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Gig review: Luke Haines & Peter Buck at Metronome

Intrigued by the prospect of witnessing former R.E.M member Peter Buck and  Auteurs frontman Luke Haines performing on the same stage, we hurried down to Metronome for what turned out to be a unique, sometimes surreal, and always captivating evening...

From grassroots to Fields: we speak with rising local band Drury Hill

Nottingham born-and-bred Drury Hill are one of the emerging bands repopulating the local grassroots music scene with a softer rock, post-folk influenced sound. Transitioning between softly lilting, storytelling tracks and jangly, spirited choruses you find yourself humming days afterwards, the four-piece’s live gigs and recent EP Fields capture a fittingly self-described "soft rockin’, slacker poppin’’ voice. But their DIY, offbeat and grassroots ethos runs deeper than their distinct sound; Drury Hill have always been shaped by the band members’ shared adolescence in Nottingham. We met with Charley to talk about the ways a sense of place seeps into their songwriting, the nostalgia that infuses Fields, and the support of the grassroots music scene...

Gig review: Nieve Ella at The Bodega

Between appearances at Leeds and Reading, Nieve Ella took the opportunity to engage with her fans in Nottingham with a headline show at The Bodega. Those fans responded big time, filling the sold-out venue with noisy adoration...

Cara Thompson Announced As Nottingham's First Nature Poet Laureate

We speak to Cara as her new 18 month position with Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature begins...

Gig review: Nell Mescal at The Bodega

The final night of Nell Mescal’s run of shows brought her to Nottingham’s Bodega, an intimate venue which was buzzing with anticipation. A loyal crowd - some of whom had attended multiple dates - packed into the venue to witness a set that blended fan favourites with rarities and unreleased tracks, making the night feel especially personal...

Gig review: Black Honey at Rescue Rooms (Rough Trade outstore)

Brighton indie-rockers Black Honey have been described as masters of escapism, but on the stage at Rescue Rooms they welcome all-comers into a cinematic world. As lead singer Izzy Phillips morphs from persona to persona, the evening becomes a rapturous, inclusive celebration...

Gig review: Keane Baldwin at The Bodega, with EMiDORA

Keane Baldwin is a brilliant pianist and vocalist hailing from Heanor, one who mixes the sensibilities of older pop with modern, emotional songwriting talent. LeftLion's Thomas Gensler went down to his headline show at The Bodega to watch...

Behind Rotari Bakes: A family run Nottingham bakery creating bespoke cakes, bakes and memories

In the heart of Nottingham, where creativity meets comfort food, Rotari Bakes was born; not from a lifelong baking tradition, but from an unexpected journey of reinvention and family ambition

Gig review: Arab Strap at Rescue Rooms, with Stuart Pearce

Arab Strap are the Scottish indie rockers who time forgot. Formed in sometime in the mid-1990s, reformed in 2016 after a 10-year hiatus, and intermittently but definitively performing music ever since, they had not appeared in Nottingham for almost two decades. That changed this month, and LeftLion's Michael Prince was on hand to document the show...

We catch-up with legendary local commentator Colin Fray as Nottingham Forest returns to European football

Across three turbulent decades at Nottingham Forest, one voice has remained constant: BBC commentator Colin Fray. For Forest fans, he’s been a companion through the chaos - narrating from the end of the Clough years to the lows of League One, then back again; to the highs of the Premier League and now Forest’s long-awaited return to European football. We spoke to him about his journey behind the mic…

By youth, for youth: Nottingham celebrates 25 years of International Youth Day

This year marked the 25th anniversary of International Youth Day; we headed down to the pop-up shop organised by Nottingham City of Literature’s Youth Board to join in with the celebrations...

Gig review: Wet Leg at The Level

Having released their second album, moisturiser, Wet Leg have found a new image and buckets of new energy. We dropped in on their gig at The Level to discover a band who are at their most confident, and having more fun than ever...

In photos: Vona Vella at The Grove, with Jmaes and Modern Coven

Festival review: LeftLion at Y Not Festival 2025

This year, the turnout for Y Not Festival was unmatched and another big musical step forward for Nottingham artists. Along with huge bands including The Prodigy, Courteeners, Franz Ferdinand, The Last Dinner Party, Sigrid, and Madness, the festival audience from all over the country witnessed many of our own city's top bands in a diverse, friendly and passionately musical environment. LeftLion was there to sample as much of the local action as possible...

Experiencing Nigeria and musical experiments: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 11 - 18 August

If someone tells you there's nowt happening in Notts, just direct them here - as we approach the end of summer, things continue to be buzzing in our fine old city, as various events - from experimental music, to art shows about gardening, kick off. Also, a lot of it's free...

Hang Linton on making good trouble, second-hand iPods and playing Nottingham's woodworking studio

Ahead of their forthcoming gig at By Our Hands We Make Our Way this month, we caught up with Leeds-based interdisciplinary artist Hang Linton...

Left Brian: 2025 Season Preview

Our monthly footy columns are back and we are completely delighted to unveil Julie Pritchard, the creator of the classic nineties 'Brian' fanzine, as our new Nottingham Forest FC columnist...

Street photographer Charlie Valentine talks Nottingham: Urban Decline, her series currently displayed at New Art Exchange

When it comes to versatile photographers, Charlie Valentine certainly stands out in Notts, having made her name with grimy, analogue street photography, printmaking, and photography workshops. Currently, her series Nottingham: Urban Decline is featured at the ongoing Open exhibition at the New Art Exchange - she tells us all about this series, plus life as a photographer.

Allies and activism: Palestine solidarity in Nottingham

A campaigner on a range of issues, Louise Regan is the National Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Chair of the Nottingham Palestine Solidarity Campaign and an Executive Member of the National Education Union (NEU). With the conversation around the Palestine movement increasing, we spoke to Louise about her previous visits to Palestine, the current aims of the PSC, and why this is an issue that has drawn huge protests in Nottingham.

Back to the future: chatting with the dual winners of Future Sound of Notts 2025

Back in July, what could safely be described as Nottingham’s most exciting music competition: Future Sound of Nottingham, returned to Rock City – eight local acts taking the stage to showcase their talent. R&B singer Saffron Gray and alt-rock trio Archy & the Astronauts were crowned dual winners, and bagged nothing less than a main-stage slot at Splendour Festival later last month. We thought that it was the perfect time to catch up with these two acts (before they’re swept up by the national music press, of course)... 

LeftLion Issue #186 August 2025

Featuring... LGBTQI+ cabaret collective Niche Artefact, photographer Charlie Valentine, Palestine Solidary Nottingham, football commentator Colin Fray, football season previews, author Danny Scott, Wild.NG, supper club The Underground Table, Inspire Urself carnival troupe, Sonic Boom Festival and more...

UK Women’s March Nottingham 2025

Coming up on the 9 August, The UK Women’s March aims to show in solidarity with women and girls around the world – to demand safety, equity and justice for women, girls and gender-diverse people everywhere. We caught up with Amy, the appointed City Lead for UK Nottingham Women’s March, to find out what's in store...

In pictures: Nottingham Pride 2025

Notts Pride celebrations took over the city last weekend in a joyous flurry of colour, creativity and solidarity. Photographer Nigel King went down to check out some of the wonderful acts performing on the main stage at Sneinton Market...

In photos: Nothing But Thieves at Rock City

Locating Lawrence: July 1925

Most people like an ice cream and book on the beach, unlike D.H Lawrence…