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The Island: Trekkah Benjamin on His New Project with Nottingham Community Arts Network Aiming to Support Young Males with Mental Health Issues

Through his charity organisation C.A.N, artist Trekkah Benjamin has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund a program that aims to help young men in communicating mental health issues...

Local Promoters Now Offering To Sell Your Soul for £666

In a move that would make Rishi Sunak and the government's new careers advice service proud, Nottingham-based music promoters I’m Not From London have diversified into beer, book publishing and satanic rituals…

Nottingham Arts and Culture Venues Given Government Funding Lifeline with Culture Recovery Fund

Seventeen organisations have received combined funding totalling over £4.5 million to help with post-COVID recovery...

Doughnotts Have Been Nominated for a National Award - Here's How You Can Help Them Win

They've been delivering tasty treats...

Burra Khana Have Got a Tantalizing New Menu - And You Can Get a Mega Discount

Delicious and discounted? Yes please. 

Nusic Advice Video: How to Smash Your Branding as a Musician

In 2020, branding yourself well as a musician is real important. It's no longer just the major labels that are thinking about it. As an independent artist - you should spend time working out what your brand is, and how best to communicate that brand - as it'll help you reach your musical goals.

The Nottingham Project's Greg Nugent: "We’re a creative city where culture thrives, but when other cities were upping their game, we stood still"

With a ten-year vision of turning Nottingham into a globally-recognised cultural heavyweight, and a board including the likes of Shane Meadows and Vicky McClure, last month saw the ambitious launch of The Nottingham Project. Spearheaded by the new Nottingham Board for Culture and Creativity, the project will seek to rejuvenate the city in the wake of a pandemic that has decimated much of the creative industry. As the director of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, Project chairman Greg Nugent knows what it takes to deliver on the biggest scale. We caught up with the man at the helm to find out more about what the city’s creative community has to look forward to...

Fancy Learning Something New? Confetti's Accessible Foundation Courses Have Got You Covered

During lockdown, many people have been using the time to reflect on what they want to do in life. If you’ve been one of them and are fancying a career change or even just want to learn something new, why not get yourself on one of Confetti’s courses... 

The Young Hustlers Are A Brand-New Panel of Teens Putting Their Stamp on the City's Future

Meet Nottingham’s Young Hustlers, a group of six 13-16 year olds looking to make their mark on the city’s creative future…

Exploring the LGBTQ+ Community and Nottingham’s Night-time Culture

As part of his studies in Notts, promoter and DJ Rory Evans spent time exploring the link between the gay community and disco music. For Leftlion he turns this interest local, speaking with Nottingham’s key LGBTQ+ figures to understand this side of our city’s clubland further, and in light of recent club closures, show why these empty dancefloors are just so significant…

Film Review: Ride Your Wave

Following a wave of successful recent anime film releases in the UK, this charming new animated feature makes its digital debut...

The Winners of the Young Creative Awards 2020 Are...

The Young Creative Awards are an annual celebration of all the amazing things the mega-talented youths in our city can produce. Previous winners have performed at Splendour, published books and even designed for Beyonce. Every year the standard gets higher and higher, and 2020 has been no exception. Get impressed and inspired by this year’s winning work, and get their names on your radar – we’ve got a feeling they’re all worth keeping an eye out for in the future…

The Nottingham Project Launches to Rejuvenate the City’s Cultural Scene

The major new project, which includes Vicky McClure, Shane Meadows and Director of the London 2012 Organising Committee Greg Nugent, will aim to breathe new life into the city post-COVID.

Nusic No Rules Session: Saint Raymond - Right Way Round // Adore You (Cover)

Our first No Rules Session features Saint Raymond on the Council House balcony.

The idea was that whilst we can’t do Future Sessions, which have more rules than an EU trade deal, we’d record whoever we want, wherever we want, maybe even let them commit Nusic blasphemy and do a cover. We’re drawing the line at sessioning artists from Derby though. Or are we?

Flying Home During COVID: Your Stories of Getting Back to Notts During Coronavirus

Those who had holidays booked as the COVID crisis began to escalate were faced with a difficult decision: to go ahead with their plans and risk getting sick or stranded, or give up their hard-earned holidays and take the financial hit. But for some, the situation was out of their control, as they were already abroad by the time the health crisis had become a serious issue. With panic starting, misinformation spreading and lockdown looming, they faced a ticking clock to get back to the UK before it was too late…

12 Stories and Poetry Collections You Should Read During Lockdown

Our Literature Editor runs down some of the books that have kept her busy during these times...

Book Review: Shell by Paula Rawsthorne

We checked out the young adult novel...

Isolation Art Mail Allows You to Work Creatively with Others Through the Post

In a bid to inspire creative communication through traditional, tangible methods, Tracey Meek is combating loneliness and isolation the old-fashioned way. We caught up with the artist to discuss Isolation Art Mail, her community art intervention project that encourages people to share a collaborative chain letter of unfinished artwork...

5 Nottinghamshire Artists You Can Support from Home

Back in mid-March, before our lives took an unexpected turn, Nottingham Contemporary hosted a fair celebrating all things print. It was my last cultural day out, and with a variety of workshops and some thirty stalls to browse, it did not disappoint. The fair introduced me to many talented makers based here in Nottingham, and now, without galleries to visit, it’s a great time to bring art into the home, while supporting Nottingham’s creative community.

Here are a few of the featured artists, whose works are available for purchase…

Notts Music and Merch You Can Buy Today to Support Anti-Racism Causes

Bandcamp waives its fees one day every month to help support artists in lockdown. We’ve put together a list of artists who are choosing to donate money raised today to local and global funds and charities that help to fight racial injustice. 

Nusic Advice Video: Sorting Your Merch in Lockdown

Merch can arguably earn unsigned musicians more dollar than anything else (at the start of your career). In this vid, we talk designing, manufacturing, plus selling your merch. JLS also make an appearance. As does Mark in a wig. He’s not in JLS.

NHS @ 70: The Organisation Collecting Your Stories, Memories and Opinions of the NHS

Up until recently, it’s fair to say that many of us have been guilty of taking the NHS for granted. But as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the country, stretching the health service to its absolute limits, you can’t help but feel that, as a nation, we’re finally starting to truly understand the value of what we’re lucky to have. One organisation was well-ahead of the curve on the appreciation front, however, as the NHS at 70: The Story of Our Lives project has been collating stories, memories and experiences of the NHS for a few years, and 2020 has seen them focus their attention on the East Midlands. We talk to Oral History and Public Engagement Coordinator James McSharry to find out more...

Young Nottingham Musicians Make Friends Across the World in Lockdown

Educational youth charity Nottingham Music Hub have been making friends across Europe during lockdown by releasing a socially-distanced music video, performed by the Robin Hood Youth Orchestra...

Thank You Key Workers Colouring Page

Our Emily Catherine has kindly whipped up a peach of an illustration for you lot to colour in – all you need to do is click the link below to download a printable PDF. So grab your pens, pencils and crayons, turn off your phone, ignore the outside world and relax. Happy doodling…

Notts Street Art: A Checklist for Your Daily Walk

Hands up if you're missing the whole heap of real-world culture that Notts has to offer? I think it's safe to say we all are. But while we stay safe and stay home, there is one artistic offering still available from this city. So the next time you’re on your daily walk, run or cycle, take a minute to look around at the art pieces that aren’t in galleries or on our screens, but sit on Nottingham’s walls, buildings and side streets...