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Comedy Interview: Ben Macpherson from Nottingham Comedy Festival

Ben is a familiar face on the Nottingham comedy circuit, including Club Wormhole and Apple of Discord. And in November he's one of the acts at the Nottingham Comedy Festival. He shares some of his comedy secrets with Left Lion...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #48: Notts music we're currently spinning

This week, our music team reviews new releases from Ben McElroy, KID SPIRIT and E.R. Thorpe...

Hart of the Wood: the film installations at Newstead Abbey inspired by forest folklore

With its elegant ruins, serene rolling gardens and rich literary history, Newstead Abbey already makes for an atmospheric autumnal wander, but currently, another escape awaits within its historic landscape. Dotted within the grounds, the Hart of the Wood project shares a series of intriguing 16mm films exploring the seasons, our relationship with folklore and the land. We spoke to Notts filmmaker Benjamin Wigley to hear about the artistry and story behind these curious hand-powered moving pictures…

Life's a drag: we speak to Doxxie Phisher and Benthic Zone about their upcoming show Nightmare! Nightmare! Kill! Kill!

Nottingham’s drag scene has exploded in recent years with many new characters. We meet Doxxie Phmorisher and Benthic Zone to talk about queer venues, developing drag characters and what to expect from their show, Nightmare! Nightmare! Kill! Kill!

Art is the heart: what to expect from year two of Art Fest in Notts

With its first year in 2024 bringing 34 new murals to Nottingham’s streets, Art Fest is back this month to splash more colour and creativity on walls throughout the city. Festival Director Benjamin Kay, who co-runs The Carousel in Hockley, tells us why he set up the festival and what to expect from this year…

Words to live by: marking one decade of the Nottingham Poetry Festival with poet Ben Macpherson

This month marks the tenth anniversary of Nottingham Poetry Festival - a kaleidoscopic set of events that sees poetry collide with activities like musical open mics, meditation and arts and crafts, all the while celebrating the art form, and its age-old centrality to the city of Nottingham. To mark the occasion, festival producer and local poet Ben Macpherson told us about the festival’s importance to Nottingham, and what people can expect from this year. 

Nottingham author Dr Paul Crawford is back with a new mystery novel, The Wonders of Doctor Bent

Professor of Health Humanities at the University of Nottingham, Dr Paul Crawford is back with a new mystery novel, The Wonders of Doctor Bent. Aurora Amaryllis speaks to Paul about how his passion for creative writing converges with his experience researching institutional mental health.

Book Review: Ben Macpherson's 'Serious Nonsense for the Unbearably Festive'

As the nights get dark and a New Year draws closer, we turn to some cheeky, cheering new poetry...

Nadia on... the benefits of wealth tax

Nottingham East Labour MP talks about the benefits of wealth tax

Brews, hairdos and tunes: Trekkah Benjamin reflects on the 10th anniversary of Phlexx Records

Currently celebrating its 10th birthday, Phlexx Records has made its name as one of Notts’ most successful labels, since its founding in 2013 by local names Trekkah Benjamin and Bru-C. With the recent set-up of their new record store, adjoining coffee shop, and barber shop on Weekday Cross, we caught up with Trekkah to reminisce on the history of Phlexx and their ambitions to move ever up and onwards.

We catch up with landlord Ben Rose as The Angel Microbrewery opens a new upstairs lounge

There are few publicans as busy as Ben Rose. Having owned the beloved Hockley food and music hotspot The Angel Microbrewery since 2016, he’s continuously evolving the historic pub and its adjoining live music venue The Chapel through new events and an exciting seasonal menu. With the opening of a new, multi-purpose space upstairs called The Chesterfield Lounge, we caught up with Ben on his ethos for running a pub, his plans for The Angel, and the small historical discoveries he continues to make there.

LeftLion's Latest Listens: Notts music we're currently spinning

Kicking 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.

Gig review: Ben McElroy at By Our Hands, with R.Dyer and Leah Sinead

A special evening of experimental folk at the unique, intimate venue By Our Hands, in Sneinton Avenues...

