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LeftLion Issue #181 March 2025

This month's edition of LeftLion features Fisher Gate Point, Marcus Garvey Centre, Doves, playwright Jane Upton, A Foster Carer in Notts, wild swimming at Colwick Park, Ay-Up Market, The Lace Market Theatre, Bulwell Forest Garden, Sister Midnight and much more...

Film Review: The Monkey

If the villain in Final Destination was a toy monkey...

Film Review: Heart Eyes

A horror comedy that slices into your brain right from the opening scene…

Gig review: PENGSHUi at Rough Trade

More often seen on large festival stages, PENGSHUi's visit to the cosy environs of the upper room at Rough Trade was a show we could not miss. Matt Pratt braved the noise - and darkness - as the band, with no less than four support acts, did their best to bring the house down...

Gig review: Bilk at Rescue Rooms

Bilk don’t mess around when it comes to smack-you-in-the-face instrumentation and brutally honest lyricism. Their anthemic agenda arrived in Nottingham, bringing with them joyous debauchery and an instant mosh pit...

Theatre review: Rosy Carrick's Musclebound at Lakeside Arts

Doctor Rosy Carrick brought her long-anticipated one-woman show to Nottingham’s Lakeside Arts on Thursday 6 February, in which she explores hidden sexual desire and female sexual empowerment through conversations between mother and daughter.

Theatre review: Rosy Carrick's Musclebound at Lakeside Arts

Doctor Rosy Carrick brought her long-anticipated one-woman show to Nottingham’s Lakeside Arts on Thursday 6 February, in which she explores hidden sexual desire and female sexual empowerment through conversations between mother and daughter.

Gig review: The Kilkennys at The Greyfriars Club

Irish balladeers The Kilkennys delighted the Nottingham audience, choosing the ever-popular and hospitable Greyfriars Club in the Thorneywood district for their first-ever visit to our city. The band delivered a dose of pure joy as they performed a multitude of well-known songs, sparking plenty of audience participation. It's safe to say great craic was had... 

Gig review: Berlioz at Rock City

Jazz, house, electronica... all is fused in a wondrous and poetic musical array in the work of Berlioz. His performance at one of Nottingham's most legendary rock venues proved that our city welcomes all genres with open arms...

Gig review: Man/Woman/Chainsaw at The Bodega

Let's face it: Man/Woman/Chainsaw should be on your ones-to-watch list. Hailing from London, the talented five-piece have been a true come-of-age story. Upheld in a vibrant and supportive DIY community, their debut EP Eazy Peazy has been snatching headlines with its theatrical beauty and joyous experimental frolics. During a celebratory tour, the band hit up Nottingham's beloved Bodega with a point to prove...

Folk music, theatre, Light Night and dancing: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham 24 February - 2 March

The nights are getting brighter and there's lots of reasons to get out in Nottingham this week! Enjoy some soothing folk music, mesmerising light displays, breath-taking belly dance, hilarious theatre or late night DJs...

Gig review: Punk Rock Factory at Rough Trade

After catching Punk Rock Factory’s unforgettable performance at Rock City last year, our designer Natalie was so impressed that she didn’t hesitate to grab a ticket for their intimate gig at Rough Trade, and an unforgettable experience...

Gig review: Circa Waves at Rock City

Celebrating the release of new album Death & Love Pt.1, Circa Waves brought their festival anthems to the legendary venue that is Rock City with a high-energy performance that spanned across the range of their six studio albums. Birmingham indie rockers Peace joined as main support... 

Gig review: Marvin's Revenge at JT Soar

Marvin’s Revenge not only hosted and performed a blazing gig at Nottingham's JT Soar, but at the same time rasied funds to make their New York dreams come true. We got in on the action...

Universities for Nottingham’s Co(l)laboratory programme is seeking committed citizens for paid events shaping local research

The groundbreaking Co(l)laboratory programme is looking for local workers, people who are active in the community, and those with lived experience of facing complex challenges to take part in upcoming paid events that will help set the research agenda.

Gig review: Welly at The Bodega

Immersive, exciting and utterly captivating - that was the atmosphere as Welly hit The Bodega's stage, unleashing creative chaos from the first moment. With The Pill and Polly Money setting the scene, the evening was unforgettable and proved this band are absolutely one to watch...

Gig review: Bayside at Rescue Rooms

If Bayside are one of those bands always on the periphery of your scene knowledge... make them one of your go-to bands. Their makeshift ‘Greatest Hits’ tour has pin-balled the enigmatic five-piece through the last 25 years, and with a stop off in Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, it was a headline show hard to forget...

Gig review: Hamish Hawk at Rescue Rooms

Quirky, energetic and immensely talented character Hamish Hawk continued his A Firmer Hand tour with a visit to Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, bringing a breath of fresh air and wowing the appreciative crowd...

Gig review: Delights at The Bodega

Mancunian indie outlet Delights are simply incredible. They mix indie with funk and lo-fi sounds and ideas to create a chilled and cinematic sound that was built for the stage. We caught up with them on the third night of their UK headline tour, promoting the album If Heaven Looks A Little Like This, with support from Flat Party and Leah Wilcox...

Gig review: Noisemakers' Guild & Club Rivera at The Chapel, with Jude Forsey

Noisemakers' Guild took to the stage at The Chapel for a performance with Italian jazz funk band Club Rivera. With young local singer-songwriter Jude Forsey in support, the night was one to remember...

Gig review: High Vis at Rescue Rooms

Following on from their third studio album Guided Tour, which was well-received by fans and critics alike, High Vis threw down a marker at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms. Arguably one of the most enigmatic hardcore punk/rock groups on the live circuit at the moment, the second date on their tour saw the rock five-piece hit the East Midlands with a headline show too hard to forget...

Gig review: Inhaler at Rock City

Inhaler are doing things big. This month, they embarked on their biggest-ever UK tour, covering eight cities. This followed four weeks in the US, and preceded 15 dates in Europe and a trip to Asia. We caught up with them at Rock City, where they played an enthralling 18-song set...

Hips Don’t Lie: we hear from belly dancer Marija Zinkevica about the upcoming Belly Dance Festival and building connection with the body through dance

After a career in computer science, Marija Zinkevica swapped life behind the screen for days onstage: teaching belly dance in Nottingham and performing in competitions around the world. Ahead of the first Belly Dance Festival at the start of March, we caught up with Marija to hear how this ancient dance can build confidence, community and a deep connection with the body.

Gig review: Girl Scout at The Bodega, with Penny Moon

Sweden's Girl Scout delivered a highlight set at The Bodega during 2024's Dot To Dot Festival. Returning to the same stage less than a year later to deliver a blazing headline set, the band were welcomed warmly by an appreciative crowd, and supported deftly by local group Penny Moon...

In photos: Juga Naut at Peggy's Skylight