Site search

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #11 LaQuarn Lewis on BBC mini series What It Feels Like For A Girl, Television Workshop, and LGBTQ+ Notts

Notts born actor LaQuarn Lewis is one of the stars of a new BBC mini-series, What It Feels Like For A Girl, which tells the story of Byron, a Queer teen who is desperate to escape the confines of Hucknall. We caught up with LaQuarn on the podcast to chat about the show, his time at Television Workshop and growing up Queer in Notts...

Film Review: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Your mission, should you choose to read it: Join us as we review the eighth instalment in the Mission: Impossible film series with Tom Cruise and the rest of the star-studded cast...

The Official LeftLion Guide To 2025 Festival Season

Can you hear that? It’s finally in the air – instruments reverberating across wide open fields, the chimes of communities singing and laughing together, the sound of footsteps as friends stumble back to their tents or homes, ready to do it all over again the next day, or the following weekend. That’s right, the 2025 summer festival season is finally here, and with the return of Splendour Festival right here in Nottingham, it’s shaping up to be a big one!

To give you the lowdown, here’s our ultimate guide to the best local festivals taking place in the city of Nottingham and the surrounding areas over the next few months…

Gig review: Little Simz at The Level

It’s not every day that genuine rap royalty drops into town. However, with highly anticipated new album Lotus dropping this Friday, the mighty Little Simz rolled into The Level for a Rough Trade outstore show to promote the new project. Armed with a vault of bangers she’s been hoarding, we headed over to The Level for this must-attend show with one of the greatest artists and rappers in the world today…

Heart to Heart: we catch up with electronica duo Jadu Heart before their show at Rescue Rooms

Taking the form of a spearhead duo, comprising of Alex Headford and Diva Jeffrey with a supporting band, Jadu Heart are a hidden gem of the UK music landscape. Mixing dance and electronica influences with shoegaze and grunge elements, they are a truly unique band, and a complete creative force. Their latest release, the incredible full-length album Post Heaven, is a true testament to their creativity and talent: a raw, brutal, beautiful and honest record that was originally designed as the duo’s “Hail Mary.”

As they prepare to embark on a huge UK headline tour, playing Rescue Rooms on 9 June, we caught up with them to talk about their new album, their lives and the tours…

Gig Review: George Murphy & The Rising Sons at Greyfriars Club

The Craic was good in Thorneywood on Saturday evening as George Murphy and the Rising Sons made a return visit to Nottingham's ever popular Irish club on Gordon Road...

The Strange Case Of… Rihanna’s Grillz

In 2011 Rihanna visited Nottingham whilst on tour, it's then that she supposedly popped into the Hockley store Grillzs 4 U for some new teeth bling. We looked into the story more for this month's Truth or Legend...

Pick Six: Notts born athlete and Paralympian Richard Whitehead

For this month’s Pick Six we turn to Notts born athlete and Paralympian Richard Whitehead…

Gig review: Sunday (1994) at The Bodega

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 Health Shop on Broad Street tell us how they're reducing harm among those afflicted by addiction

[Trigger warning: This article contains reference to needles, drug use and abuse]

Tucked away on the bustling Broad Street, is a place you might not have noticed unless you’ve needed to - The Health Shop. With their inclusive drug and sexual health services, they have established a legacy in harm reduction going back to the HIV epidemic. A vital part of this is their needle exchange - which has kept people in Nottingham safe for more than thirty years.

New frontiers: Co(l)laboratory at Universities for Nottingham seeks new community partners for 2025

It's that time of year again, when the Co(l)laboratory programme, facilitated by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent, is seeking new research and PhD proposals from local organisations. If you work for and represent a community organisation, in fields like medicine or education, and think you know how best communities in Nottinghamshire can be progressed, Co(l)laboratory wants to hear from you. 

Get Your Skates On at Nottingham's National Ice Centre

When was the last time you went ice skating? With arguably the nation's best facilities right on your doorstep we look at what's coming up at the National Ice Centre over the next few months and how you can get involved...

Gig review: Supergrass at Rock City

There were no bands quite like Supergrass, in 1995. At least, not our writer's hazy recollection. They stood out; slightly apart from their contemporaries. Off to the side seemingly having just that little bit more fun than anyone else. On the evidence of this riotous, rollocking show at Rock City, the same is just as true in 2025...

Film Review: Final Destination: Bloodlines

Join us as we review Final Destination: Bloodlines. Will it make you watch your step next time you cross the road? Absolutely...

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.

Stories, stages, and sharp needles: here's what's on events this week in Nottingham 19 - 26 May 2025

This week in Notts, dance meets discourse, literature leads the way, and the tattoo machines are buzzing...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #22: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Blackadder, Mollie Ralph and Set In Motion...

Theatre review: A Thousand Splendid Suns at Nottingham Playhouse

Stage reviewer Beverley Makin went along to see literary adaptation A Thousand Splendid Suns at Nottingham Playhouse, a moving adaptation by Ursula Rani Sarma in conjuction with Birmingham Rep and Leeds Playhouse.

Competition: Win 3 X Pairs of Tickets for Just The Tonic's Summer Comedy Shindig at Elvastan Castle.

Nottingham's longest-running comedy club is putting on a summer weekend of comedy in the idyllic surrounds of Elvastan Castle in Derbyshire. We have some tickets to give away....

The founders of outreach website Nott Alone tell us about their mission to demystify mental health support

Back in 2021 educational psychologists Dr Maddi Popoola and Dr Orlaith Green launched NottAlone: a website aggregating mental health resources across the city and county in the most compassionate, clear and accessible way possible. Initially just a resource for young people, the website has since expanded to encompass adults’ mental health needs and linked live events with schools across Nottinghamshire, seeing huge traffic the whole time. With even more on the horizon for NottAlone, we spoke to Maddi and Orlaith about its inception and their outlook on tackling mental health issues.

Crowned in Sound: Talking memorable interviews, The Chameleon and Billy Bootleggers with music journo Dom Gourlay

Growing up in Mansfield, Dom Gourlay didn’t realise he’d later become one of the country’s top music journalists. We grabbed a long overdue coffee with Dom, currently the Festivals and Live Reviews Editor for Under the Radar. 

Film Review: The Accountant

Join us as we review the Accountant 2. It's got action, twists and turns, and comedy - did it pack in just a little too much? 

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #10: Comedian Matt Forde on His Early Life In Notts, Kier Starmer, Spitting Image, Forest, Cancer and The End of An Era Tour

Originally from Lenton, Matt Forde is a comedian, TV and radio presenter, writer, impressionist and quite a lot more. He’s perhaps best known for his podcast The Political Party, but he's also a regular face on TV and currently on his End of An Era Tour...

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…