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Theatre Review: The Last Noel at the Lace Market Theatre

At the Lace Market Theatre, Christmas nostalgia meets the sting of memory,  with nowhere to hide from either...

Gig review: Ice Nine Kills at Motorpoint Arena

It may be Christmas time, but for one Wednesday night in mid-December, the Motorpoint Arena took us firmly back to Halloween season. Paying homage to classic horror movies both old and new, American metal outfit Ice Nine Kills brought their latest arena tour to Nottingham and it was simply one of the most over-the-top, theatrical and madcap shows we’ve ever witnessed. Here’s how the carnage unfolded…

The Nottingham Culture Review of 2025

2025 is almost at an end, but what happened? Here's our potted history of another year of culture and entertainment in Notts…

Gig review: Wolf Alice at Motorpoint Arena

As Wolf Alice have evolved into one of the best and most beloved bands in Britain, Nottingham has been there with them every step of the way. From providing a support slot for Swim Deep at Rescue Rooms well over a decade ago, to giving them their first mosh pit at The Bodega, to playing a midday slot at Dot-to-Dot and then later headlining Rock City, our city has always been a key part of their journey. Now as they complete the UK leg of their first arena tour, it seems fitting that Nottingham is the final stop. Here’s what went down…

Gig review: The Rasmus at Rock City

It may be close to the end of 2025, but for one night only, The Rasmus transported us back to 2003 for the final night of their Weirdo tour at Rock City,  accompanied by fellow Finnish band Block of Flats and American emo rockers The Funeral Portrait. From within a beautifully mixed crowd of longtime fans, younger listeners and older fans reliving their youth and chasing that sweet feeling of nostalgia, the show was full of energy and enthusiasm, from the bands and fans alike...

Theatre Review: The Little Mermaid at Nottingham Playhouse

This fresh take on The Little Mermaid is capturing hearts and catching imaginations... 

Exhibition review: Prisoners of Love: Until the Sun of Freedom

A powerful, affective exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary, Prisoners of Love: Until the Sun of Freedom simulates the physical and psychological confinement that Palestinians face on a small and large scale, while exploring the possibilities for resistance that emerge from these conditions.

Gig review: Stereophonics at Motorpoint Arena

Welsh group Stereophonics are a key component of the British indie rock scene, playing a role in its development since their formation in 1992. Fronted by Kelly Jones, the band's popularity remains high, as a packed out show at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena proved...

Gig review: Alessi Rose at Rock City

Alessi Rose is becoming a more and more familiar name in the pop landscape. On the tail end of a year that’s included tours with Dua Lipa, she leans wholesale into the trend toward hyper-authenticity in pop, condensing thoughts of love and loss, of joy and mundanity, of disappointment and optimism into finely honed, irresistibly catchy tunes. Rock City played host to her Nottingham tour date...

Gig review: Don Broco at Motorpoint Arena

With stellar support from Magnolia Park, YONAKA and State Champs, a headline Nottingham Arena show from Don Broco saw a cathartic reminiscence of where they've been - and where they're heading next...

Gig review: Deafheaven at The Palais

Deafheaven are a band with multiple two sides, having roots in shoegaze as well as bringing in elements of darker, heavier to their developing musical catalogue. As we headed down to The Palais on a dark Sunday evening, we were excited to find out which side we would see...

Gig review: Everything Everything at Rock City

It’s safe to say, Mancunian art-rockers Everything Everything love playing in Nottingham. In fact, since the start of 2024 alone, the band had already played our city four times, including earlier this year with The Wombats at Motorpoint Arena. However, this fifth visit to Nottingham in under two years was for a very special occasion – a 10th Anniversary celebration of their beloved third album Get To Heaven. We went along to join the party at Rock City on a cold, wet Monday night…

Theatre Review: Sleeping Beauty at Nottingham Playhouse

This year's Playhouse panto brings us a classic tale with modern twists. You may become spellbound but, unlike the princess, you most definitely will not fall asleep... 

Gig review: Home Counties at The Bodega, with My First Time

Home Counties dropped by The Bodega on their tour for their second album, Humdrum, which has been generating some serious excitement for alternative music fans across a range of genres. Joined by new kids on the block My First Time, a funked-up, energy-packed evening was in store for the Pelham Street punters…

Theatre Review: Cinderella at the Theatre Royal

It's the latest festive romp from Nottingham's Theatre Royal, starring Craig Revel Horwood as the Wicked Stepmother...

Left Magpie: December 2025 - What are we Now?

Our Notts County columnist Julian McDougall, is back with a report of the last month of action at Notts County FC...

Gig review: Gary Numan at Rock City, with Raven Numan

Gary Numan was an experimental electronic music and gothic pioneer back in the 80s. He arrived like a pitch-black meteor onto the UK music scene, bringing with him a wave of influence and playful, performative darkness, and became one of the most influential and entirely unique acts this country has produced. Recently, Numan released the 45th Anniversary Expanded Edition of his 1980 album Telekon, and embarked on a huge anniversary tour, bringing along his daughter Raven Numan and her band to support. We joined the tour at the legendary Rock City...

Gig review: Warmduscher at Rescue Rooms

For the third time in as many years, Warmduscher, the epitome of the phrase “chaos but good chaos”, paid Nottingham a visit. And, of course, LeftLion got in on the action...

Left Brian: November 2025 - Three Bald Musketeers

Our Forest columnist Julie Pritchard, the creator of the classic nineties 'Brian' fanzine, seems delighted by the new dawn at Forest under Dyche, Woan and Stone...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #36: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2025, our music team reviews new releases from Marseille, Kelsey and The Embers, Richard Snow and ALT BLK ERA...

LeftLion Issue #190 December 2025

Classical Music Review: The Aurora Orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall

The Aurora Orchestra returned to Nottingham with four outstanding but contrasting classics. They also gave a demonstration of their unique performance style...  

Exhibition review: Ukranian Social Club at Backlit Gallery

Ukrainian Social Club is a collaboration between Backlit and the Nottingham Ukrainian Cultural Centre based in Carrington, Sherwood, focusing on Ciaran Spencer’s photography alongside artefacts representing Nottingham’s Ukrainian community across 75 years. It is an intimate, emotionally layered exhibition merging portraiture, film, textiles and tradition to tell a story of resilience across generations in the face of war and displacement.

Gig review: Inspiral Carpets at Rock City

Following the hammer blow which was the news of the sudden passing of The Stone Roses’ ebullient and much -loved bassist Mani the day before, it felt strangely apt to spend the next night in the company of some of their Mancunian peers: Inspiral Carpets

Gig review: Baxter Dury at Rock City

Baxter Dury returns to the East Midlands just as sharp, as he enters his dance-pop era. The last time we saw him in Nottingham was hitting supporting duties for Primal Scream back in April. Now, with his ninth studio album in tow, Dury gets to do it all again. But this time as the leading man...