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House and proud: a retrospective of Smokescreen Soundsystem

Being home to two of the UK’s greatest underground house soundsystems, DiY and Smokescreen, Nottingham has been spoilt for quality deep house music - but what were the origins of these now legendary gatherings, and how did they fit into the politics of the time? We asked the individuals who lived out those joyful days firsthand about the history of sound-systems in Nottinghamshire and beyond.

Gig review: The Lightning Seeds at Rock City

35 years on from the birth of The Lightning Seeds, the band are on a victory lap around the UK. We headed to their Nottingham stop – the legendary Rock City, of course – to revel in swirly synths, bright pop melodies and plenty of nostalgia...

In photos: Bradley Simpson at Rescue Rooms

Gig review: Steve Ignorant of Crass at The Old Cold Store

Steve Ignorant, founder member of influential anarcho-punk band Crass, performed to a sell-out crowd at Nottingham’s The Old Cold Store, proving that punk is most definitely not dead...

Classical Concert Review: The Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra with Jonathon Darlington at the Royal Concert Hall

Director's Seat: Shane Meadows on his gratitude for the Nottingham Television Workshop

Shane Meadows is a legend of British film and television. In the mid-90s he was making lots of short films around Nottingham before releasing his debut feature TwentyFourSeven in 1997. Since then he’s gone on to create masterpieces like A Room For Romeo Brass, Dead Man’s Shoes, This Is England, Gallows Pole, The Stone Roses: Made of Stone and more.

Shane joined us for the fifth instalment of LeftLion Live at the Library, a series of live interviews that we’ve been hosting since July at Nottingham Central Library. In front of a live audience, LeftLion Editor-in-Chief Jared Wilson chatted to Shane about his illustrious career, covering everything from the Nottingham Television Workshop to Notts County FC. Here we’ve treated you to a snapshot of the conversation, which is available in full for your auditory pleasure on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. 

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #6: Natalie Duncan on Music Careers, Hockley Hustle, Goldie, Jools Holland, Ronnie Scott’s, Peggy’s Skylight and more

Our sixth episode features a conversation with Nottingham-born neo-soul, R&B, jazz (and more) singer-songwriter Natalie Duncan... 

Behind the curtain: How Kino Kolo are spotlighting Eastern European cinema for East Midlands audiences

Launched one year ago, Mansfield based community cinema project Kino Kilo Notts, has been covering exciting Eastern European cinema throughout the entirety of Nottinghamshire. Screen Editor Autumn Parker spoke to two of the members Liam Skillen and Lila Yakimova about their work so far and their big ambitions to bring various communities together throughout the whole region.

We talk with Hard-Fi about their return to the studio, and why Nottingham rocks

Ahead of their raucous return to the Rock City stage on 23rd November, Hard-Fi frontman Richard Archer talks with Talia Robinson about all things modern musicality and the need for nurturing nostalgia... 

In photos: Soil at Rock City

We chat with Sports Team about changes in sound, their live show ethos, and KSI...

Sports Team are a band who take music seriously – and always have fun with it. Famous for headline-grabbing stunts, which have led to a feud with Matty Healy and a chart battle with Lady Gaga, the English alt-rockers are determined to keep making waves. Before their big headline show at rescue Rooms next week, Ali Glen caught up with the band...

Review: JT Soar Fest 2024 at the Old Cold Store

JT Soar is 15! To mark this landmark occasion, the local recording studio, venue and all-round grassroots music heroes filled the Old Cold Store with live music from local, national and international bands – for a full weekend. We went along to celebrate with them...

Gig review: Millie Manders and the Shutup at Rescue Rooms, with Ramona's Tea Party

Anarchic fun... All killer, no filler... Earworms aplenty. Exhausting all the superlatives, Millie Manders and the Shutup returned to Nottingham and proved that social awareness and a sense of justice need never be dull...

In photos: Set in Motion at Saltbox, with Alma Close and King Cerulean

After the End of History: British Working Class Photography 1989 – 2024 at Bonington Gallery

Over at Bonington Gallery an unfiltered time capsule of working class life is on display in the latest exhibition, After the End of History. Prompting questions about both change and continuity in British culture, over three decades of everyday life is revealed through the lens of 22 different photographers, including Richard Bilingham, Serena Brown and Rob Clayton. 

Gig review: Martin McAloon of Prefab Sprout at Metronome

From playing bass guitar in much-love art-rock band, Prefab Sprout, Martin McAloon has stepped forward to centre stage. Suffering from retinal and tinnitus issues, his brother Paddy is no longer able to tour live, so, in a heart-warming tribute, his younger brother has swapped four strings for six to breathe new life into the best of the Durham act’s material...

From cyphers to Mickey Mouse on ice skates: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham 11-18 November

This week in Nottingham, experimental musicians of highest calibre take over all of the best grassroots venues, while over at Motorpoint Arena the Disney canon is well-and-truly brought to life...

In photos: Spinn at The Bodega, with Cam Mannix and Black Cats & Magpies

Colin Etches' 'As Yet Untitled (a WIP)' comedy show at Vibes

Colin Etches, the Notts born neurodivergent comedian, shows that when life is at its darkest, it’s laughter that gets us all through... 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #10: Notts music we're currently spinning

This week in LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team picks new releases from Lace Thief, Warren Ireland, Idolvein, Bram Bancroft and Revenge of Calculon

Theatre Review: Raisin in the sun

Described as the play that changed American theatre forever, A Raisin in the Sun comes to the Nottingham Playhouse...

More photos: JT Soar Fest 2024 at the Old Cold Store

Finding your palette: we tried a colour analysis with Lisa Loves Style

Colour consultant and personal stylist Lisa Wood from Lisa Loves Style, has a career built on inspiring others to embrace the rainbow, and find empowerment and inner strength from the clothes they wear. Fashion Editor Addie Kenogbon caught up with Lisa at her West Bridgford studio to find out more about how a decades-old styling method is helping others feel more confident in the skin they’re in.

We chat with Ian Broudie about goals, inspirations and Nottingham memories

The Lightning Seeds were formed in 1989 and named after a misheard Prince lyric, with frontman Ian Broudie going on to become one of the best tunesmiths of his generation, a writer of wonderfully melodic and uplifting indie-pop songs tinged with the band's custom vulnerability. Ahead of the band's return to Nottingham on 14th November, as part of their tour celebrating 35 years of the band and aptly timed to follow up on the release of their Greatest Hits album, Tomorrow’s Here Today, we had the chance to speak to frontman, producer and songwriter Ian Broudie...

How a Mini Cooper led to success on the stage and an acclaimed solo performance of A Christmas Carol

Guy Masterson's renowned Scrooge performance is coming to the Playhouse. He lets Leftlion in on how Richard Burton helped him along the way...