We speak to Benjamin Wigley, director of Paa Joe & the Lion ahead of Nottingham Poetry Festival

Next year, Nottingham Poetry Festival will be celebrating its tenth anniversary. The longevity and success of the festival, which began as a project by Confetti and is now its own company, is an ode to Nottingham’s burgeoning poetry scene. This year, part of a jam-packed programme, is a screening of three films featuring poetry by the late, great, Benjamin Zephaniah. We spoke to the film's director and friend of Zephaniah, Benjamin Wigley, along with the festival’s creative director, Alma Solarte-Tobón.

Competition: Win A Pair of Tickets to Boho Family Festival with Martin Kemp, Ben Volpierre-Pierrot and Jeremy Healy

Boho is a three-day family festival taking place from July 26 – 28 2024 at Millview Glamping and Events site in Newton, a 30minute drive from the city centre. The line-up includes Martin Kemp from Spandau Ballet, Ben Volpierre-Pierrot from Curiosity Killed the Cat and singer Jeremy Healy as well as plenty of local talent.

We have two pairs of tickets to give away. To enter just fill out your details in the form below. This competition is open until Weds 19 June 2024. Our winners will be chosen at random on Thursday 20 June and notified by email soon after. Note these competition dates have been extended by a week.

In photos: Affleck's Palace at The Bodega

Nature and nurture: the benefits volunteering at Friends of Wollaton Nature Reserve

Within Nottingham’s large catalogue of green spaces, Martin’s Pond, Harrison’s Plantation and Raleigh Pond are three hidden gems tucked away five minutes’ walk from Wollaton Park. In 1976, these sites were collectively recognised as Nottingham’s first Local Nature Reserve. To learn more about this tranquil locale we spoke to the couple that head Friends of Wollaton Nature Reserves, the volunteer group which have diligently cared for the reserve since 2003.

A Deep Dive into William ‘Bendigo’ Thompson - Nottingham's 19th Century Bareknuckle Boxer

This month we take you on a trip back to the early 19th century, to paint a picture of a very different Nottingham, where prize-fighter turned evangelist Bendigo rose from the slums to become a national hero in the ring.

We Hear about Under the Bridge From the Project’s Coordinator Trekkah Benjamin

The Under the Bridge project is a men's group that explores the positive mental health impacts of spending time in Blue Spaces. Established in the spring of 2022, the project has been delivering weekly sessions in, on and around water. Project Coordinator Trekkah Benjamin tells us more…

Notts Filmmakers Michael and Rafe Bird Discuss Genre-Bending Short Spooky Bastard

We chat to the brothers about their fantastic, subversive film...

With the Intention of Building Community, Ben Stuchbury Chats About His New Group Intertwine

Our Rose Mason meets Ben Stuchbury at Blend, settling in for a long chat about his journey from business to spirituality, and all that’s been going on with his new community project, Intertwine…

Disniversity Co-host Ben Travis Chats Bambi, Empire Magazine and His Love of Nottingham

From doing work experience at the Nottingham Post (look, we’re not all perfect) to becoming Deputy Online Editor at Empire magazine, Nottingham’s Ben Travis has become a leading voice in the screen world. Yet his passion for cinema doesn’t end with his day job - he’s also set up Disniversity, a podcast diving into the history of, you guessed it, Disney. We chat to the film fanatic ahead of his live show at the London Podcast Festival…

We Sit Down With Nottingham’s Ben Norris and Cassie Bradley Ahead of Their Trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Two-time UK national poetry slam champion writer Ben Norris is taking his new show Autopilot to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, starring Cassie Bradley. The two Nottingham born actors chat with us about the themes of the play and how it compares to other projects they've been involved with...

Film Review: Benediction

Starring Nottingham's own Tom Blyth, this new film from Terence Davies is interesting, but not overwhelmingly successful...

Film Review: Benedetta

If there's one thing Paul Verhoeven is known for, it's causing controversy. Is his latest release, Benedetta, any different? Hell no...