There's more content than you would believe. Hopefully this will make finding it a bit easier...
Interview: Author Ian C Douglas' new creative writing courses at Nottingham Trent University
Sun 28 Jun 2026This summer, local author Ian C Douglas is teaching two new world-building courses as part of Nottingham Trent University's Creative Short Courses programme. He chats to LeftLion about making stuff up...
LeftLion's Latest Listens #47: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 26 Jun 2026In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2026, our music team reviews new releases from Drinking With Lucy, EMiDORA, Saffron Gray and Isaac Neilson...
AI And The Independent Creative: Friend, Foe, Or Just Another Tool?
Fri 26 Jun 2026Few subjects divide a room of artists, musicians, and filmmakers quite as sharply as artificial intelligence. For some, it is an exciting new instrument, full of possibility, that lowers barriers and frees up time for the work that matters. For others, it is a genuine threat to livelihoods and to the very value of human craft, built on the uncredited labour of the people it now competes with. Nottingham's independent creative scene, never shy of a strong opinion, is having this argument in studios, venues, and pubs across the city. So where does the truth actually sit?
International movements, queer events, and classic film & music : Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 22 - 28 June
Sun 21 Jun 2026The next week in Nottingham is jam-packed with events catering to all - including a play uplifting hidden voices in our community, two documentary screenings about critical movements, and a night of gothic drag bingo at Rough Trade. Here's our full list of things we'd recommend getting involved in.
Gig review: India Arkin, Dring and Emily Ashberry at The Grove
Sat 20 Jun 2026On the same evening that England were triumphant in their opening World Cup game against Croatia, tucked away in The Grove a magical evening of live music was taking place. Headlined by immensely talented, Bristol-based singer-songwriter India Arkin, with support from local artists Dring and Emily Ashberry, it marked the first Nottingham gig from promoter Music Observer, also known as LeftLion’s own Music Co-Editor, Phil Taylor. Here’s what went down…
Local bluesy rock duo Dusty 4 Track talk their debut album How Did I Get Here?
Sat 20 Jun 2026Musical duo Dusty 4 Track have been a Nottingham live music staple for several years now, and a must-listen band for anyone looking for chilled blues, whiskey soaked vocals, and foot-stomping riffs. Not long ago they put out their debut album: How Did I Get Here?, so it seemed like a good time for us to catch up with Benjamin James (organ/guitar) and Will Jeffery (guitar/vocals).
Play Review: Television Workshop's I Had A Wheelbarrow at The Nest
Wed 17 Jun 2026The Nottingham Television Workshop, famed for nurturing many local actors, is launching a play about Notts County FC and fans. You can't get more local than that...
Finn Forster on supporting Stereophonics, Radio 1's Big Weekend and the emotions of touring...
Sat 13 Jun 2026The latest rising star from the North East’s explosive music scene, Finn Forster, sat down with LeftLion in the midst of his largest headline tour. We caught up about all things Stereophonics, his latest release, and the rollercoaster of tour emotions
Under the microscope: who deserves to win NTU's Images of Research 2026?
Thu 11 Jun 2026Each year, the talented researchers at Nottingham Trent University are asked to capture their work in a single striking image for the Images of Research competition. Here's a look at the top finalists and how you can vote for whose work you think should win...
Interview: Alexis Gregory in Smoke, a queer thriller at Nottingham Playhouse
Mon 08 Jun 2026Smoke is a new play from acclaimed queer theatre-maker Alexis Gregory coming to Nottingham this month. As well as a hard-hitting, savage, comic-thriller, a panel follows the play, hosted by You Are Loved and exploring issues from the play. LeftLion speaks to Alexis about social media, drugs, homophobia and much more...
Nottingham Poetry Festival 2026: top picks from the program
Thu 04 Jun 2026Nottingham Poetry Festival kicks off tomorrow with a 10 day city takeover. Catch shows from Brian Bilston, John Hegley, Yomi Sode, Henry Normal, Vanessa Kisuule and Nottingham’s own Nature Poet Laureate Cara Thompson. It’s a packed programme, so here's some top picks from their co-founder Henry Normal, director Tommy Rosley, and creative director Alma Solarte-Tobon...
East Midlands Pamphlet Prize launched by Bad Betty, in partnership with Writing East Midlands and Nottingham Poetry Festival
Sun 31 May 2026Notts based independent publisher Bad Betty Press has announced the launch of the East Midlands Pamphlet Prize, a new initiative designed to support and platform poets living, working and studying across our region.
