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JT Soar's Phil Booth: "The gigs aren't here to make money for the space."

Over the past decade, an angular building in Sneinton has grown into one of the UK’s most revered DIY music spaces. JT Soar, a fruit and potato warehouse turned studio, rehearsal space and gig venue, will celebrate its tenth birthday this month, with founder Phil Booth still very much at the helm. What began in 2010 as a recording studio has slowly but surely become a DIY exemplar, boosting our city’s street cred while simultaneously providing an all-embracing platform for artists from far and wide to flourish. We stopped by for a pre-birthday brew to find out more about JT Soar’s Midas touch…

Food Review: Broadway Veganuary Menu

Vegan burgers and beers? Yes please.

Food Review: Burra Khana

We got along to Burra Khana to check out the food...

4 Acts to Clock at Beat the Streets 2020

Beat the Streets, the annual day festival raising money to improve the lives of homeless people in Nottingham, is back for 2020 on Sunday 26 January, and they’ve pulled out all the stops to kick-off the decade how they mean to go on. As well as bagging Jake Bugg for a performance slot, you can also catch the likes of award-winning folk singer and activist Grace Petrie and everyone’s favourite live karaoke band Bamalamasingsong. But enough about the big guns – our music editors have selected four lesser-known names that they think you should fight your way to the front to see...

Live Music Review: Slipknot at Motorpoint Arena

When Slipknot first emerged like a chip pan fire in 1995, they had clearly set their stall out to shock the world into submission. Fast-forward over twenty years, and their success in that mission is brazen; they are making a fiercely anticipated return to Motorpoint Arena following the release of their sixth studio album We Are Not Your Kind last year – an album which tore its way to Number One on the Billboard Album Chart…

Film Review: Live Twice, Love Once

This emotional, award-winning Spanish drama takes a real and honest look at the importance of love...

Nottingham Trent University's University Hall

Opposite Nottingham Trent University’s Arkwright building stands another striking piece of architecture. The University Hall is a brand-new venue that’s aiming to bring modern classical music and other exciting performances to both its students and to the city. We spoke to Pro-Vice-Chancellor Barbara Matthews about the making of a masterpiece, the reaction so far, and what they’ve composed for its future…

Silent Orchestra: The Multi-Sensory Instruments for Dementia Patients

At Hackspace, three local artists have been building and tinkering with musical instruments that trigger lights and vibrations. Behold, the Silent Orchestra. Inspired by the concept of synesthesia, this project is the answer to a City Arts callout for an installation to help improve communication between dementia patients with hearing loss and care home staff…

Film Review: Just Mercy

Michael B. Jordan fights injustice within the justice system in this compelling true story...

Interview: Georgie on Her Inspirations and Imminent Hometown Show

Outrageously talented singer-songwriter Georgie needs no introduction round these parts, or far and wide for that matter. With her rich Americana sound, she's been capturing the hearts of audiences and collaborators (including Adele's Chasing Pavements co-writer) since the very beginning. We sat down with our favourite Mansfield lass ahead of her hometown gig next month...

Book Reviews: January 2020

We've rounded up a couple of books to get you through this massive Monday morning of month. Or not.

Theatre Preview: Rhymes Against Humanity at Metronome

Like a bit of improv? You're gonna love these guys...

Film Review: Weathering With You

Three years after the release of his modern classic Your Name, visionary anime director Makoto Shinkai returns to UK screens with another heartfelt hit…

Review: Easy Life’s Lunchtime Session and Signing at Rough Trade

Following their newest 'Junk Food' mixtape release, the Midlands group paid a visit to Notts one lazy Sunday afternoon for a laid-back in store set, featuring some greasy garms. Bobby Twidale tells all...

Live Music Review: The Big Moon at Rough Trade

London’s kick-ass indie rockers The Big Moon were back in Nottingham to debut their sleeker, stripped back second album Walking Like We Do at an exclusive in-store gig at Rough Trade...

What A Decade: Nusic on Why Nottingham Should Be Crowned the Music City of the Last 10 Years

If you live in Nottingham and are passionate about that music thing, it’s fair to say this is the best decade we’ve ever had. And not just us: there’s a case that musically, Notts has had one of the best decades in the whole of the UK…

Review: Daliso Chaponda - Blah Blah Blacklist at Nottingham Playhouse

Malawi's Got Talent: Come for the Madonna gag, stay for the awkward questions...

Notes From a Mental Health Nurse: Music as a Healer

Each month, our anonymous mental nurse, who has over two decades on experience working in Nottingham, will deal with a specific mental health issue with practical, accessible advice. This month, to fit the theme of our music special, they talk us through how we can use the medium for some much needed peace...

20 Great Battle Scenes from Film History

From the walls of Jerusalem to the beaches of Normandy, to the Mongolian plains and the waves of the Atlantic. Whether its spears and shields or bullets and bayonets, these are twenty of the greatest battle scenes in film history...

Juan: Nottingham Short Film Looking for Funding

We had a chat with Ben Keeling, former student of Nottingham College, about his upcoming student film Juan, Nottingham’s growing cinematic community and how you can get involved with his project. 

Film Review: 1917

Sir Sam Mendes’ World War One epic is the most Oscar-nominated film of the year, but that means nowt without the ol’ LeftLion stamp of approval…

Overall There is a Smell of Fried Onions

Cast your mind back to the 1990s – an era before mobile phones, the internet and LeftLion. Back then, a printed magazine called Overall There Is A Smell of Fried Onions was covering and nurturing Nottingham’s music, culture and events scene. Under the leadership of Paul Kilbride, it published fifty-odd issues between 1991-98, distributing them for free in venues all over the city...

Music Reviews: Pete Woosh’s 52 Card Trick

DiY collective founder Pete Whoosh started Spirit Wrestlers following a cancer diagnosis which led him to explore holistic treatment and reconnect with the healing power of music. Back in March 2019, the not-for-profit label launched  The 52 Card Trick project, releasing tracks on a weekly basis for a year and donating the proceeds to chosen charities that support natural healing.

Packed with soothing sounds from known names including Hot Toddy, Brawther and Ex Friendly, alongside gems from local talent and beyond, as the project comes close to the end we look back at the breadth of releases and check out some highlights...

Nusic New Music Podcast #218 with Vega Bay, Blle, Reflekter, Tori Sheard and More...

Art Review: International Postcard Show 2020

Ah, postcards. Proper nostalgia stuff that.