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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...

Fleur East talks living in lockdown, reality TV and her new album, Fearless

After two stints on The X Factor, including finishing runner-up in 2014 where she became the first contestant in the show’s history to reach Number One on the iTunes chart during the competition, singer, songwriter and radio presenter Fleur East has walked an interesting path through the music industry. With her new album Fearless released last month, we caught up with her to talk about reality television, the unexpected truths of the music industry and how she’s handling lockdown...

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome on the Government's Response to COVID-19, Returning to Care Work and Being a Female MP

In a time when politicians are regularly accused of being out of touch with everyday life, Nadia Whittome showed why her constituents in Nottingham East were right to place their trust in her during the last General Election. While no one would have blamed her for stocking up on essentials and hunkering down in safety, Britain’s youngest MP made the decision to put herself on the frontline of COVID-19 by returning to care work, the profession in which she worked prior to her election victory last December. With a unique, first-hand perspective on the devastating impact of the virus on the country’s most vulnerable people, we talked to the Labour MP about the ongoing lack of personal protective equipment, the impact of cuts to health and social care services and the Government’s response to coronavirus…

Historical Author Emily Brand: "I feel a sort of security in writing about real people who lived, loved and died, generations ago"

Emily Brand is a local historian who’s been researching the Byron family tree and all its drama-sprouting branches. With a close look at life in the eighteenth century, her fourth book The Fall of the House of Byron is released this month. We sat down for a digital chat with the author to find out more...

Interview: Electronic Music Open Mic Night Notts

Nick Strang speaks with Stewart Cuthew, responsible for running Notts’ branch of events that swap the acoustic guitars for synths and buttons. If you’ve been exploring the art of production in lockdown, you might wanna show yer new skills at its next night when things are up ‘n’ running again. For now, have a read and learn about the unique creative community...

89-Year-Old Albert Johnson: “I want to go to Jamaica, one last time”

As a member of the Windrush Generation who came to Britain in the 1950s after World War II, 89-year-old Albert Johnson devoted his life to being a well-respected and productive member of society. His reward? Being threatened with deportation and denied his legal rights as part of the 2017 scandal. With the dream of returning home to his native Jamaica one final time, we talked to Johnson as he looks back on a life of hard work, endurance and survival…

We Went Magnet Fishing in Nottingham Canal with Youtubers The New Magneterz

From guns, knives and bombs to bikes, trolleys and train carriages, you wouldn’t believe what's lurking at the bottom of our rivers and canals. And with the practice of magnet fishing – the process of retrieving such objects with industrial magnets attached to lengths of rope – growing increasingly popular around the UK, we decided to tag along with East Midlands collective The New Magneterz to find out what all the fuss was about...

Brass Monkey Turns 20: Manager John McDermott Shares How…

We track down the general manager of the bar that’s open ‘till the early hours seven days a week, to learn why it hasn’t run out of steam, or rum, just yet…

Return to Sender: How We Managed to Track Down the Author of a Postcard from 1908

Postcards were the “u ok hun?” texts of their day. Used by past generations to check in on their distant siblings, and by more recent ones to boast about exotic holidays to their friends, they’ve never really been blessed with messages worth a third or forth glance. Which is why our Assistant Editor, Emily, was shocked to discover cards dating back to 1908 sitting on the shelf of Hopkinson Vintage, Antiques and Art Centre. She decided to track down the families of their senders, to ask them why… 

Doc'n Roll Film Festival returns to Broadway

Ahead of Doc’n Roll festival’s return to Nottingham, armed with its array of symphonic showings of music-based documentaries, we caught up with producer Mark McIntyre to discuss the who, what, where and why of this blossoming music film festival...

Art Review: Crying Shadows, Flesh and Bones at Surface Gallery

Our writer Shaw had a lot of thoughts about this...

Debris Stevenson on Poet in Da Corner

Debris Stevenson talks Poet in Da Corner, her semi-autobiographical performance piece inspired by Dizzee Rascal's seminal album, ahead of her return to Nottingham Playhouse on in March...

