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Gig review: Hurray For The Riff Raff at Metronome
Sun 18 Aug 2024For well over 15 years, NY-based singer-songwriter Alynda Segarra has been enchanting fans the world over under the guise of Hurray For The Riff Raff. Making a rare pit stop on their mammoth world tour to the intimate surroundings of Metronome, we decided to don our best cowboy hats and head along…
Food review: Alora Tapas Mapperley
Sun 18 Aug 2024Our trusty food editor Julia Head took a jaunt just ten minutes out of the city centre to Mapperley Top’s new tapas restaurant Alora, where the food, service and vibe all scored a perfect ten.
Gig review: Fat Freddy's Drop at Rock City
Sun 18 Aug 2024New Zealand seven-piece Fat Freddy's Drop are renowned for their live energy and eclectic style. When they made a visit to Rock City recently, who better to send down to see them than super-fan LeftLion staffer Adam Pickering. He had no regrets...
Gig review: Rockabilly Americana Show at Binks Yard
Sun 18 Aug 2024The Binks Yard outdoor terrace was recently transformed into an Americana extravaganza, coming alive with all things Rockabilly, including four of the UK's top bands of the genre, along with dancing, costumes and vintage American cars. Andrew McCartney was there...
LeftLion's Latest Listens: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 16 Aug 2024Kicking off a new regular New Music review series, LeftLion's Latest Listens is our picks of the latest and greatest sounds from all around Nottingham and the Midlands. This week, LeftLion listens to new releases from Hollow Stone, Ben Blackadder, Molly Hindley and LYVIA.
Theatre Review: The Trials
Fri 16 Aug 2024Sharon Stevens went to The Trials at the Nottingham Playhouse...
History, style and roses: we visited The Bath Inn in Sneinton Market
Thu 15 Aug 2024Among Nottingham’s huge array of historical pubs, The Bath Inn, near the LeftLion offices in Sneinton Market, is one of our favourites, distinctive for its quasi-Egyptian decor, beautiful flower arrangements and the rich sense of history that hits you from the first step you take through the door. We visited for a chat with the Nottingham-born landlord Piers Baker, previously a rose grower by trade, to find out how the 19th century bar became the unique spot that it is today.
Theatre Review: Fatal Encounter
Wed 14 Aug 2024Just one more question... it's classic whodunnit time at the Theatre Royal.
Festival Review: Y Not 2024
Sun 11 Aug 2024It’s the Midlands’ biggest indie extravaganza – Y Not Festival. Taking place a mere 35 miles from Nottingham, this year’s line-up boasted some of the best bands in the land, but also an abundance of the very best up-and-coming local talent too. With a big Notts representation on the bill, the LeftLion Music team went along to report on how their sets went down in the sun-sprinkled Pikehall fields, along with a couple of other highlights from across the weekend.
Food review: affordable fine dining at Cleaver and Wake Nottingham
Sun 11 Aug 2024A new fixed evening menu has launched at Cleaver & Wake, offering you a taste of fine dining at a more affordable price. The canalside restaurant also welcomes guests to its new champagne terrace, just in time to enjoy the lighter summer evenings.
Gig review: Sundara Karma at Rescue Rooms
Wed 07 Aug 2024When indie-rockers Sundara Karma played Rescue Rooms last Friday, it fell to the Rescue Rooms crowd to provide the atmosphere and energy, with the band looking like they’d rather be back at their humble beginnings than on the stage. LeftLion discovered some redeeming moments...
Gig review: Love with Johnny Echols at Rescue Rooms
Tue 06 Aug 2024Cited as a major influence on rock luminaries including Led Zeppelin, The Doors, REM and Primal Scream, Love just might be the most important band you’ve never heard of. LeftLion stopped by Rescue Rooms for a night of psychedelic wonder, and much more besides. Support came from Midnight Rodeo and Bye & Bye...
Gig review: Rumkicks at Ye Olde Salutation Inn
Mon 05 Aug 2024Coming to the end of a gruelling 30-date European tour, South Korean Punk trio Rumkicks landed in Nottingham. We dropped in to The Sal to catch the action...
Theatre Review: An Officer and a Gentleman
Wed 31 Jul 2024An outstanding blend of powerhouse vocals, an 80s soundtrack and a storyline to melt your heart...
Big City Reads book reviews: Seven Million Sunflowers
Wed 31 Jul 2024Through July, we've been publishing book reviews from local young people, as part of Nottingham City of Literature's campaign to give out thousands of free books. To finish this series, Ukrainian NTU graduate Anastasiia Denysiv reviews Seven Million Sunflowers by Malcolm Duffy, a story about the Russia-Ukraine conflict to which Anastasiia reflects upon her personal connection.
Music Reviews: July 2024
Mon 29 Jul 2024June music reviews: The Roster, Red Sea, The Public Eye, 2079, Ben Mark Smith and Mighty Lightweights
Live Review: Stone Soup Academy Presents... Stand Up To Knife Crime at Metronome
Sun 28 Jul 2024Stand Up To Knife Crime has become an essential annual fixture in the Notts music calendar, hosted each year by the fantastic Stone Soup Academy. Delivering an impactful evening of music, film and spoken word designed to unite, raise awareness and change perceptions surrounding knife crime in our community, the LeftLion Music team went along to support this important event...
Big City Reads book reviews: Electric Life
Wed 24 Jul 2024For the third instalment of our Big City Reads reviews - part of a campaign run by Nottingham City of Literature to provide free books for local young people - Mia gives us her thoughts on Electric Life by Rachel Delahaye. A gripping science-fiction tale, the book according to Mia well and truly allows the reader to escape into another world.
Review: Waterfront Festival at The Canalhouse
Tue 23 Jul 2024Nottingham's music scene is bursting at the seams, with new events popping up almost every month. Bassey spent a day at The Canalhouse and found himself spoilt for choice at the eclectic and charity-supporting Waterfront Festival...
Live Review: ME REX, Schande & ACHB at The Carousel
Tue 23 Jul 2024The Carousel over in Hockley is quickly becoming one of the go-to spots for excellent live music from up-and-coming local artists. Heading along to the venue for the first time was our writer Bassey, who managed to catch the trio of ACHB, Schande and ME REX...
Film Review: Twisters
Mon 22 Jul 2024Car chases, romance, science experiments, cowboys – Twisters has it all!
Book Review: The Body In The Library by Graham Caveney
Fri 19 Jul 2024Though brutal and decidedly unromantic, Graham Caveney’s new ‘memoir of a diagnosis’ is told with remarkable tenderness and wit.
Gig Review: Cultural Vibrations turns 15 at Nottingham Playhouse
Wed 17 Jul 2024Cultural Vibrations is the brainchild and legacy to the Nottingham music scene, of Rasta Rella aka Rastarella L Falade. From very humble beginnings the organisation has become a central part of World Music in our city and now celebrates its 15-year anniversary. We went along to the Playhouse to celebrate...
Big City Reads book reviews: Stand Up Ferran Burke
Wed 17 Jul 2024Books can be the spark that makes us want to know more, and according to young reader Kelsi, Steven Camden’s “astounding” Stand Up Ferran Burke is one of them. Here’s Kelsi’s review, as part of Big City Reads - a campaign ran by Nottingham City of Literature to get thousands of free books in the hands and hearts of local young people.