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25 Years Later: Kids

A hyper-realistic, fly-on-the-wall story, Kids is the product of 19-year-old writer Harmony Korine and photographer-cum-filmmaker Larry Clark. 25 years old this month, the film is set in the heart of New York, where Clark and Korine capture the disturbing hedonism and reckless nature of pubescent youth...

Alfresco Dining in Nottingham's Market Square

Pop-up outdoor dining is coming to Nottingham’s Old Market Square from Friday. The area, organised by Nottingham City Council and supported by Nottingham BID, has been designed to support local food and drink outlets as part of the city’s re-opening strategy from the Covid lockdown restrictions.

Exhibition Review: Dot Dot Dash

Ewan Cameron checked out Dot Dot Dash, Surface Gallery's eclectic online exhibition which is still available to view...

Circle of Light is Back This August: 2020 Applications Now Open

Following the staggering success of last year’s debut Circle of Light project, new Youth Music funding has been secured to give more young people the chance to get hands-on experience in the music industry - even during the current climate. Read on to learn how it will work, the mentors leading the way, and how you can apply for a place at the workshops this August…

Finger the Old

Notts Photographer Lamar Francois On Photographing Mindfully

You may have spotted Lamar Francois around Nottingham BC (before COVID) shooting a multitude of events, people and scenes with an approach that combines mindfulness in photography with a keen eye for getting the perfect shot. Alex Kuster caught up with the writer and photographer over Zoom to see how he’s been doing during lockdown, and what his future plans look like…

10 Years Later: Toy Story 3

A decade on, Screen Co-Editor George White thinks it's time for people to finally admit that this is the best film in the Toy Story quadrilogy...

Film Review: The Kissing Booth 2

Netflix’s much-anticipated sequel to The Kissing Booth, sees best friends Lee and Elle tackle their senior year, as well as Elle dealing with her long-distance relationship with Noah.

Exploring the LGBTQ+ Community and Nottingham’s Night-time Culture

As part of his studies in Notts, promoter and DJ Rory Evans spent time exploring the link between the gay community and disco music. For Leftlion he turns this interest local, speaking with Nottingham’s key LGBTQ+ figures to understand this side of our city’s clubland further, and in light of recent club closures, show why these empty dancefloors are just so significant…

Support LeftLion Magazine on Patreon

For seventeen years and 127 printed issues, LeftLion magazine has shone a light on Nottingham’s culture and entertainment scene. Now we’re asking our readers for a bit of help to get back on our feet...

Out of Time: The Chilwell Catastrophe

It was one of the worst wartime disasters in British history, as well as the country’s biggest involving an explosion. The month marks the 102nd anniversary of the Chilwell Catastrophe, in which a World War One ammunition factory exploded, killing 134 Nottingham workers and injuring dozens more.

Penny Lane's Take a Pitcher It Will Last Longer Sangria Recipe

We may not be able to hog the 2p machines at Penny Lane on Fletcher Gate right now, but luckily you can mix up your own pitcher of their Sangria at home. It’s perfect for afternoon drinking in the sunshine, and – if you close your eyes really hard – you can try and imagine being on a Spanish beach instead of being in your back garden…

Notts Rebels: William Brewster

Our Notts Rebels series continues with William Brewster and his Separatists, a group from North Nottinghamshire who fled England in search of religious freedom, sailing aboard the Mayflower to found the Plymouth Colony in America…

Queer Today, Gone Tomorrow: The LGBTQ+ Spaces Nottingham Has Lost

As Nottingham gets set to celebrate Pride 2020 in a very different, online-only way, it’s probably time to remember that the city hasn’t always had such an open gay scene. With a long history of secret bars, hidden backrooms and, erm, gay flats, it’s important to remember just how far Notts has progressed. We asked Chair of Nottingham Pride, Leigh Ellis, and David Edgley of Nottingham Rainbow Heritage to share their memories of some of the LGBTQ+ spaces we’ve lost...

Southwell Jewellery Store Last Night I Dreamt on Setting Up Shop, Significant Trinkets, and Sending Love During Lockdown

The bright lights of Nottingham’s city centre might not be quite as bright – or as busy – as they were six months ago. Yet, for one shop in Southwell, lockdown has been a little different. Nestled in North Nottinghamshire, Last Night I Dreamt is not only a curated collection of the best treasure that British brands have to offer, but is also a hive for jewellery lovers up and down the country. Our Fashion Editor, Anna Murphy, spoke to its owner, Rebecca Gibbions to find out more...

LeftLion Football Podcast Episode 9: Paul Severn

Gareth, Colin and Jim welcome Paul Severn to try to make sense of Forest's meltdown as they lose a grip on their playoff place. The team look forward to Notts County's upcoming playoff match as well as get excited by new signings at Mansfield. As well as continuing to reflect on lockdown mental health issues, there's also discussion on the situation at Wigan and the murky world of FFP.

Streaming Theatre Preview: The Black Veil

The Classic Thriller Season is back and planning to creep directly into your home

Film Review: Ride Your Wave

Following a wave of successful recent anime film releases in the UK, this charming new animated feature makes its digital debut...

Art Works: Naa Ahinee Mensah

Artist Naa Ahinee Mensah tells us about her George Floyd triptych...

Interview: A Catch-up with Nactus Kunan

Sitting on lots of newly released material but with no imminent chance to share it live with fans, we caught up with Jack and Joe of local alternative four-piece Nactus Kunan to see how they've been keeping busy...

Beeston Film Festival Has Added an LGBTQ+ Category

After experiencing an increase in submissions, Beeston Film Festival is launching a brand new category for LGBT+ filmmakers in time for Pride 2020...

"No Disney princesses wear glasses and that made me feel like I wasn't beautiful enough." - Lowri Moore and Our Head Designer, Natalie Owen on Their New Children's Book

“If you don’t like something, change it.” That’s what poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou wrote and preached throughout her life. And, it’s exactly what Lowri Moore has done – fuelled by the lack of representation for glasses-wearing characters in Disney films, the eleven-year-old has collaborated with our very own designer, Natalie Owen on their new children’s book, Princess Rose and the Golden Glasses… 

Nottinghamshire's Rainbow Heritage's David Edgley on Our City's LGBTQ+ History

Established in 2008, Nottinghamshire’s Rainbow Heritage aims to preserve the area’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history. With many of the city’s venues under threat of closure due to COVID-19, Caroline Barry talks to the project’s David Edgley about Nottingham’s LGBTQ+ history, the dangers of complacent activism and what can be done to preserve the city’s safe spaces.

The Big Notts Quiz: Part IV

Some say these quizzes have been the highlight of their lockdown life, others think they’ve been an enormous waste of everyone’s time. Either way, we’ve done one more, and made it extra difficult to finish things off…

intu Victoria Centre Calls for Photographers to Share Lockdown Photos

intu Victoria Centre is calling for local photographers to submit images captured during lockdown, to form part of a new Lockdown Gallery that will be installed in the centre...