on our Bronze Age…

Alt-rock quartet Bored Marsh talk festivals, finding success and their upcoming EP

In just a few short years, alt-rock quartet Bored Marsh have gone from non-existent to becoming one of the hottest bands to emerge from the booming Nottingham music scene. Now with the release of their debut EP on the horizon, we sat down with frontman Joe Need and guitarist Brad Westby to discuss their rapid rise.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #3: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team's picks of the latest and greatest sounds from all around Nottingham and the Midlands, we review new releases from ALT BLK ERA, Cappo, Pink Cliffs and River Drive...

Rights for Flies: the alternative rock band with an environmental twist

It’s summer. The wasps are coming for your ice cream, the flies for your park-bench picnic… but before you start swatting, have a listen to Rights For Flies. We spoke with Tobi from the Nottingham based band and activist collective to hear about hoverflies, breaking boundaries, and how art gives us the chance to champion environmental action.

Fiction Book Group: Paul Takes the Form Of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor

Non-fiction Book Group: On Chapel Sands by Laura Cumming

Fiction Book Group: In the Belly Of the Queen by Karosh Taha

Fashion Fictions - Mending Workshop

Altera Vita – Tony Kofi & Alina Bzhezhinska [jazz]

Society Of Authors Presents: Ian C Douglas’ Worldbuilding for Speculative Fiction-a World Of Your Own

We talk to Fast Forward, a creative learning outlet that teaches music as an alternative to traditional education

Fast Forward Direction Thru Music is helping transform the lives of students through the power of music. We spoke to founders Stevie Lee and his fellow musicians/co-founders, along with several students, to hear about their important work and the crowdfunder that hopes to help them train more students in music production skills.

Five Leaves Open Fiction Book Group Discusses Piranesi by Susanna Clarke