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Theatre Review: Punch

The Playhouse's world premiere unveils a world-class production 

Film Review: Challengers

Luca Guadagnino returns to the big screen with a combination of high tempo tennis and melodramatic love triangles..

We visit The Sparrows' Nest, an archive of activism, anarchy and radical history spanning over fifty years

It’s often the places you least expect that can lead you into a treasure trove of forgotten secrets and hidden gems. This is true of The Sparrows’ Nest, which recently celebrated fifteen years. Disguised as a regular house in the middle of St Ann’s, it houses an incredible collection of flyers, books, leaflets and most importantly, local press and zines centred around activism, anarchy and radical history spanning over fifty years.

Gig review: Rachel Chinouriri at Metronome

Now 25 and having made music since she was 17, Rachel Chinouriri’s road to her debut album has been a long one. But through pandemics and label battles, the day has finally arrived where the Brit/alt-pop singer-songwriter’s first record, What A Devastating Turn of Events, is finally out in the world. To see her celebrate the occasion, we headed to Metronome for her album launch show…

Sneinton’s Backlit Gallery to receive almost £500k in funding from Arts Council England

Fantastic news for Nottingham’s creative community as Sneinton’s Backlit Gallery is set to receive Arts Council funding to secure and develop their building.

Gig review: New Currents festival at Trent Navigation

Could there be a better way to spend the Bank Holiday weekend than watching some of the best young musicians in Nottingham perform, under the scorching hot sun, with a beer in hand, whilst raising money for charity? We don’t think so, which is why we headed over to New Currents festival at Trent Navigation for this all-day event…

Gig review: Frank Turner world record at Saltbox

15 shows. 15 cities. 24 hours. That’s right, singer-songwriter, punk legend and all-round nice guy Frank Turner took album promotion to the next level on the early May bank holiday weekend, attempting to break a Guinness World Record for most shows in different cities in the space of 24 hours. Stopping off at Saltbox during this crazy sprint across the country, we went along to support the cause…

Theatre Review: A Tribute to Amy + Screening: Back to Black

Theatre Review: A Tribute to Amy + Screening: Back to Black

Nottingham Chamber Music Festival is Bringing Classical Music to Contemporary Spaces this July

Classical music isn't just for posh people, you know. Nottingham Chamber Music Festival is out to prove the point with inclusive performances in venues like Nottingham Contemporary's Blend café, Delilah Fine Foods, and St Mary's Church in the Lace Market. There are also family performances and free admission events for people wanting to dip their toe in the genre...

Music Reviews: May 2024

May music reviews: Grain Mother, Wilf Spiv, Bad Milk Blood Robot, Josie Beth, Seven Dark Lords and Katie Keddie

Sting, Nile Rodgers & CHIC and Anne Marie To Perform At Sherwood Pines For Forest Live This June

Forest Live, the summer concert series presented by Forestry England, has announced that Nile Rodgers and Sting will both perform at Sherwood Pines this June. They are the first artists to be announced in the series, which takes place in unique forest settings around England...

A History of Nottingham Forest FC Fanzines

We take a deep dive into the history of Nottingham Forest FC fanzines and fan publications, from the 1980s to the present day...

We Speak to Julie Pritchard, Creator of 1980s-90s Nottingham Forest Football Fanzine Brian

It’s the late ‘80s, the internet doesn’t exist yet, and neither does the Premier League. However, the community around local football clubs is strong and one avid supporter, Julie Pritchard, decides it’s time for a Nottingham Forest fanzine. Thus Brian is born lasting eight years and 47 issues…

Elevating voices of the Global Ethnic Majority with Transform, a city takeover by New Art Exchange

With aims to celebrate and amplify the leadership, creativity, and broader cultural stewardship of the Global Ethnic Majority in Nottingham through music, film, talks and more, pioneering Forest Fields art gallery New Art Exchange is soon to launch Transform, a City Takeover. We spoke to CEO & Artistic Director Saad Eddine-Said and Associate Artistic Director Saziso Phiri, about this new festival.

Free Green Hustle Festival Returns to Old Market Square this June

Green Hustle returns on Saturday 1 June with another all singing, soil-slinging festival of positive action, and it's all taking place smack bang in the middle of town...

A vegan market, coffee club, opera and a fair dedicated to records and a love of music: Here’s what’s on in Nottingham this week: 6 May – 12 May 2024

This week in Nottingham! Get yourself down to a market selling only vegan produce, a vinyl record fair, some opera and a friendly coffee club

Eclectic Nottingham jazz rock band Otala tell us about their new single Commedia

Teetering on the intersection between post-rock, spoken word poetry, and new-age jazz, Otala have garnered local interest for their unique tapestry of creative inspiration. Their latest single Commedia marks the beginning of an exciting year for the band. We sat down with frontman Oscar Thorpe, saxophonist Charlotte Foulkes, and drummer Fin Hills to talk about their upcoming record…

We take a look at the history of zines, including many homegrown mini-mags made right here in Notts

From its roots in 30s sci-fi fan fiction and 70s New York punk, the illustrious medium of the zine has sprouted many fascinating publications, with many homegrown mini-mags made right here in Notts. Let us take you on a whistlestop tour of this curious corner of culture…

LeftLion Issue #171 May 2024

This month's edition of LeftLion takes a deep dive into the world of fanzines and indie publishing in Nottingham. Read about football fanzines The Pie and Brian, St Ann's anarchist archive Sparrows' Nest, a new exhibition about the Women's Liberation Movement in Nottingham, and hear from the creators of Moan Zine and Queer Zine. We also interview Notts party people Soul Buggin', businessman Brian Butterfield, and Skate Nottingham.

Gig review: Katie Keddie at Rough Trade

Staying true to her dreamy, indie-folk roots, Notts-based singer-songwriter Katie Keddie transported the punters at Rough Trade to an otherworldly soundscape, delivering a highly anticipated EP launch party ...

In Photos: Stone Cold Hustle at Peggy's Skylight

Gig review: Fat White Family at Rough Trade

It was out with the old and in with the new as Fat White Family came to Nottingham's Rough Trade to give a stripped-back performance of some of their latest tracks...