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Gig review: Vazum at The Chapel, with Stained Glass and City Flowers

Travelling all the way from Detroit, rock duo Vazum are welcomed warmly to Nottingham's upper room venue, The Chapel. With two rapidly rising local groups in support, the result was an atmospheric and intoxicating night of incredible music...

Circle of Light director Tiffany Jade tells us about the future of creative hub Fisher Gate Point

Over the past five years Fisher Gate Point has been slowly blossoming into a creative and cultural hub in Nottingham, home to numerous collectives, businesses and events, from the Hockley Hustle crew, to Circle of Light. With a new cafe, exhibition and events space, they are currently gearing up for their launch party on International Women’s Day. We spoke to one of the people at its helm, Tiffany Jade, about the many programs she’s facilitated at the centre.

Preview: Showstopper at Mansfield Palace Theatre

Fancy a night out watching a show that has never been seen before and will never be seen again? Mansfield Palace Theatre have just the show for you next week…

Mancunian indie-rockers Doves talk past gigs in Notts and their brand new sixth studio record

When people think of great Manchester bands, alt-rockers Doves can often be overlooked. But across their six albums and multiple decades together, the band have rarely put a foot wrong. With their latest opus Constellations of the Lonely just released – their first in five years - and a show at Rock City on the horizon, we sat down for a catch up with drummer Andy Williams.

A new play shines a light on the first pioneer of film-length animation and it is not Disney!

Lakeside Arts hosts this intriguing and inspiring play about Lotte Reiniger...

Competition: Win Tickets For Showstopper at Mansfield Palace Theatre

Spontaneous musical comedy at its absolute finest – direct from the West End and now heading to Mansfield Palace Theatre! If you'd like to win one of 5 pairs of tickets we have to give away then answer our simple question below...

Fisher Gate Point party, Peggy’s Spotlight, Super League Basketball Final, and Bongo’s Bingo: Here’s what’s on this week in Nottingham 3 March - 9 March 2025

Seeing sunlight past 5pm is not the only thing we have got going on in Nottingham this week. Bongo Bingo’s long awaited return, up-and-coming Jazz & Blues musicians at Peggy’s Skylight, the UKs Super League Basketball Final, Fisher Gate Point is back and Wille and the Bandits will be taking the stage at The Bodega are just some of the many things going on this week… 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #16: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Otala, Sam Shaw & The Real Eyes, Green Grango, Fallowed and Divorce...

Theatre Review: The Shark is Broken

Going in deep to the cabin fever of the Jaws set

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...

Music Reviews: February 2025

We chat to Wille Edwards of Wille and the Bandits ahead of their Bodega show

Wille and the Bandits hail from Cornwall, playing rock and blues which they have reinvented in their own innovative style, pushing the boundaries of the genre for a whole new generation. After an extensive European tour in 2024, the band are embarking on a UK tour visiting 18 venues and kicking off in March: just a couple of days in, they will visit The Bodega. We spoke with founder Wille Edwards about the new tour, the band’s music, influences and lots more...

Cosmic Titans: Art, Science and the Quantum Universe at Lakeside Arts

In 1980, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham received a letter containing a loose piece of chalk. The letter was from a former student, who explained that the chalk had been used by Albert Einstein during his visit to the university on 6 June 1930. Einstein had written equations on a blackboard during his visit, signing the corner once he had finished. This unique blackboard is now preserved at the university. Nearly a century after Einstein’s visit, Lakeside Arts is presenting Cosmic Titans: Art, Science and the Quantum Universe, an exhibition featuring newly commissioned artworks by nine artists. Jo Herlihy reviews...

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...

We speak to Keep Our NHS Public, a campaign group against privatisation and underfunding

Our oldest contributor Mike Scott is the chair of the Notts branch of Keep our NHS Public, a two-decade old organization campaigning against privatization and underfunding of the National Health Service. With more discourse than ever on the problems that the NHS is facing, we speak to Mike about why the institution that saves us is so worth saving.

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...

How Sarah Bard went from battling chronic illness to breaking through in wheelchair tennis

Wheelchair Tennis player and Nottingham resident Sarah Bard is nothing less than a soldier. Having fought through lifelong chronic pain and mobility problems, which peaked after an accident she suffered at age thirty, she’s cemented her position as one of our city’s most admired sportspeople. Back in 2018, LeftLion joined other local media in promoting Sarah’s story, and ‘Go-Fund-Me’ for a new wheelchair to help her travel to national tournaments. Here we pass Sarah the pen to tell her inspiring story.

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...