Queer Band Slash Fiction on their Upcoming Show at JT Soar: " If we don't fight for visibility, what are we even doing?"

Since I moved to Nottingham as a young, queer person, I’ve been fortunate to stumble into the world of local indie, punk and DIY punk gigs, which have provided me with a community and more importantly, a place to go on a Friday night. Now, as an older, queer lesbian, I’m aware of the importance of carving out queer spaces, especially within rock clubs and bars that can be dominated by cis-gender, heterosexual boys.

We spoke to Beans from Queer band Slash Fiction ahead of their upcoming Fan Club debut show at JT Soar about personal lyrics, influences and their EP Flowers...

Aussie Folk-Rockers Boy & Bear Prepare for Debut Nottingham Gig

ARIA award-winning Australian indie-rock band Boy & Bear captured our hearts with their charming folk sound way back in 2010. Following a four-year hiatus due to lead-singer Dave Hosking’s illness, the platinum record-holding band from Sydney are back on the scene with new album Suck on Light. We spoke with keyboardist Jon Hart about the band’s “weird” approach to developing their sound, preparations for their worldwide tour, and why Australia is dominating the charts internationally…

The Nottingham Anime and Manga Society Meet Every Week for Special Screenings, Events and More

Nottingham’s anime and manga society, aka NAMSOC, invited LeftLion to come to one of their weekly meetups to talk all things community, anime, and identity...

Interview: TV funnyman Spencer Jones is coming to Notts

Meet Spencer Jones; Twice nominated in the Edinburgh Festival comedy awards, a regular in BBC2's Upstart Crow and coming to Notts this month for an appearance at Just The Tonic...

Interview: Bru-C On Bassline Bits, ‘Original Sounds’ And 2020 Plans

Fresh from a series of international shows last winter, Will Ryan caught up with Bru-C ahead of his homecoming gig this February...

Interview: Grammy-Nominated Fatoumata Diawara Prepares For Her First Nottingham Trip

Addie Kenogbon chats with the star about staying true to her roots and sharing her music with the world as she embarks on a rare UK tour, coming to Rescue Rooms this February...

Interview: Georgie on Her Inspirations and Imminent Hometown Show

Outrageously talented singer-songwriter Georgie needs no introduction round these parts, or far and wide for that matter. With her rich Americana sound, she's been capturing the hearts of audiences and collaborators (including Adele's Chasing Pavements co-writer) since the very beginning. We sat down with our favourite Mansfield lass ahead of her hometown gig next month...

LeftLion Football Podcast Episode 5: Jim McRae on the Managerial Change at Mansfield

Colin and Gareth are joined on the line by Jim McRae to discuss the managerial change at Mansfield. Largely positive festive results at both Forest and Notts PLUS why ‘The Snowman’ is to blame...

Meet Kaleidø: Putting Graft into their Craft

Bobby Twidale grabbed a pint one of Notts’ newest rising bands ahead of their Rough Trade gig and it’s clear these boys aren’t messing abaht...

Interview: Talking tracks with Tristan da Cunha

We pick Tristan’s brain while he picks us some tracks ahead of his discotech x Pattern show in Notts...

Matt Miller on His New Show, Disrupting Gender Rules and the Importance of Smiling

Matt Miller is a Nottingham-based poet and theatre person, who knows how to write and act out a proper good performance. Matt is bringing their brand new show Fitting to Nonsuch Studios, which promises to be a theatrical genderqueer glamour fast. We caught up with them ahead of the show…

Notts Author Darren Simpson is Inspiring Children to Love Reading

We had a natter with him about his new project with the National Literacy Trust...

Interview: Cellar Door Moon Crow On Inspirations, Positivity and Notts Stag Dos

Fans of rock, dust off yer trusty gig shoes ‘cause Cellar Door Moon Crow - two energetic brothers with a penchant for high energy tracks - are coming to Rock City this month. Will Ryan speaks to Phil and Tom about their sound, their album and life in the music industry ahead of their performance.