Site search

Caves, campervans and comedy: the life of a Notts comedy promoter

Ian Whitcombe started off running comedy shows in his local pub and now has big names calling up for a gig. He talks to Left Lion about his role in the Nottingham Comedy Festival, the acts he has nurtured, and his own journey into the land of laughs... 

Brews, hairdos and tunes: Trekkah Benjamin reflects on the 10th anniversary of Phlexx Records

Currently celebrating its 10th birthday, Phlexx Records has made its name as one of Notts’ most successful labels, since its founding in 2013 by local names Trekkah Benjamin and Bru-C. With the recent set-up of their new record store, adjoining coffee shop, and barber shop on Weekday Cross, we caught up with Trekkah to reminisce on the history of Phlexx and their ambitions to move ever up and onwards.

Forest Focus Podcast - Live Show

Forest Focus

Forest Focus

Focus

Why Nottingham Crocus Volunteers Are Aiming to Plant More of These Iconic Flowers Around the City

Michael Krawec, founder of the Nottingham Crocus Volunteers group, delves into why planting more of these iconic flowers will add a bit of colour around the city and help locals reconnect with their natural heritage…

Meditation in Nottingham: “I say whenever the mind gets too full with stuff, that's the time to close your eyes and take a focused breath."

George White explains how he overcame his initial scepticism to harness the true benefits of meditation... 

Local Promoters Now Offering To Sell Your Soul for £666

In a move that would make Rishi Sunak and the government's new careers advice service proud, Nottingham-based music promoters I’m Not From London have diversified into beer, book publishing and satanic rituals…

Phlexx Records: "Music and creativity should be used to enrich the community; that's what they're there for."

Since 2013, Trekkah Benjamin has been at the helm of Notts music label Phlexx Records. A&R Manager Maddy Chamberlain and Marketing and PR Coordinator Cate Grundy complete the Phlexx family, joining Recording Director Trekkah in 2017. Between them, they’ve got the industry nailed – but they aren’t stopping yet. We grabbed the trio for a chat ahead of our joint stage stint at the Hockley Hustle...

Creatures of the Night: Get to Know Nottingham's Party Promoters

When the sun sets across Notts and the streets get dark, a different kind of wild beast comes out to play - the party promoter. These feral beings can be found lurking in the darkest, dingiest corners, gathering with their pack around speakers, blasting out bleeps, gurgles and wails until the sun rises once more. Get to know our creatures of the night and find your chosen tribe... 

Young, Gifted and Focused: Meet Notts Mod Band SubCulture

At this month's sold out This Feeling gig night at The Chameleon, Simon Wooldridge caught up with SubCulture frontman Oli Orton, the Notts answer to The Jam...

Talent 1st is a Free-of-Charge School for Young Actors in Nottingham Focused on Social Mobility

Hidden in the heart of Hockley is one of Nottingham’s best industry secrets: Talent 1st, a free-of-charge school for young actors that works to upstage the lack of social mobility in the entertainment industry. We spoke to the community interest company’s founder, Martin Arrowsmith, to talk about the recent decline in membership, and why Martin’s so passionate about reversing the trend...

Nottingham Comedy Promoters Just The Tonic are Celebrating 25 Years in the Business

We’ve got bleddy birthday fever this month. Just The Tonic, Nottingham’s prime comedy promoters, have been bringing the funnies to the city for 25 years. From Johnny Vegas to Ross Noble, Darrell Martin has booked some right belly-twisting boggers, so we asked him to take a look back at his time over the years as the don of stand-up around these parts...

DHP Support Young Female Music Promoters by Backing New Campaign

Ayup gals. The legends at DHP Family are backing a national campaign to help the next lot of young female music promoters break into the male-dominated grassroots music scene in the UK...

The Hempolics Answer our Questions in Photos

London’s finest underground lo-fi reggae band – The Hempolics – are on their way to Nottingham this month as part of a Reggae Take Over at the Contemporary. With a sound that has a rollaround in the organic, and conscious lyrics to boot, they’ve been featured on BBC 6 Music, and hit number one in the UK reggae charts with their single Serious. Before we get stuck in to their electro-hip hop-dubby mashups at the end of the month, let’s check out what they had to say in photographic form…

Frank McMahon from DIY Poets Answers our Questions in Photos

DIY Poets have been running things on the Nottingham poetry scene for yonks. They meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 8pm, upstairs in Broadway Cinema, to share work and plan for future events. We got leader of the poetry pack, Frank McMahon, to answer a few questions in photographic form…

Time to Change Notts' Roxie Hickling Answers Our Questions in Photos

It’s World Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10 October, and Time to Change Notts are doing their very best to put Nottingham on the map in the fight against the stigma. Roxie Hickling has been organising an event for the campaign group at The Maze this month, where there’ll be music, spoken word and entertainment focused on personal experiences and working towards healthy bonces. And it just so happens that Time to Change Notts are looking for new members to join their team. If you’re interested in what they do or want a bit more information, drop ‘em an email at ttcnotts@gmail.com. Anyway, this month, Roxie gave us a little insight into her world by answering our questions in snaps...

In Focus: Sci-Tronic

Malcolm Skyylab, aka Malcolm Bliss-Brown, is a laser display, VJ and underground trance-tune specialist who’s been on the Notts scene since 1996. Whacking on epic lighting shows at club nights under Skyylab Laser Lighting UK, he also runs Sci-Tronic: the night dedicated to hard trance, psygressive, and everything in between. Having appeared everywhere from Cookie Club to The Angel, this month Sci-Tronic celebrates its fourth birthday at its new home: The Irish Centre. Ahead of the event, we got our Malcolm to answer a few questions in photographic form…

In Focus: Mellonie Page

Conscious, funky and unsigned, Mellonie Page aka Mellonie Williams, has gorra sound that moves between reggae-gospel and seventies soul, her Mother-Earthly voice in tow. You might have clocked her down Nottingham Contemporary launching her most recent album, Back to the Garden, or covering reggae classics alongside The Ites Band down Southbank. This month, she’s got a new single out – Women Women – and will be gigging all over the shop, so keep your tabs pricked for that nostalgic voice and them positive vibes.

Promoter Focus: Shady Cow

We caught up with one of the most inclusive promoters about town...

In Focus: Sheep Soup

You might recognise this beauty of a theatre company from the comedy musical, Mrs Green. The musical tells the tale of former soul and Motown singer-turned-pillar of the Basford community, Mabel Green, who grows weed in her council flat to treat her arthritis.

This time round, Sheep Soup have a brand spankin’ musical, The Leftovers, set to storm stages nationwide this year. But to get there, they need your help. Having received Arts Council Funding, they’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign to help ‘em over the last hurdle, and they’re asking you lot to drop ‘em a few bob to get the show on the road. Before you do, check out their answers to our questions, all crafted with a camera…

In Focus: Emily Catherine

Hip hop head and scribbling sensation Emily Catherine can be found in every arty corner of Nottingham city. Having worked alongside Risograph stalwarts Dizzy Ink, as well as poetry publishing house Mud Press, our Emily knows a thing or two when it comes to beautiful creations. The absolute badgyal is a specialist in hand-drawn and hand-painted pieces, but here she swaps the art utensils for a camera to answer our questions in photographic form...

Get Drunk and Draw over at Rough Trade

We wanted to know a little more about that there art event...

Poets Phlexx Their Muscles at Suede

Phlexx Records put on a hell of a show down at Suede Bar last week: 24 Poets, four heats, one final. With some seriously sick prizes up for grabs.