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LeftLion's Latest Listens #17 special edition: Divorce

In this special edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, we sample the debut album Drive to Goldenhammer from Nottingham's own Divorce...

Truth or Legend? The Case of the White Lady of Wollaton

Fancy a ghost story this Christmas Eve? We thought that we'd revive this age-old Victorian tradition and discuss the mysterious legend of the White Lady of Wollaton...

Gig review: Circle of Light album launch at Fishergate Point

The award-winning creative collective Circle of Light took over Fishergate Point on World Mental Health Day 2024 to celebrate the launch of their fifth album, COL5...

Hitchcock meets Lord of the Flies in this exciting comedy-thriller at the Nottingham Playhouse

Rotten is a comedy about the Instagram generation that is as dark as it is funny. Its creator, Josie White, speaks with Leftlion about terrible things and how she came to write them... 

We chat to Jake Bugg about his inspirations, memories and what we can expect from his new album

From performing on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury aged 16 to releasing his fourth studio album, A Modern Day Distraction, this month, Nottingham-born singer-songwriter Jake Bugg has had a wild musical journey. Ahead of his new album being released this week, we sat down with the local hero to hear about the making of the record, supporting Liam Gallagher and battling Metallica at Glastonbury…

We speak with Pale Waves about influences and their mature new album, Smitten

With their fourth album Smitten released on 27th September, Pale Waves are continuing to make big waves of their own. Ahead of the release, we caught up with drummer Ciára Doran to hear about the band’s influences, creativity and experiences…

We chat with DECO about their debut album and the joy of touring

Formed in 2011, with roots in the Midlands and beyond, there’s a lot to unpack with 80s-influenced band Deco – and they've only just released their debut album. With two Nottingham shows imminent, lead singer Max Kendall found time to sit down with LeftLion to talk about the new record, as well as the band’s headline tour, and everything in between…

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #3: Emily Catherine on Hip-Hop, Fine art, Album Covers, Graffiti and Her New Exhibition

Welcome to the third episode of our ‘LeftLion Interviews’ podcast. Our guest is the incredibly talented artist and illustrator Emily Catherine...

Magic, comedy, theatre and an album launch party. Here's what's on in Nottingham this week: 5-11 August

August has come around, and whether you're craving some uplifting comedy or theatre to occupy your summer evenings, live DJ sets at a local, album launch party or just a no-nonsense concert at Rock City, we've got you covered at LeftLion. Here are our picks of the Week from 5 to 11 August.  

Circle of Light call for young people to collaboratively create an album

The award winning Circle of Light music and wellbeing project is looking for young people to take up the life-changing opportunity to join them to create an album this August...

Spoken word, album launches, restaurant week and the Castle Rock Yard Party: Here’s what’s on in Nottingham this week: 3 – 9 June 2024

Gig review: Average White Band at Rock City

We headed down to Rock City for a musicianship masterclass from Average White Band, as they visited Nottingham as part of their final tour...

Gig review: Fat White Family at Rough Trade

It was out with the old and in with the new as Fat White Family came to Nottingham's Rough Trade to give a stripped-back performance of some of their latest tracks...

Nottingham Rapper Juga-Naut Talks About New Album Bem II

Humour, truth and growth are some of the ingredients to Bem II, the brand new self-produced album from Nottingham rapper Juga-Naut. We asked him to give us a taste of how he blends lyrics, meaning, production, collaboration and visuals to make such a record.

Enjoy dragons in bow-ties and faraway worlds? We Check Out Voyage of the Damned, the debut novel from local author Frances White

Do you like your stories part myth, part magical gay murder-mystery cruise? Enjoy dragons in bow-ties and faraway worlds? Then perhaps Voyage of the Damned, the debut novel from local author Frances White is right up your street. We sat down with Frances to talk about finding your voice, getting published and being perceived as a writer.

NTU and White Rose Offer Free Professional Wardrobes for Students

Nottingham Trent University has joined forces with popular charity clothing shop chain, White Rose, to launch the UK’s first ever professional student wardrobe, aimed at helping to empower students to get out into the working world. But what does a wardrobe have to do with career support? We popped along to a very special launch event and fashion show at NTU to find out more.

We Chat to Kenyan Alt-RnB Artist IkeN All About His Debut Album ‘Galatea’

Kenyan Alt-RnB artist IkeN found himself in Nottingham when he moved to the UK to study Business Management. Alongside this, he also makes music, releasing his debut album Galatea last October. We find out all about it...

Cappo on His New Album ‘Canon’, His Recently Completed PhD, and the Importance of Collaboration

Released in three separate parts (Pain, Escapism and Absolution), Cappo’s latest album Canon represents a leap forward in the maturity of his lyrical, literature-infused Hip Hop music. We speak to him about the process of creating the record with producer Kong The Artisan, his recently-completed PhD at Nottingham Trent University, and his collaborations with familiar Notts musicians and poets…

Best Music of 2023: Albums and EPs

Nottingham's music scene thrived once again in 2023, so our music contributors were spoilt for choice when putting together this list of their favourite albums and EPs of the year...

Frances White Launches Her Penguin-Published Fantasy Debut

"There are only four words you need to understand this book," we are told promisingly, "GAY MAGICAL MYSTERY CRUISE"...

We Chat to Hallowed Men About Their New Album ‘Hollow Man'

Fellow LeftLion writers Bassey and Rich Higton (AKA Jarrow Junction) have come together as Hallowed Men to release a collaborative album titled Hollow Man. We find out more about it...

Jorja Smith Tells Us All About Her Second Album 'Falling Or Flying'

Since bursting onto the music scene at the age of just 21 back in 2018, with her critically acclaimed debut album Lost & Found, multi-award winning artist and Midlands lass Jorja Smith has fast become one of the UK’s most iconic neo soul voices. Ahead of her upcoming UK album launch tour which will see her performing at Nottingham’s The Level, we caught up with Jorja to find out more about her highly-anticipated second album Falling or Flying.

We Chat to Soul Sister Duo Melonyx All About Their Debut Album ‘Soul Glow'

Following the release of their debut album Soul Glow (which you should all be familiar with by now, since we gave it high praise in our last issue), we spoke to soul sister duo Melonyx all about the inspirations behind the project, working with Joe Buhdha and others in the Nottingham music community, and what’s coming up next for them later this year…

We Talk To Baby Tap About His Upcoming Album ‘Enki’ And Its Release Party at Rough Trade

A key figure in the Notts LGBTQ+ scene, Baby Tap's new album Enki is out at the end of October, with an album release show shortly after on 8 November at Rough Trade. We caught up with them all about the album and the Notts queer scene...

We Catch Up With Emzae Ahead Of The Release Of Her Debut Album

Emzae is all set to launch her debut album All Those Things I Thought I Knew at Rough Trade and she is proud and nervous, but above all, excited...