6 Things To Do in Nottingham This Weekend

Rejection is an ugly thing we all try our best to avoid, and if not that’s not possible, attempt to forget about it as quick as you can. For some, however, the only cure is public exorcism. Thirteen Nottinghamshire artists will be doing just that at The King Billy this weekend, as A Celebration of Rejection exhibition opens, exploring themes of rejection, exclusion and abandonment. Who knows, you may come away with a new outlook, and if that fails, you can always turn to the bar.
Friday 16 March, free, 6pm, The King Billy, event link

This is Joseph Knight’s first headline tour to promote new single White Wine. The Wirksworth-based singer has been compared to artists Amber Run, Saint Raymond and Seafret, as well as performing at various festivals such as Bearded Theory. His soulful vocals have had significant airplay on Radio 6 Music and BBC Introducing East Midlands; the nineteenth most played artist, in fact. Oh, and to top it all off, he’s only eighteen, so if all of that isn’t enough to get you down to Fox Talbots on Friday, I don’t know what will.
Friday 16 March, £5 - £7, 7pm, Fox Talbots, event link

Are you interested in learning how to write about art, or how an artist that uses text in their work? This half-day session will explore the myriad ways of art writing; from journalistic writing and reviewing, to using text in performance and video, as well as artist statements. Long-time LeftLion columnist Wayne Burrows is the perfect person to lead it, as he is both a visual artist and an experienced freelance writer currently based at Primary. His writing has appeared in Metro, Nottingham Visual Arts, a-n news and The Double Negative. This is the first session of four workshops, and participants will get the chance to try out different writing techniques, to accompany a Backlit exhibition.
Saturday 17 March, 1pm, £2, Backlit Gallery, event link

When Forest played Derby last weekend, it might have been two divisions higher up, but this week’s local footy derby has more riding on it. As the season draws to a close Kevin Nolan’s Magpies currently sit third in League Two and take on their local rivals the Stags, currently placed in fifth and getting settled under new boss David Flitcroft. With less than 10 games to go, this is a chance for both teams to stake a claim for automatic promotion in May. A crowd well into double figures is expected, as well as a tasty atmosphere.
Saturday 17 March, 3pm, Meadow Lane, Meadow Lane, £5 - £25, event link

Another year, another St. Paddy’s day, but with Nottingham having the biggest in the East Midlands, it’s a cut above the rest. In fact, a whole year of fundraising by the Nottingham St Patrick’s Day Committee has gone into it, so we know it’ll be a good one. Don your greenest glad rags and join the parade as they start from Pelham Street in Hockley at 12.15pm and make their merry way to the Old Market Square, where there will be live music from 11.30am. There will also be hearty Irish food, and we advise you dig in to line your delicate stomachs before the big night ahead.
Saturday 17 March, free, 11.30am, Nottingham City Centre, event link

Though the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra are technically an amateur band, they definitely don’t sound like one, with several professional conductors naming them as the best non-professional orchestra in the country. This Sunday is a special one, marking the centenary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein. NPO will celebrate by playing the suite from the composer’s 1953 movie On the Waterfront, which starred Marlon Brando. BBC Young Musician Winner Callum Smart will play Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto, which Korngold wrote after he was forced to flee from Austria. The afternoon will end with Stravinsky’s ballet suite Petrushka.
Sunday 18 March, 3pm, £5 - £11, Albert Hall, event link


For the full motherload of goings-on this week, check out our What's On section