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Festival review: Saturday at Splendour 2025 in Wollaton Park

After a year away, the biggest weekend in the Nottingham musical calendar returned – Splendour Festival. With a stellar line-up of indie legends, pop icons, local heroes and the very best emerging talent from the Midlands and beyond, we headed down to Wollaton Hall to catch all the Saturday action…

A Life Composed in Stories: Author Frances Thimann on how classical music shaped her latest collection

Notts writer Frances Thimann’s latest short story collection, Sweet Thames, Run Softly, Till I End My Song, dives deep into the emotional pull of classical music. We caught up with her to discuss rivers, Bach and memory...

Book clubs, sing-a-longs and pride parties: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 21-27 July

From pagan literature book clubs, to legendary ice rink openings for family summer fun- whether you're an art enthusiast, music lover, or just looking for a new club to join, there'll probably be something happening in Notts this week which you'll enjoy. Here are our picks for this week...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #26: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2025, we take a deep dive into the new album from Midnight Rodeo...

Counselling, community, and café cosiness: inside Maid Marian Way's new Pride Shop

This year will be the first Nottingham Pride since The Pride Shop on Maid Marian Way opened its doors to the public. More than just a shop, it offers a safe space to the LGTBQ+ community in Nottingham through support groups, events and counselling, as well as a cosy café. We spoke to founder Jake Hook about his motivations for setting up the business and its impact on the city.

Gig review: enchanting 90s goth with Miranda Sex Garden, Hurtsfall and Modern Coven at Rough Trade

Local gig putter-onners I’m Not From London treated Rough Trade to a night of bewitching harmonies and gothic glamour, presenting the reformation of ethereal 90s dark wave band Miranda Sex Garden, with support from Notts own Hurtsfall and Modern Coven.

Festival review: Nottingham Chamber Music Festival – Tunnel Vision

The Nottingham Chamber Music Festival is an annual series of concerts put together by a team of dedicated volunteers, bringing classical music artists to some of our city’s most beautiful and historical spaces. For the closing concert of the 2025 edition, the festival worked with the Nottingham Park Residents Association to host string quartet, The Le Page Ensemble, in the stunning surroundings of the Park Tunnel. A special one-of-a-kind concert not to be missed, we went along to experience this cave-dwelling performance first-hand…

Review: Miss Americana – A Tribute to Taylor Swift at the Nottingham Playhouse

A dazzling, high-energy tribute that captured the spirit, sparkle and soul of Taylor Swift. Xenna is a powerhouse performer who gave fans exactly what they came for, and more...

Pick Six: Girlband frontwoman Georgie

Ahead of their upcoming performances at Pride and Splendour, for this month’s Pick Six we turn to Georgie from Girlband! to tell us some of her and the band’s favourite things in Notts…

Musicals, festivals, and local legends: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 14 -21 July

From a musical about the life of a music legend, to the long-awaited return of a local one, if you're stuck for things to fill the coming week in Nottingham then you're certainly in the right place. Here are our picks...

Gig review: The Moonlandingz at Rescue Rooms

Described by one of our team as "one of the most bonkers (but enjoyable) gigs I've been to in a long while", The Moonlandingz made a big mark on Nottingham as they arrived at Rescue Rooms for a rescheduled show. Supported by Jeanie & The White Boys (whose lead singer also sang with the headliners), the band delivered a fun, energetic and unapologetically politically incorrect show...

Twelve food and drink spots in Notts that are perfect for enjoying the sunshine

While the sun is gracing us with its presence, what better way to while away the hours than grazing on delicious food and drink in a terrace or beer garden? We’ve rounded up twelve of the city’s best spots for outdoor eating and drinking, so you can tick them all off your list before the summer ends.

Gig review: Future Sound of Nottingham Final at Rock City

The Future Sound of Nottingham is one of our city's most exciting music competitions. In the culmination of this year's event, eight acts from across the area competed at Rock City in a high energy final. Read on to find out which musicians were awarded the opportunity to perform at Splendour Festival...

The Sneinton Dragon: delving into local myths and legends ahead of the Sneinton Festival

Ahead of the Sneinton Festival this weekend, organiser Kathryn Cooper delves into local myth, the story of the Sneinton Dragon and our collective unconscious, with resident and local historian, Tom Huggon...

