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Gig review: Kofi Stone at Rescue Rooms

Straight off the top: the Nottingham jam nights where musicians test their skills

Anyone who takes a deeper than average dive into Notts music will probably come across a corner of the scene with a very particular kind of magic – jam sessions – improvisation events where new connections are forged and the music is completely different each time. Acoustickle’s Parisa East and Joe Egan, founder of popular jam Perkalater, talk about why these occasions are valuable. 

A semester in Notts: US photographer John Dean's snapshot of Nottingham in the 70s

In the Spring of 1976, a then twenty-year-old photography student named John Dean arrived in Nottingham unaware that he would go on to capture some of the most beautiful, compelling and personal street photographs our city has ever seen. Five decades later, many of those images are being shown for the first time in a new exhibition at Bonington Gallery; A Semester in Nottingham, 1976. 

Ahead of his exhibition, held at the very university that he briefly studied at fifty years ago, Dani Bacon sat down for a transatlantic Teams call (with a questionable signal), to talk to John about his time in Nottingham, his career and why he’s chosen now as the perfect time to unveil his photographs.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #42: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2026, our music team reviews new releases from Leah Wilcox, Eyre Llew and Origin One & Snowy... 

Gig review: Seas of Mirth at Rough Trade

Seas of Mirth returned to Nottingham on a tide of hilarity and art, bringing jellyfish, tug-of-war and quirky musicianship to the Rough Trade floor. Here's what went down...

Theatre review: Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal

Why go to London’s West End when London’s West End can come to you? Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon did just that when his spectacular production opened last night at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal...

Life Behind Bars with Tong Man, Proprietor at The Pillar Box Sherwood

We dropped into Sherwood hotspot The Pillar Box to speak to proprietor Tong Man

Theatre review: Nine Sixteenths at Nottingham Playhouse

The story and epic fallout of Janet Jackson’s 2004 Super Bowl is creatively re-examined through the lens of a real-life, queer black girl coming of age tale in this authentic, eye-opening and funny four-woman show.

Undercover Artist: Dani Bacon snaps Notts most curious emporium, Hopkinson Vintage, Antiques and Art Centre

We chat to LeftLion Photography Co-editor and this month’s cover artist, Dani Bacon about photography, juggling projects and Bjork...

A one way ticket to nostalgia: visiting Alfreton's 80s Video Shop

Right on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire sits the 80s Video Shop – a one-way ticket to the age of neon, fuelled by original Big Box Rental VHS Tapes. Owners Chris Annable and Rob Lane talk to us about the story behind this tucked away portal to another time… 

Theatre Interview: Rosalie Minnit, star of Clementine, appearing at Nottingham Playhouse in April

Lady Clementine has until her 27th birthday to find The One. But love is never easy and Clementine promises a show that is both funny and thought provoking. Rosalie Minnit, actress and writer behind the show, shares her insights with Leftlion...  

Out of Time: how truth serum solved a theft case in Notts

When it comes to court cases, there have been few in Nottingham that have ended up in the history books for their sheer oddness, but for this month’s Out of Time we recount a bizarre whodunnit that happened on Ilkeston Road and claims to be the first time in Britain that a truth drug was admitted into evidence… 

Northern Ballet presents Gentleman Jack; the extraordinary story of Anne Lister

This year, the world premiere of Northern Ballet’s new full-length ballet Gentleman Jack, is set to captivate audiences as part of a nationwide tour, with performances at Nottingham's Theatre Royal from 13-16 May...

St. Paddy's Day and... unemployed donkeys? Here's what's on this week in Nottingham, 16 - 22 March

Each week in Notts is different, but during the coming week there's set to be a particularly high amount of events that set themselves aside from the norm... here's what's going on... 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #41: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Willow Bay, Drivelheads, LOCAL LOSER and Firmament...

These Streets Are Ours: Beeston

In our latest edition of love letters to Nottingham neighbourhoods, local wordsmith Matt Turpin, editor of The Beestonian magazine, discusses the creative melting pot of Beeston.

Hidden Threats: Why Creatives Should Scan for Rootkits on Their Devices

Today's creative workers spend practically all of their time working in digital environments. Designers, editors of videos, photographers, musicians, and artists keep everything on their devices. We are talking about portfolios and client data, sensitive projects and even personal thoughts. That is why their laptops became an attractive target for cybercriminals.

Notts folk rockers Connexion Man talk songwriting and shared history

Connexion Man are a relatively fresh name on the Nottingham circuit, but their roots in the city still run deep. Built on long standing friendships, shared history and a renewed love for their home’s music community, the group are reconnecting with the scene that first shaped them. Ahead of a debut record and gig at The Grove, the band talk about returning to Notts and their evolving sound. 

Seascapes and cemeteries: Spring 2026 at the Nottingham Contemporary

Two intriguing new exhibitions titled Lines That World A River and Cemetery of Martyrs have found a home at the Nottingham Contemporary, exploring culture and history in Pakistan and the Middle East.

Left Stag: March - Arsenal in town

Can the country's finest do it on a mild midday in Mansfield? 

Pick six: Veronica Pickering, Nottinghamshire's Lord-Lieutenant

To celebrate International Women’s Day we put some questions to Veronica Pickering, the first woman to be appointed as Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, a former High Sheriff, and a champion of our local communities.

ThreadsXchange: the sustainable fashion event set to foster community in Nottingham

This month, a brand new stylists and designers market takes over the ground floor of Hyson Green’s New Art Exchange. Blending music, art, and sustainable fashion, Thread Xchange aims to make itself the antidote to perpetual fast fashion, doomscrolling, and in general, cultural habits that aren’t good for us and prevent us from connecting with other people. Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Ighofose, who founded the event, walks us through why Thread Xchange is well worth a visit.  

Gig review: Less Than Jake, The Bouncing Souls, The Aquabats and The Bar Stool Preachers at Rock City

On their ninth time appearing at Rock City, ska-punk legends Less Than Jake brought waves of nostalgia and cheer to Nottingham, supported by The Bar Stool Preachers, The Aquabats!, and The Bouncing Souls...

Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet launches yoga sessions alongside their immersive Nottingham summer exhibition

Fancy doing some stretches to a backdrop of Van Gogh's Starry Night? Or perfecting your balance while staring at Monet's The Beach at Sainte-Adresse? Nottingham art lovers have the opportunity take part in a unique series of yoga sessions this summer set amid some of the world’s most mesmerising masterpieces.

Shaking the foundations: Nate Coltrane on the next stages of creative project Our Yard

If ‘Our Yard’ is a phrase as of yet unfamiliar to you, it’s definitely worth visiting the New Art Exchange this month. Currently, the Hyson Green-based gallery is hosting Our Yard: Foundations – a multimedia exhibition curated by Notts music promoter and community organiser Nate Coltrane, which bookends years of creative work he’s been doing to highlight immigration’s positive impact on the UK. In advance of the exhibition’s launch, Nate walked us through how Our Yard has evolved since its inception.