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Harmony at the Hall: Shipstone Street Jazz Orchestra

Summer Nights at Nottingham Castle: Musicals Live with Live Orchestra

Exhibition review: Drawn Through Time at Lakeside Arts

Nottingham's cultural landscape has quietly become one of the most exciting in the Midlands, with Lakeside Arts consistently bringing ambitious exhibitions to the city that challenge how audiences engage with contemporary art. Its latest exhibition, Drawn Through Time, is no exception. Housed within the Djanogly Gallery at the University of Nottingham, the exhibition takes what many might consider the simplest of artistic practices – drawing – and transforms it into something far richer: a way of navigating history, memory and imagination.

Summer Nights at Nottingham Castle: Country at the Castle

Forged by Nottingham: how artist Alicja Biała turned community stories into a new Maid Marian statue

Ahead of the unveiling of Maid Marian Way’s new statue, artist Alicja Biała talks to LeftLion about her creative process, community involvement and why representation of women in public spaces matters.

Summer Nights at Nottingham Castle - 80's Mix Tape with Live Orchestra

Altered State: Nottingham’s vital role in 1990s dance culture

In his book Altered State: The Story of Ecstasy Culture and Acid House, journalist Matthew Collin documents the cultural explosion sparked by the potent combination of house music and MDMA, which catalysed a remarkable upsurge of creative activity, from London to Glasgow, Manchester to Belfast – and Nottingham. Matthew tells us what made the city integral in this powerful cultural movement.

BIPC Women's Network

Meet 2Two’s and Omari Marsalis: the champs of the Future Sound of Nottingham award 2026

Last month the Future Sound of Nottingham awards took place once again, giving seven artists the chance to battle it out on Rock City’s main stage. With a diverse line up of exceptional talent, ranging from folk and alternative rock to soul and grime, the audience and industry panel placed their votes for who should play at this year’s Splendour Festival. We spoke to winners 2Two’s and Omari Marsalis to hear where they came from and how they’re feeling about opening Splendour.

Binks Yard Film Club - Mean Girls

Undercover Artist: Pink Menace on Pride, collaborative art and grassroots queer groups in Notts…

We spoke to this month’s cover artists Raffa and Benji, a.k.a. Pink Menace about Pride, collaborative art and grassroots queer groups in Notts…

Pick Six: playwright and actor William Ivory

For this month’s Pick Six we turned to Notts born screenwriter, playwright and actor William Ivory ahead of his play The Market Deeping Model Railway Club, which runs at the Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 25 July.

When We Were B Boys: how breakdancing took over 1980s Nottingham

This year marks the tenth anniversary of a documentary about a less widely recognised part of Nottingham history. NG83: When We Were B Boys, follows a particular few years in the mid 80s when, through happenstance, Notts became the UK’s unofficial breakdancing capital. In advance of two events celebrating the anniversary of the film, two of its co-directors: Claude Knight and Luke Scott, reminisce on making it.

Punk, sustainability, physical theatre and opera on screen: here's what's on in Notts this week: events 6 - 12 July

We've got quite the variety of events happening this week, from opera on screen and DIY punk gigs with Bad Milk Blood Robot to theatre infused with circus skills. Here's our top picks...

Could Be Real Tribute Festival

Everything to know about Side Door Social: where Notts creatives showcase their work

Ever wondered what to do with those almost-finished creative projects, or have you just been seeking opportunities to share personal passions? Side Door Social, a new Nottingham social enterprise, is probably what you’re looking for. Their founder Si Beales and creative director Bo Beales tell us all about it...

We Love Pop Fest

People Laughing: Music to dance and cry to

People Laughing landed on the Nottingham music scene in January 2026 with big tunes, smooth aesthetics and catchy songwriting. The trio, made up of singer/guitarist Matt Grocott, bassist Ollie Carnell and drummer Luke Hallam, have showed no sign of showing, with a three-date residency at Nottingham’s legendary Acoustic Rooms, sets at big venues including The Bodega and Rescue Rooms, and even an appearance at Nottingham’s biggest festival, Splendour, upcoming. Singer Matt joined up for a chat to tell us all about the project, what they draw from and what’s next...

LeftLion Magazine Issue #197 July 2026

Our July issue features Notts Pride 2026, NG83: When We Were B Boys, the drag queens of Nottingham, Sidedoor Social, the Future Sound of Nottingham 2026 winners, Write Queer, and loads more... 

Ac/Dc Uk

Ac/Dc Uk

Clubland Live, Nottingham

More than a gig a day: Catching up with Isaac Neilson

Singer-songwriter Isaac Neilson is from Buxton in our neighbouring county and based here in Nottingham. But since 1 January it’s been hard to find him in the city. On that fateful day, Neilson began a mind-blowing challenge: to perform a gig on every single day of 2026. LeftLion caught up with Neilson at the halfway point of the year…

In photos: Radfest 2026

A warm midsummer's day and a packed line-up of talented young artists and bands from our area - what could be better? For its ninth edition, Radfest once again delivered great music, food and drink, family entertainment and the opportunity for younger performers to be seen and heard. Here are our photographer Nigel King's shots of this year's voyage of discovery...

The Convenience Trap: What We're Giving Up for Frictionless Technology

There's a moment, somewhere between tapping your contactless card on a bus reader and letting your phone auto-order your usual from Deliveroo, when you realise you haven't made a deliberate choice in quite some time. You've just moved through your day like water finding the path of least resistance, and the technology around you has been quietly smoothing every surface to make sure that happened.