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Green Hustle Festival Returns to Nottingham's Old Market Square at the End of May

Music, food, fashion, art and environmental action will once again all come together at the free entry Green Hustle Festival in Nottingham city centre on Saturday 31 May

The founders of Hyson Green Community Action tell us why they're greening and cleaning their streets

Combating fly-tipping pile ups that pose health hazards to loved ones, Hyson Green Community Action was a naturally formed group sparked from the thirty year build of frustration from sisters Zaynab and Farzana Akhtar. Starting with a popular petition, Hyson Green locals have come together to not only change their environment, but the mindset of the younger generation who call the area home. We decided to talk to the sisters behind the clean scheme to discover their future goals and current achievement.

Did LeftLion save the Sheriff in Escapologic’s Robin Of Lockskey escape room?

Last week as Escapologic celebrated their 10th birthday, the LeftLion team were invited down to try out another of their fantastic escape rooms, Robin Of Lockskey. But did we manage to save the Sheriff and escape? Read on to find out…

Gig review: Greentea Peng at Rock City

Self-described psychedelic RnB singer-songwriter Greentea Peng returned to Rock City with intention, clarity and energy to burn...

We speak to Alabama 3 about nicknames, The Sopranos theme song, and keeping it very real

Our writer Ria was thrilled - and a little nervous - to speak with Alabama 3 frontman Rob Spragg following the band's triumphant Rescue Rooms show. But nerves were quickly put aside as the conversation turned to nicknames, storytelling and The Sopranos...

Revisiting the legend of the Lord of Milan with author Robert Nieri

Back in 2016 Author Robert Nieri released a book The Lord of Milan about Herbert Kilpin, the 19th century Notts-born butchers son who emigrated to Italy and went on to found AC Milan football club. A crew from LeftLion joined him out there for its release and ended up making an award-winning film too. Here he updates us on what’s happened since, including a reburial for Herbert and another influx of Italian visitors to Nottingham…

Gig review: ROB.GREEN at Saltbox

We caught Rob Green on the grand opening night of his Jungle Child UK tour. A jaw-dropping show featuring new music, soulful tunes and moving poetry, all the while praising the love for his hometown, Rob continues to prove he is a true Notts showman not to be missed live... 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #18: Notts music we're currently spinning

In our latest edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews a selection of recent new releases. This time it's the turn of ROB.GREEN, Dead Mint, Drew Thomas, Sam Oakley and Stuart Pearce...

Comedy Review: Nightmare! Nightmare! Kill! Kill! at the Lord Roberts

Ahoy there! Drag artists Benthic Zone and Doxxie Phisher launch their latest show and it's all hands on deck. 

We chat with Rob Green about music, musicals, and the value of the grassroots

Uplifting alt soul-pop Notts sensation Rob.Green is back and has dialled everything to the absolute max - bringing the emotion, fierce hyped energy and brand-new music for his first ever headline UK tour, which kicks off at Saltbox on 20th March. Rob shared his infectious joy with us in a conversation covering the tour, his collaboration with Cassell the Beatmaker, his ventures into musicals, and the value of grassroots venues...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #16: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Otala, Sam Shaw & The Real Eyes, Green Grango, Fallowed and Divorce...

We hear from The Sherwood People’s Forest who are bringing the greenery of our northern woodlands a bit closer to the city

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,” so goes the Greek proverb. Nottingham is a county known worldwide for the leafy Sherwood Forest, but for several years plans have been afoot to create the Sherwood People’s Forest to bring the greenery of our northern woodlands a bit closer to the city. Organiser Sarah Manton tells us more…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #14: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this, the first edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2025, our music team reviews new releases from Rainbow Frog Biscuits, Bad Milk Blood Robot, Eleanor McGregor and Divorce...

Standing In This Place: Artist Rachel Carter tells us her inspirations behind a new sculpture for Nottingham's Green Heart park.

With just 17% of statues in the UK depicting women and only 2% dedicated to people belonging to ethnic minorities, there is a clear need for more varied representation in public art. Luckily, one local artist is looking to change this in Nottingham, whilst also representing the long and diverse history of our city’s textile industry. 

Standing In This Place, a sculpture by Rachel Carter will be erected in the Green Heart park in February. We asked Rachel to tell us more about the piece, how she became an artist, and what it’s like to work as a sculptor.

YMCA Robin Hood Group launch Make a Pledge this Christmas campaign

The YMCA has kicked Christmas off in style, reindeer and all, to launch their "Make a Pledge this Christmas" campaign. We skated over to Newark find out more...

In photos: Robert Jon & The Wreck at Rock City, with Eddie 9V

Comedy Review: Nightmare Nightmare Kill Kill at the Lord Roberts

Experimental drag comes to the city...

Comedy Review: Juliette Burton in the LOL-GBTQ+ at the Lord Roberts Comedy Festival

Juliette Burton offers more than just laughs in her stand-up performances... 

Comedy and community at the Lord Roberts

Dan Webber shares the inspiration behind the LOL-GBTQ+ festival coming soon to the Lord Roberts...

Concert Review: Steeleye Span at the Playhouse

After fifty-five years of gold discs and international tours, folk rockers Steeleye Span are taking their music back on the road. Andrew McCartney reviews their performance at the Nottingham Playhouse... 

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #4: Daudi Matsiko on Music, Songwriting, Depression and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

The latest episode from our 'Live at the Library' podcast features British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko...

Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival Returns Celebrating 47 Years of Beers and Cheers

Nottingham’s flagship celebration of ale and cider is back at Trent Bridge from Wednesday 9 – Saturday 12 October...

Day One at Broad Marsh's New Green Heart Space

After years of imagination and careful planning, a brand new spot for nature has been opened for city-dwellers in Notts. We go to tally up the dragonflies...

GrowNotts talk to us about greening up Nottingham with their colourful street planters

You may have seen some of the planters dotted around town looking extra loved up lately - a dash of colour around Canning Circus, Bridlesmith Gate becoming an altogether more pollinator-friendly aisle to walk down. A lot of this greening action can be traced back to GrowNotts. Angelena Efstathiou caught up with grower-in-chief Jack Harris, to hear all about how they’re greening up our city whilst bringing the community with them…

Playing for laughs: we chat to the Robin Hood International Improv comedy Festival

Hundreds of comedians and improvisers are descending on Notts, and not one has learnt their lines! The Robin Hood International Improv Festival is returning to Nottingham for the third time in September. We sat down with artistic co-director and improviser Lloydie James Lloyd to talk about the festival, the local scene and what people make of Nottingham.