Art, theatre, and poetry: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 1 - 7 June
Sun 31 May 2026Summer's here, and Nottingham's ready for it. Here are some fantastic events happening this week which we think are worth checking out.
LeftLion Issue #196 June 2026
Fri 29 May 2026Our June issue features The Foragers Kitchen, Selina Molinski (AKA Charity Shop Sue), Alison Rashley of Television Workshop, Dusty 4 Track, Green Meadows, artist Julian Pinnick, Nottingham Puppet Festival and lots more.
LeftLion Interviews Podcast #18: Nyrobi and Chaya of ALT BLK ERA on winning a MOBO, playing Jools Holland, touring with Pendulum and homecoming gigs
Fri 22 May 2026This episode we are joined by Nyrobi and Chaya of ALT BLK ERA, who talk about their whirlwind year of winning a MOBO, appearing on Jools Holland and touring Europe with Pendulum…
LeftLion's Latest Listens #45: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 22 May 2026In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from The Littlemen feat. Hector Moralez, Lucy Crisp, Darling I Dreamt and Kid Spirit...
Life Behind Bars: with Isad ‘Happy’ Habibovic, General Manager at 400 Rabbits
Fri 22 May 2026We visit 400 Rabbits to chat to Isad the General Manager about cocktails and Ed Sheeran.
Interview: Aisling Loftus, Nick Preston and Oliver Huntingdon on Television Workshop's new play ' I Had A Wheelbarrow'
Wed 20 May 2026Nottingham’s Television Workshop and acclaimed director Shane Meadows are collaborating on I Had a Wheelbarrow, a play about football. Leftlion were invited along to the County Stadium for the filming and met with a hat-trick of Workshop alumni. Aisling Loftus (Sherwood), Nick Preston (Ladhood) and Oliver Huntingdon (Grantchester) kindly tackled the questions…
Gig review: Witches Mortuary at the Mist Rolling Inn
Tue 19 May 2026Witches Mortuary is a band that may be unknown to a majority of the music listening public, but their story is absolutely awe-inspiring. Forming in July 2025, this group of young, hungry musicians have made a name for themselves in the local scene with an album, EP, and this concert, their first, at the Mist Rolling Inn. Their flavour of stoner doom metal has really caught the attention of the Nottingham metal scene, and their talent has translated to relative popularity as they have caught traction all over the internet...
Left Stag: May 2026 - The Future Is Amber
Fri 15 May 2026Was this season the best ever for Mansfield Town FC? Our columnist Joshua Osoro Pickering things it's certainly up there...
How UK Indie Magazines Are Rebuilding Community After Social Media Burnout
Thu 14 May 2026Independent magazines never set out to become refuges. They simply carried on being themselves. Something shifted around 2022. Not dramatically — more like a slow leak. Readers, writers and creatives across the UK began quietly stepping away from their feeds, worn down by the noise, the algorithms, and the performative sense of connection that social media had long marketed as community. What they discovered instead surprised even the people offering it: print. Independent magazines never set out to become refuges. They simply carried on being themselves.
How Sneinton's Stonebridge City Farm connects the local community
Wed 13 May 2026Stonebridge City Farm is Nottingham’s only urban farm, located just around the corner from Sneinton Market. Home to piglets, goats, sheep, cows, turtles, and more, it’s also a rich community hub which welcomes 160 volunteers a week and hosts an impressive array of events. There’s also been recent news about an uncertain financial future for the farm – recently established CEO Rick Harrington tells us more, and reflects on what makes this space special.
We meet battle victors Cherry Stone
Mon 11 May 2026When indie five-piece Cherry Stone stepped on to the stage at Metronome for the 2026 edition of the Ultimate Battle Of The Bands contest, they were hoping to do well – but winning following a unanimous judges’ decision proved to be a euphoric and surreal moment. We caught up with the band as they prepared for their next episode(s)...
Art works: PRF by Iulia Matei
Mon 11 May 2026For this month’s artworks, illustrator and regular LeftLion contributor Iulia Matei shares the concept behind her new graphic novel PRF (Punk Rock Fairies) and why we need independent art now more than ever.
LeftLion Interviews Podcast #17: Crazy P’s Jim Baron on international tours and festivals, soundtracking The Sopranos and his new venture White Elephant
Fri 08 May 2026This episode we are joined by Jim Baron from Crazy P who talks about his career in music, starting a band in Notts that became internationally renown, soundtracking for film and TV and his new venture White Elephant...
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