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We Chat to Rising Star Harleighblu About Her New Album, Hideout, and What the Future Has in Store for the Notts Artist

For quite some time now, neo soul queen Harleighblu has been making a name for herself across Nottingham, the UK, Europe and the US, with her iconic dreads, signature style and soulful vocals. Last month saw the launch of her new album Hideout, made in collaboration with American rapper, singer, producer and songwriter, Illa J. Fresh off the back of the album launch, her new video for one of the record’s tracks, Soulsearching, and the launch of her new Nottingham DJ night, Milkshake, we caught up with Harleighblu to find out more about her whirlwind year so far…

Author Rosie Wilby on Queer the Shelves, Her New Book and Being Known as The Queen of Breakups

Last month saw Queer the Shelves, a two-day celebration of LGBTQ+ books and writers, take place at Waterstones in the city centre. Organised by local editing and publishing company, Global Wordsmiths, and funded by Arts Council England, the event saw over twenty international LGBTQ+ writers taking part in Q&A panels, readings and mingling with readers at an after party held at Nottingham’s oldest – and only – LGBTQ+ pub, the New Foresters. Some writers were well known, others on their first published work, with every genre covered. The keynote speaker was comedian and author Rosie Wilby, known for her stand up, podcast, and now two books on the theme of relationships. We caught up with her just as the busy weekend drew to a close...

Meet Circus Hub, the Notts Specialists in Aerial Hoop, Silks and Trapeze

Teaching everything under the banner of aerial fitness, Circus Hub have made a name for themselves giving lessons in aerial hoop, silks, trapeze and sling and rope. But what first attracted them to this unusual hobby? And how can you have a try? We chat to Circus Hub’s Ria Ashcroft and Kay Monrose about  cirque du soleil, the adrenaline of being high in the air and increasing your flexibility…

We Took a Trip to 200 Degrees’ New Milton Street Store - Here’s What We Thought

200 Degrees is one of Nottingham's most successful businesses - rapidly becoming big players in the coffee scene. We took a trip to their new store opposite Victoria Centre to see what all the fuss is about... 

Anna Kent Spills All About Her New Book: Frontline Midwife

While still only in her twenties, Nottingham’s own Anna Kent left her job at the NHS, packed a bag and travelled to Sudan - then an active war zone - to offer her medical expertise to those in need. Now back in the UK and working as a midwife, the 41-year-old has written about her unbelievable experiences in Frontline Midwife: My Story of Survival and Keeping Others Safe, which provides a powerful story of perseverance, activism, and lessons learned…

The Kooks Drummer Alex Nunez on his Notts heritage, Prince and playing Meadowlands next month...

Ahead of their top slot at the city’s newest festival - Meadowlands - on Friday 3 June, we speak to The Kooks drummer Alex Nunez about his Notts lineage, Prince and touring the world…

Nadia on... the Luddites

 LeftLion columnist and MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome looks back on the Luddites and what they can teach us...

Nottingham’s Anjli Mohindra Talks Vigil, the Television Workshop and What’s Next for Her Career

Fresh from starring in Vigil, one of the BBC’s most popular series ever, and Munich: The Edge of War, one of Netflix’s most popular films of the last year, West Bridgford’s Anjli Mohindra chats to us about her love for Notts, her time at the Television Workshop and what’s next for her career…

Nottingham Fashion Designer Rebekah Peters Lifts the Lid on Her Iconic Clothing Made From Preloved Bedsheets and Curtains

Notts' own Rebekah Peters is helping to lead the way in the preloved fashion game. We catch up with her to find out more…

Artist Caroline Walker on A Female Gaze, the new Nottingham Castle Exhibition Showcasing Her Work Alongside Dame Laura Knight's

With A Female Gaze, Nottingham Castle are celebrating the work of two generational talents from the art world. The first is Dame Laura Knight, who, as the first woman elected to the Royal Academy in 1936, was a critically acclaimed and much loved painter who created some of her most iconic work here in Nottingham. The second is Caroline Walker, a renowned British contemporary artist whose rich, atmospheric oil paintings reveal the diverse social, cultural and economic experiences of women living in contemporary society. Despite being born almost a century apart, A Female Gaze celebrates the work of both women, while exploring the developments of women artists over the past hundred years. We caught up with Walker ahead of the exhibition's opening to find out more...

Preview: Silk to Silicon at Backlit Gallery

We chat to artist Sebastian Koseda, whose exhibition Silk to Silicon shines a light on the potential challenges of technological change...

Notts Goes Green: Challenges and Opportunities For Heritage Buildings

Nottingham City Council's Carbon Neutral 2028 plan has spurred many local businesses toward going eco-friendly, but what does that mean for our heritage buildings such as those in the historic Lace Market? Becky Valentine, Co-Owner and sustainability lead at property management company Spenbeck takes a deep dive into the issues

Bill Bailey on Lockdown, Strictly Come Dancing and His Latest Tour

Actor, writer, musician and, of course, stand-up comedian - Bill Bailey has become one of the UK’s most popular figures over the past thirty-plus years. We chat to the comedy legend about lockdown, Strictly Come Dancing, and his latest tour, En Route to Normal…

Words for Wellbeing Coach Samantha Gray on Her Work With Nottingham Writers’ Studio and Why You Should Get a Journal

Writing can be a transformative experience. For this month’s Wellness Section, we chat with Words for Wellbeing coach Samantha Gray about therapeutic writing, her work with Nottingham Writers’ Studio, and why you should get a journal…

Nottingham’s Chloe Rodgers Chats Debut EP Back To The Quay, Campervan Mishaps and Performing in Her Home City

With stunningly eerie vocal tones and a broad musical style that ranges from jazz to folk, Nottingham singer-songwriter Chloe Rodgers is set to release her debut EP Back To The Quay this month. We sit down with the rising artist to chat about the record and her upcoming headline slot at The Bodega…

Comedian Shazia Mirza Talks Her Upcoming Tour Coconut

After a year in lockdown, Shazia Mirza is back in Nottingham with her new show Coconut. We chat to her about Bear Grylls’ The Island, crying in Poundland, and what she’s most excited about for her tour.

Notts Author and Teaching Assistant Roza Bazrafshan Discusses Her Children's Book Big Squeeze Little Squeeze

Roza Bazrafshan is combining her biggest passions, writing and teaching, to share an important message. Having recently released a unique children’s book, the teaching assistant discusses what it's like to inspire the next generation of budding writers…

Film Journalist Hanna Ines Flint Discusses Interviewing Stellan Skarsgård, The First Film Club and Her Time in Nottingham

Screen journalist Hanna Ines Flint has had an enviable career since graduating from the University of Nottingham with a degree in English and American Studies in 2009. This time, she experiences some role reversal as she answers our questions about the film industry and her career path…

20 Years On: Artist Iryna Muha on Losing Her Father in 9/11 and New Project My America

On the twentieth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we talk to Nottingham musician and artist Iryna Muha - who lost her father on that day - about her new project My America, being a 9/11 family, and American nationalism. 

5 Novels to Read on Campus this Summer

You new students are going to have your noses firmly stuck into all manner of textbooks in the coming months, but don't forget to make time for pleasure reading, too. With that in mind, our new Literature Editor offers five must-read novels to get your mits on this summer...

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves at 30: Ilene Starger on Her Experience as Casting Director

A $50 million budget, Hollywood’s biggest star, England’s most famous legend, an Oscar nomination, a BAFTA win, a song that became one of the best-selling singles of all time, that performance from Alan Rickman and a box office take of almost $400 million. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves left a huge impact on the legacy of Nottingham’s folk hero and, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of its release, we caught up with some of the people responsible for bringing it to life, finishing with Ilene Starger...

David Hazan Reveals Inspiration Behind New 'Nottingham' Graphic Novel Series

Mad Cave Studios’ new comic book series Nottingham sees the Castle’s most famous resident, the Sheriff of Nottingham, take on the role of detective as he tries to figure out who is hunting the county’s cold-hearted tax collectors. We speak to David Hazan, writer and creator of the books, about his decision to take the age-old story of Robin Hood in a brave, unconventional direction.

Nottingham Poetry Festival's Creative Director Anne Holloway on Her Career Highlights and What You Can Expect from This Year's Festival

As Creative Director for Nottingham Poetry Festival, founding editor of Big White Shed and a former member of Mouthy Poets, Anne Holloway has just about seen and done it all on the Notts poetry scene. She talked to Bridie Squires about her work, career and what to expect from the upcoming festival...

Phoebe Boswell's Here is Finally Opening at the New Art Exchange After a Year's Delay

Phoebe Boswell's exhibition Here sat half-put together at New Art Exchange from April 2020, unable to open for just over a year while we on the outside battled with lockdown and months of separation. But in early May, the award-winning artist was back in Nottingham putting the finishing touches together, to finally prepare to open her show.

Here is a beautiful accumulation of the nuances and complexities of communities, voices, hearts, and histories which, like her own, are often systematically marginalised, simplified, pacified, homogenised, or side-lined as 'other'. These different perspectives collide and become monumental together. Combining draftswomanship and digital technology, layering drawing, animation, sound, video, and interactivity, the exhibition brings together new and existing artworks, some of which have not been seen in the UK before. Rachel Willcocks caught up with Phoebe to find out about her work, and how she’s found the past year...

Rocking with the Reaper: One Nottingham Psychotherapist on How Brushes with Death Gave Her an Optimistic Mindset

Over the last three decades, psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher Jayne Pigford has endured a persistent battle with her physical and mental health. After adopting a routine of meditation and mindfulness, she’s been able to reroute her mindset from pessimistic to positive. Here, Jayne discusses the main themes of her new self-help guide, Rocking with the Reaper…