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We talk to Blue Violet ahead of their Metronome Nottingham show with Echobelly

With a new album due in January and in the thick of a support tour with Echobelly, indie alternative duo Blue Violet have a lot to be excited about. We caught up with them ahead of their gig at Metronome...

Director's Seat: Shane Meadows on his gratitude for the Nottingham Television Workshop

Shane Meadows is a legend of British film and television. In the mid-90s he was making lots of short films around Nottingham before releasing his debut feature TwentyFourSeven in 1997. Since then he’s gone on to create masterpieces like A Room For Romeo Brass, Dead Man’s Shoes, This Is England, Gallows Pole, The Stone Roses: Made of Stone and more.

Shane joined us for the fifth instalment of LeftLion Live at the Library, a series of live interviews that we’ve been hosting since July at Nottingham Central Library. In front of a live audience, LeftLion Editor-in-Chief Jared Wilson chatted to Shane about his illustrious career, covering everything from the Nottingham Television Workshop to Notts County FC. Here we’ve treated you to a snapshot of the conversation, which is available in full for your auditory pleasure on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. 

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #6: Natalie Duncan on Music Careers, Hockley Hustle, Goldie, Jools Holland, Ronnie Scott’s, Peggy’s Skylight and more

Our sixth episode features a conversation with Nottingham-born neo-soul, R&B, jazz (and more) singer-songwriter Natalie Duncan... 

We talk with Hard-Fi about their return to the studio, and why Nottingham rocks

Ahead of their raucous return to the Rock City stage on 23rd November, Hard-Fi frontman Richard Archer talks with Talia Robinson about all things modern musicality and the need for nurturing nostalgia... 

We chat with Sports Team about changes in sound, their live show ethos, and KSI...

Sports Team are a band who take music seriously – and always have fun with it. Famous for headline-grabbing stunts, which have led to a feud with Matty Healy and a chart battle with Lady Gaga, the English alt-rockers are determined to keep making waves. Before their big headline show at rescue Rooms next week, Ali Glen caught up with the band...

We chat with Ian Broudie about goals, inspirations and Nottingham memories

The Lightning Seeds were formed in 1989 and named after a misheard Prince lyric, with frontman Ian Broudie going on to become one of the best tunesmiths of his generation, a writer of wonderfully melodic and uplifting indie-pop songs tinged with the band's custom vulnerability. Ahead of the band's return to Nottingham on 14th November, as part of their tour celebrating 35 years of the band and aptly timed to follow up on the release of their Greatest Hits album, Tomorrow’s Here Today, we had the chance to speak to frontman, producer and songwriter Ian Broudie...

How a Mini Cooper led to success on the stage and an acclaimed solo performance of A Christmas Carol

Guy Masterson's renowned Scrooge performance is coming to the Playhouse. He lets Leftlion in on how Richard Burton helped him along the way...

The queer reimagining of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly

Mariposa, the queer reimagining of Madame Butterfly, is about to play at Lakeside Arts. The creative force behind this new dance work, choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra, talks to Leftlion about his journey this far...   

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... 

Gig review and interview: Stone at Rescue Rooms

STONE are no ordinary band: they are a movement; they are a lifestyle; they are one of the most hotly anticipated bands of this year. Talia Robinson tells of their tales as they performed at Nottingham's very own Rescue Rooms...

Interview : Laura Turner dares us to decide whether to sell our soul or sell our body

A Midlands-based, female-led powerhouse, is about to ignite the stage at Nottingham Playhouse with a question that will leave audiences breathless. Emma Oldham interviews Laura Turner, the artistic director behind Fury Theatre, about why they're asking such a bold question...

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.  

Alfie Brown talks broken down BMW's and banana bread

Comedian Alfie Brown's journey from Top Shop to top billing has met challenges along the way. Ahead of his forthcoming Open Hearted Human Enquiry tour, Alfie shares his insights into the lessons learned thus far... 

Comedy and community at the Lord Roberts

Dan Webber shares the inspiration behind the LOL-GBTQ+ festival coming soon to the Lord Roberts...

Beccy D'Souza turns up the volume for our local talent

We caught up with Beccy D’Souza, Artist Development Producer at Nottingham Playhouse, for a peek behind the curtain at this year’s Amplify Festival line-up... 

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #5: Shane Meadows on This Is England, Virtues, Stone Roses, Injuries, Notts County FC and more

For our fifth podcast we are delighted to welcome a true legend of British film and television, the director and screenwriter Shane Meadows...

Hitchcock meets Lord of the Flies in this exciting comedy-thriller at the Nottingham Playhouse

Rotten is a comedy about the Instagram generation that is as dark as it is funny. Its creator, Josie White, speaks with Leftlion about terrible things and how she came to write them... 

LeftLion Live at the Library #4 Shane Meadows

Comedian and doctor Michael Akadiri talks fatherhood, politics and the Wollaton vida loca

As award-winning comedian Michael Akadiri brings his new show Trust Me, I'm a Daddy to the Canalhouse, he speaks to Leftlion about his journey this far... 

We chat to Jake Bugg about his inspirations, memories and what we can expect from his new album

From performing on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury aged 16 to releasing his fourth studio album, A Modern Day Distraction, this month, Nottingham-born singer-songwriter Jake Bugg has had a wild musical journey. Ahead of his new album being released this week, we sat down with the local hero to hear about the making of the record, supporting Liam Gallagher and battling Metallica at Glastonbury…

We catch up with Lace Thief ahead of her Rough Trade show

Laura Dickinson is the name behind indie-folk project Lace Thief. We spoke with her as she prepared to celebrate the launch of her new single with a show at Rough Trade Nottingham where there will be support from Peter Hall and Cracked Hands, and appearances from artist Gemma Vincent and DJ Jay Sandhu... 

We speak with Pale Waves about influences and their mature new album, Smitten

With their fourth album Smitten released on 27th September, Pale Waves are continuing to make big waves of their own. Ahead of the release, we caught up with drummer Ciára Doran to hear about the band’s influences, creativity and experiences…

Comedian Pierre Novellie talks about autism, the Isle of Man and his dislike of mouth noises

Acclaimed comedian, Pierre Novellie, returns to Nottingham for a gig at the Canalhouse. Leftlion caught up with Pierre recently to find out more about his recent autism diagnosis and his new act. 

We chat with DECO about their debut album and the joy of touring

Formed in 2011, with roots in the Midlands and beyond, there’s a lot to unpack with 80s-influenced band Deco – and they've only just released their debut album. With two Nottingham shows imminent, lead singer Max Kendall found time to sit down with LeftLion to talk about the new record, as well as the band’s headline tour, and everything in between…

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #4: Daudi Matsiko on Music, Songwriting, Depression and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

The latest episode from our 'Live at the Library' podcast features British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko...