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Golden era: catching up with electronic-rock duo ALT BLK ERA before their Rescue Rooms show

In 2022, sister duo and Notts natives Nyrobi and Chaya Becket-Messam emerged onto the local music scene as electronic-rock act ALT BLK ERA. Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength, from winning a MOBO award in 2025 to touring late last year with drum and bass band Pendulum. It’s been a while since we’ve caught up with Nyrobi and Chaya, so they set aside time to walk us through their crazy journey to this point.

Gig review: Smash Into Pieces at Rock City

Swedish rockers Smash Into Pieces made a memorable stop in Nottingham, squeezing into Rock City as part of their UK and EU tour. While the venue was left in one piece, the impact of the gig will be marked in our minds for a long time to come...

Locating Lawrence: April 1926

‘It is queer, this Fascist movement: one wonders what the end will be.’

Jazz, indie gigs and rock legends: Here's what's on this week 27 April - 3 May

This week in Notts! Enjoy the return of The Charlatans, The Clare Teal 5, tiny gigs, and lots more. Here's our top picks...

Plans for new statue of Maid Marian in Nottingham City Centre unveiled

Nottingham City Council, Backlit Gallery and It’s in Nottingham, have announced plans for a new statue of Maid Marian to be unveiled this summer and located on Maid Marian Way...

Why Nottingham could be the UK’s next indie film city

Last month, we were lucky enough to be invited to the Q & A screening of The Correction Unit hosted by the folks at cinema collective Lounge Trip. From there, we mingled with the cast and crew of the film as well as local filmmakers to find out just what Nottingham needs in terms of funding for films, plus one big question: could Nottingham become the UK’ next indie film capital? 

Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature's Youth Advisory Board Celebrate the Launch of their Poetry Pamphlet

Join Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature's Youth Advisory Board as they celebrate the launch of their first poetry pamphlet on the 12th of April

Gig review: RockCorps at Rock City with Tinie Tempah, JayaHadADream and LYVIA

Nottingham RockCorps rocked Rock City on Wednesday night, with unforgettable performances from local stars JayaHadADream and LYVIA. The main headliner was the one and only Tinie Tempah...

Locating Lawrence: March 1926

Capri in 1926 was decadent, cosmopolitan, and bohemian, providing refuge for writers and intellectuals from the ugliness of modernity...

Gig review: Nova Twins at Rock City

Supported by the excellent genre-mashing talents of Precious Pepala and the histrionic, witchy goth-grunge power of Venus Grrrls, Nova Twins visit to Nottingham sat atop a bill that brilliantly demonstrates the ever-flourishing female talent in rock today. It’s a vanguard they are very much at the forefront of as they support their latest album Parasites & Butterflies. Expansive tours and devoted fans are the reward for the sheer hard work and creativity in pushing the punk aesthetic and sound forward into the modern landscape...

Gig review: Widow's Rock n Rollium with Hystamine and You Want Fox at Billy Bootleggers for International Women's Day 2026 Nottingham

On International Women’s Day Billy Bootleggers played host to the Widow’s Rock n Rollium - a spicy night of cabaret, burlesque, bands and fierce femme energy, featuring bands You Want Fox and Hystamine. We went down to check it out…

Gig review: The Vaccines at Rock City

English indie rock band The Vaccines triumphantly returned to Rock City to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of their debut album. They delivered a legendary performance to an electrified crowd, creating a striking and memorable night for the masses...

Notts folk rockers Connexion Man talk songwriting and shared history

Connexion Man are a relatively fresh name on the Nottingham circuit, but their roots in the city still run deep. Built on long standing friendships, shared history and a renewed love for their home’s music community, the group are reconnecting with the scene that first shaped them. Ahead of a debut record and gig at The Grove, the band talk about returning to Notts and their evolving sound. 

An interview with Crystal Mah-Wing about the Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature Map

Nottingham was awarded UNESCO status as a City of Literature in December 2015. As part of their celebrations to mark this decade milestone, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, the University of Nottingham and Visit Nottingham worked together on an AHRC funded research bid to bring the map to Nottingham.

As part of the project, Research Affiliate Crystal Mah-Wing was employed to help create a map, showcasing our cities best literary locations, for locals and tourists alike. We spoke to Crystal about the process, the team she worked with and what to expect when it’s out at the end of March…

Gig review: Gene at Rock City

Gig review: Less Than Jake, The Bouncing Souls, The Aquabats and The Bar Stool Preachers at Rock City

On their ninth time appearing at Rock City, ska-punk legends Less Than Jake brought waves of nostalgia and cheer to Nottingham, supported by The Bar Stool Preachers, The Aquabats!, and The Bouncing Souls...

Music volunteering scheme launches in Nottingham with Tinie Tempah and JayaHadADream on board

Volunteers are invited to give four hours of their time to local community causes, in exchange for a ticket to an exclusive gig at Rock City featuring British chart topper Tinie Tempah and Notts-based rapper JayaHadADream...

Gig review: Sleaford Mods at Rock City

Following the release of their stunning new album The Demise of Planet X, Nottingham’s own Sleaford Mods headed to the iconic Rock City in their home town for two nights on the No War No Death tour. Both nights were completely sold out, an indication of the popularity of this minimalist post-punk duo…

Gig review: Of Monsters and Men at Rock City

Icelandic legends Of Monsters and Men are back making folk-music history with their UK & Europe Tour following the release of their latest album All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade. We caught them as they stopped of at - where else - Rock City...

Locating Lawrence: February 1926

Lawrence is well stocked up with vino, but the weather is as ‘dismal as Hades.’ Perhaps it's time for another adventure...

Gig review: Kezia Gill at Rock City

Kezia Gill, backed by a band of top musicians, realised her dream of playing a headline show at Rock City, in the city where she was born. She performed to an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd, which included all of her family and friends, and plenty of fans...

Gig review: Suede stun at Rock City, with support from Notts own Bloodworm

On Thursday night, 90s Brit-pop darlings Suede brought their 'Dancing With The Europeans Tour' to an adoring audience at Rock City, with support from Notts own dark dreamwave trio Bloodworm...

Gig review: Mogwai at Rock City

Eleven studio albums, nine live albums, with nearly as many film scores, composed over the course of 30 years. A discography this plentiful is enough to be the envy of most well-established bands. Mogwai, the owners of said discography, have achieved this through a combination of creative vision, technical virtuosity and instrumental skill to become one of the metaphorical heads on the “Mount Rushmore” of post-rock. The Scottish band’s delve into the genre has seen them appeal to an expanding fan base, evidenced by the acclaim of their 2021 album As the Love Continues… which went to #1 in the album charts and earned them a Mercury prize nomination...

Life Behind Bars: with John Slee, Manager at The Lincolnshire Poacher

We popped in to see John Slee, Manager at The Lincolnshire Poacher, to talk about whiskey, stables and famous guests...

Gig review: Mumford and Sons at Rock City

Downsizing from their usual arena shows, Mumford and Sons treated an afternoon crowd at Rock City to a snapshot insight into their new album, Prize Fighter...