From painting to dating: what's happening at the Malt Cross until September 2025?

The next three months are set to be a busy few for the Malt Cross: Nottingham's buzzing, preserved Victorian music hall, on St James' Street. If you're looking for a weird or wonderful event that will get you socialising with all kinds of different people, they've probably got you covered. Here are some highlights, which we've picked out...

Ten reasons not to miss the return of Splendour Festival this year

After a brief hiatus, Nottingham’s much-loved Splendour Festival is back and ready to reclaim its place in the East Midlands’ cultural calendar. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July, the two-day music extravaganza returns to its original home in Nottingham, Wollaton Park. With expanded stages, some very well-known names in UK music, and plenty of surprises in store, Splendour 2025 is more than just a returning festival — it’s a celebration of live music, community, and Nottingham culture. 

Whether you’re planning to go for the sing-alongs, the new discoveries, or just a great pint with friends in the sun, this one’s not to be missed. To help get you hyped, here are ten very good reasons why you should mark your calendar now.

Review: Gate To Southwell Festival's 18th Birthday 2025

The charming Gate To Southwell Festival has become a LeftLion summer favourite: a vibrant, family-friendly event pushing the boundaries of roots and folk music, and only a few miles from Nottingham. We visited the festival's green fields on Saturday to help celebrate its 18th birthday...

Gig review: The Backseat Lovers at Rescue Rooms

After a two-year hiatus, The Backseat Lovers performed a sold-out show at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms where the energy of the crowd proved testament to the impact this four-piece from Utah have had on their devoted fans. We joined the revellers at the packed out venue for a memorable Monday night...

Nature's song: artist and academic Caroline Locke on her work with Sherwood Forest's Major Oak

Artist and Derby Uni’s Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts, Caroline Locke is known throughout the country for her imaginative work with sculpture, light, and sound. Six of her creations are currently featured in FOREST: an ongoing exhibition at Nottingham Castle - in light of that she told us more about how forests ( particularly Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak) have become a central part of her art practice in recent years. 

We speak to this year's eight Future Sound of Nottingham finalists

The Future Sound of Nottingham returns to the Rock City main stage this Sunday 6th July. Eight Nottingham artists, living their dream and playing the most iconic stage in the city... plus there are two slots on the Splendour Festival main stage up for grabs! We had a chinwag with the eight finalists so you can get to know them a little better. Read on to hear from No Cash Refunds, Emily Alice, Megs, Molly in the Metro, Louie Walsh, Benji Romeo, Archy & The Astronauts and Saffron Gray...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #25: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Parisa East, Torn Sail, Those Once Loyal and Mollie Ralph...

We chat to Set In Motion about what drives them, Splendour Festival, and their playlists...

Set in Motion are one of the Nottingham music scene’s most promising bands. Noted for catchy indie hooks, powerful songs and incredible live performances, over the last two years they’ve made a name for themselves as a guitar music powerhouse act. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist Alfie Wallace, guitarist Dillan Telford, bassist Niall Hopkins and drummer Joe Carnell - outside the Fox and Grapes - to discuss their imminent Splendour Festival set, their future plans and what they’re listening to at the minute...

We celebrate one year of The Grove with the team that have made it a creative hub for local music

Proving that you don’t need a big budget to make a big impact, The Grove is built by gig-goers, run by musicians, and powered by the scene. It may be small in size, but Talia Robinson discovers that it’s massive in heart, helping local artists record, perform, and find their place in Nottingham’s ever-growing music family... 

Save the last dance: how Torvill and Dean put Nottingham on the ice dancing map

Beeston, 14 February 1984. I was fourteen, with nowhere to go for Valentine’s Day and zero interest in ice skating. However, these were the days of four TV channels (and the fourth was quite new), so mass TV events were a must watch. Plus Torvill and Dean were from Nottingham! So, we joined the twenty million to tune in to their Bolero at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics…

Stage Review: Kinky Boots at the Theatre Royal

A joyful celebration of the beauty in being different (and shoes, lots of shoes), Kinky Boots the Musical sashays onto the stage at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal in an explosion of glitter, music and exceptional choreography.