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We chat to James Yorkston ahead of his solo Bodega show

James Yorkston is a singer-songwriter, author and prolific collaborator. On the heels of a new album featuring Nina Persson (The Cardigans) and Johanna Soderberg (First Aid Kit) and a TV appearance with Jools Holland, and ahead of a solo show at The Bodega on 14th December, we caught up with James to talk obscure songs, collaborations and gig memories...

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...

How the Nottingham community is supporting Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

Since hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica and Cuba in October, the Nottingham community has been working hard to raise money and gather aid. Sharon Stevens spoke to some of the organisers in Nottingham to find out how people have been helping and what can be done next...

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... 

Bon journal: writer Andrew Tucker Leavis on launching the New Nottingham Journal

All that Nottingham’s literary scene was missing, said poet Rory Waterman, was a “name-brand literary journal”. Grace Sanders speaks to Andrew Tucker Leavis, Editor-in-Chief of the New Nottingham Journal, about how he decided to rectify that issue, with LeftLion’s help…

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…

In photos: Bored Marsh at The Bodega, with Mandibles

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...

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...

Early Christmas parties and dance music at The Model: Here's what's on in Notts this week, Mon 1 - Sun 7 December

December 2025 starts with a bang in Nottingham, as a host of occasions from the festive, to the musical, to the artistic, take place... 

How local goth-punks Bloodworm built their profile with live shows

In the midst of their UK tour with fellow Nottingham band Swallowtail – which serves as preparation for their seventeen-date run supporting Suede next year – we met goth-punk outfit Bloodworm to chat about their upcoming appearance at a new Bodega festival – Paint by Numbers – as they close out a milestone year and look ahead to an even bigger one…

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...

We speak to Unite Nottingham about proposed reforms on disability rights

Jo Kingsley sat down with Leigh Woosey of Unite Community Nottingham to talk about the proposed reforms on disability rights and their potential impact on the people of Nottingham...

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.

We chat to Wheatus about dream collabs, favourite guitars and rumours of a covers album

Wheatus are an American alt-rock powerhouse, the unit behind one of the biggest songs of the early 2000s, Teenage Dirtbag. They never stop, with the band now celebrating the 25th anniversary of the self-titled album. We chatted to frontman Brendan B. Brown about the upcoming tour, the legacy of Teenage Dirtbag, and why he likes Biffy Clyro so much...

Monet and Van Gogh to appear at Nottingham Arena next summer in new immersive experiences

Two immersive experiences which bring the work of iconic artists to life in mesmerising, immersive and moving fashion are set to enchant Nottingham art lovers next summer...

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

In photos: Revenge of Calculon EP launch at Rough Trade

To celebrate the launch of their uniquely dance-able Casino Fight EP, Nottingham's own mask-wearing electro-heroes Revenge of Calculon put on an upbeat show at Rough Trade. Emzae was there to support...

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...