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We speak to Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir from Of Monsters and Men

We catch up with Sunna Margrét ahead of her Rough Trade show

Icelandic alt-pop artist Sunna Margrét will be performing live at Rough Trade as part of her UK mini tour. Ahead of the date, she shares her thoughts on the influence of her country, language and culture on her music, as well as her bond with Nottingham electro-funk masters Revenge of Calculon...

We chat to Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai

Scottish post-rock would be nothing without Mogwai, who have now entered their fourth decade. Ahead of their date at Rock City on 15th February, we spoke to the band - in the shape of frontman Stuart Braithwaite - about their new album, film scores, and the upcoming tour...

Comedy Review: Mike Rice's Cruel Little Man at the Nottingham Arts Theatre

One of Ireland's finest new comedians has Nottingham rolling in the aisles...

Interview: Stevie Gray comedian and MC at Comedy in the Caves

There's a new venue for stand-up in the city. And it's a cave. Left Lion chats with award-winning comedian Stevie Gray on his bold gamble to shake up Nottingham's comedy circuit... 

Interview: Horrible Histories at the Royal Concert Hall

The unstoppable success of the BAFTA Award-winning CBBC TV series is coming live (and dead!) to the Royal Concert Hall this March, in what the promos say is a very special production. We spoke to cast members Richard David-Caine and Verona Rose...

We chat to James Yorkston ahead of his solo Bodega show

James Yorkston is a singer-songwriter, author and prolific collaborator. On the heels of a new album featuring Nina Persson (The Cardigans) and Johanna Soderberg (First Aid Kit) and a TV appearance with Jools Holland, and ahead of a solo show at The Bodega on 14th December, we caught up with James to talk obscure songs, collaborations and gig memories...

In photos: Bored Marsh at The Bodega, with Mandibles

Alessi Rose shares her secrets ahead of her Rock City show

Ahead of her 'homecoming' Rock City date on the Voyeur Tour, breakout pop singer-songwriter Alessi Rose spared some time to chat to LeftLion about the value of human connections, favourite Nottingham spots, and the road from the Derby to the rest of the world...

We chat to the people behind the Christmas Covers Party at The Bodega

Whether it’s grabbing a glass of mulled wine from one of the faux ski chalets in the Market Square or catching a screening of misty-eyed festive staple It’s A Wonderful Life at The Broadway, there are certain Yuletide traditions which are paramount in any true Nottinghamian’s December calendar. Another event high up on the to do list has been taking place for the last 22 years. First held at fondly-remembered Junktion 7 on Canning Circus in 2002, the Annual Christmas Covers Party has graced everywhere from Hopkinsons to The Maze over the last two decades and now resides at The Bodega. Ahead of this year’s event on 20th December, LeftLion caught up with three of the organisers and past performers, Alex Hale, Scot Lambert and Joey Chickenskin to garner intel on how it all works…

We chat to Wheatus about dream collabs, favourite guitars and rumours of a covers album

Wheatus are an American alt-rock powerhouse, the unit behind one of the biggest songs of the early 2000s, Teenage Dirtbag. They never stop, with the band now celebrating the 25th anniversary of the self-titled album. We chatted to frontman Brendan B. Brown about the upcoming tour, the legacy of Teenage Dirtbag, and why he likes Biffy Clyro so much...

From the kitchen: with Paddy Sneath, owner at Working Man's Kitchen

For this instalment of From the Kitchen we reached out to loved Sneinton Market pizza slinger Paddy Sneath, owner of Working Man's Kitchen.

Project bucket list: how one Notts man is changing his life one goal at a time

We all have life goals, whether they be modest or lofty – but how often do we put a plan in place to achieve them? Notts-based marketer Dan Davison is one man who is well on his way to fulfilling his ambitions. From trying out foraging, beekeeping, and rock climbing, to seeing the sunrise at Stonehenge, his Project Bucket List adventures are sure to provide a little inspiration…

Fright night: The many ghosts of the National Justice Museum

When it comes to haunted buildings in Nottingham, the first that springs to mind is the National Justice Museum on High Pavement. While the building became a museum in 1995, it was once a working courthouse and prison for over 600 years. As we head into spooky season, CJ De Barra investigates one of Britain’s most haunted places…

Gig review: Circle of Light at Fisher Gate Point

Circle of Light celebrated the release of their new album, COL 6, at Fisher Gate Point to coincide with World Mental Health Day 2025...

Ballet Black founder Cassa Pancho on growing an inclusive dance company and bringing it to Nottingham's Theatre Royal

Ballet Black was set up in 2001, in response to a lack of black and Asian dancers working in professional ballet across the UK. It has since emerged as a pivotal force in altering the landscape of British ballet. With a new show heading to Nottingham’s Theatre Royal this month, we put some questions to Ballet Black founder Cassa Pancho…

Left Stag: October 2025 - A Love Letter to Proper Footy

Our man in Mansfield Josh Osoro Pickering is back from an away trip to Port Vale where he was very happy to partake in their local delicacy of Oatcakes...

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #14: Artist, Performer and Filmmaker Hetain Patel on Inspiration, Superheroes, Nationalism and Nottdance

This episode we are joined by artist, performer, filmmaker, sculptor and general arts polymath Hetain Patel to talk about his time in Notts, his work, superheroes, nationalism and quite a lot more...

Actor Matt Gavan gives the inside scoop on Nottingham Playhouse's new play Eureka Day

Matt Gavan has acted in big hitting films and series like Christopher Robin, Masters of the Air and Pennyworth. But now he is treading the boards in Nottingham Playhouse's new comedy Eureka Day. Leftlion caught up with Matt on day two of rehearsals... 

Director Eoin McKenzie on masculinity, role models and The Show for Young Men

Glasgow-based theatre producer and director Eoin McKenzie’s The Show for Young Men – a GuestHouse Projects production – which comes to Nottdance in November as part of a national tour, uses dance to explore the friendship between a man and a boy. We chatted to McKenzie, who delves into the creative processes behind The Show for Young Men and shares his thoughts on masculinity and community among men...

We chat to Sonya Madan of Echobelly about touring, enduring friendships and the state of the nation

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #13: Filmmaker Adam Curtis on Shifty, politics, filmmaking and Wollaton Hall

For our latest episode we are joined by veteran BBC documentary filmmaker, whose latest project Shifty promintently features some 1980s footage of Nottingham's Wollaton Hall...

Stapleford singer George Gadd talks about his new band and debut album Too Many Ghosts

He’s been a stalwart of the local Nottingham music scene for over a decade now, so it seems quite remarkable that George Gadd’s debut album – the recently-released Too Many Ghosts – has taken this long to manifest. We caught up with the Stapleford singer-songwriter to hear about the making of this deeply personal first record, his musical influences, as well as his upcoming launch show at The Bodega…

Comedian Carl Donnelly previews his new gig at The Squire Performing Arts Centre

TV and radio comedian Carl Donnelly is touring with his first new show in five years. So what kept him so long? It's quite a story and one he shares with Left Lion... 

We speak to Dekker about music, personality and artistic intention

With a new album Neither Up Nor Down under his belt, US-born Nottingham resident Dekker is preparing for a hometown show at Rough Trade. We caught up with Brookln to talk about his streaming platform success, the personal nature of his music persona, and the creative influences Nottingham provides...