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Gig review: Sports Team at Rescue Rooms

Sports Team ‘Go Fishing’ for more than they expected at Rescue Rooms, the crowd delivering on their beer sloshing, gear moshing mayhem. Adept support was delivered by C Turtle and mary in the junkyard...

Gig review: Hard-Fi at Rock City

Hard-Fi. A name you probably didn't think you'd hear so soon after their rockin’ return to the stage last year. After riding the mid-2000s indie wave, the band faded into the background to pursue a quieter life amongst other things; a 10-year absence eclipsed by a live renaissance of biggest hits urged both the band and the fans to reconnect with their music. Now armed with a setlist artillery of electronic-infused anthems, they’re reminding us once again why they remain such a vital force in UK music scene. Rock City: let's have at you...

The Thompsons on Raves, the burning of Nottingham Castle and Notts Forest Women

We revisited Nottingham's most opinionated grocers this month...

Notts indie crooners Victory Lap talk inspirations, origins, and finding their sound

Victory Lap are undeniably one of Nottingham’s breakout bands of 2024. Prior to their debut EP Torch Songs, which was released in July, they were already making waves. But now, they have reached new heights, with an upcoming UK headline tour in the diary - including a show at Nottingham’s very own The Bodega. We chat to Tomas Ponting and James Denham about the band’s early origins, how they found their signature sound, and a suspicious new Fanta flavour which has emerged onto shelves…

Gig review: Fontaines D.C. at Motorpoint Arena

Back in 2018, Irish rock / post-punk outfit Fontaines D.C. would play in Nottingham for the very first time at Dot to Dot festival. That year, they played the Red Room in Rescue Rooms – the tiny 100 cap loft venue above the main bar. Fast forward six years and they are once again back in Nottingham, but this time in support of their latest opus Romance and playing the 10,000-capacity Motorpoint Arena. Needing to witness this incredible glow-up for ourselves, we went along to one of the biggest shows to happen in our city this year…

Gig review: Michael Kiwanuka at The Level

Mercury Prize winning singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka recently gave an intimate performance at The Level. Adam Findlay was there to experience a show that touched everyone's soul...

Gig review: IDLES at Rock City

Looking at this set of tour dates for hugely popular punk outfit IDLES – Alexandra Palace in London, M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, OVO Hydro in Glasgow – the usually daunting Rock City stands out as one of the more intimate stops on their current UK tour, even with two sold out nights back-to-back. With the opportunity to catch the punk behemoths in this special setting simply too good to miss, we headed over to Talbot Street for night one…

Gig review: Rough Trade's 10th Birthday

Rough Trade Nottingham is 10 years old! The beloved record shop and live music venue has played vital role in our city's music culture for a decade, so we were thrilled to join their party to celebrate...

Gig review: Mickey Callisto at Acoustic Rooms

LeftLion headed to Rescue Rooms to catch 86TVs live, only to find the gig cancelled just minutes before the doors opened due to Jamie from the band being rushed to the hospital. We all wish him a swift and full recovery! Mickey Callisto, who was scheduled to support 86TVs, was not about to let the night go to waste and, with a "the show must go on" attitude, stepped up to fill the gap and deliver an unforgettable performance in the Rescue Rooms bar...

Gig review: Confidence Man at Rock City

Fresh off the back of releasing their new album 3AM (La La La), Confidence Man are on the road delivering delightful Australian eurotrash electro-pop to the masses. Izzy Morris headed down to Rock City for the band's triumphant return to Nottingham...

Locating Lawrence: November 1924

Parrots that taunt dogs and a railway journey that would frighten Michael Portillo…. 

In photos: W. H. Lung at The Bodega, with Formal Sppeedwear

Gig review: King Creosote at Metronome, with Emily Barker

With almost 50 albums in his cannon, King Creosote (aka Kenny Anderson) is in town to promote his latest long player, the Roman-themed I Des. Along with Emily Barker, in support and as part of the seven-piece band, the Metronome audience is treated to a performance packed with tender joy...

Gig review: Cane Hill at Saltbox

Heading a four-band line-up, Cane Hill proved they are well and truly back with a vengeance. We were at Saltbox for their high-energy set...

In photos: Massive Wagons at Rock City

Gig review: UB40 at Motorpoint Arena

The cold November weather did nothing to stop fans of UB40 packing out the Arena, where they were treated to a hit-filled set. As if seeing the legendary group wasn't enough, the evening also featured performances from Soul II Soul and Young Culture...

Indie quartet Divorce talk touring with their heroes and the Nottingham scene

Alt-indie quartet Divorce are undoubtedly one of the buzziest Nottingham bands of the moment. With debut LP Drive To Goldenhammer in the can and slated for release next March, LeftLion caught up with genial drummer, Kasper Sandstrøm, backstage in the midst of their sold-out four night residency at Bodega, to find out more about their long history with the venue and discuss their forthcoming first album…

Ballet, arena gigs and Christmas pantomines: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 25 -31 November

As the festive season fast approaches, Nottingham sees some Christmassy occasions this week, alongside an art exhibition and the arrival at Motorpoint of the band-of-the-moment...

City Councillor comments on the launch of Nottingham Climate Assembly, and progress towards Carbon Neutral Nottingham 2028

Let's talk about Nottingham Climate Assembly. After five years of dedicated work from volunteers, the initiative has launched its crowdfunder campaign this week. LeftLion Environment Editor Adam Pickering, who is part of the push himself, reports on this moment. He also speaks to Councillor Sam Lux, whose motion to support the Climate Assembly has just received the full backing of Nottingham City Council...

Gig review: Ibibio Sound Machine at Rescue Rooms

On a cold Tuesday night in Notts, electronic Afro-funk masters Ibibio Sound Machine proved more than equal to the task of bringing warmth, joy and mirth to Rescue Rooms...

Gig review: Kneecap at Rock City

The last time Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap played in Nottingham, it was to “about 30 people” at The Bodega a couple of years back. Since then, word has got out about the Irish-language rappers, with a successful debut album and a highly acclaimed music biopic making them one of the most talked about breakthrough acts of 2024. Now catapulted to festival headliner status (2000 Trees in 2025), a stop at Rock City on their current UK tour was a show that simply could not be missed…

Gig review: Within Temptation at Motorpoint Arena

With the nights growing darker and colder, there could hardly be a better place to be huddled away from the incoming snow than at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena watching fiery symphonic metal heavyweights, Within Temptation...

Review: A Christmas Carol at Nottingham Playhouse

A proper Christmas classic, performed as a one man show by Guy Masterson at Nottingham Playhouse...

Gig review: Porridge Radio at Rescue Rooms

It’s been two years since indie rock band Porridge Radio last played in Nottingham. Now back with a fantastic new album Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me, the quartet led by frontwoman Dana Margolin brought their powerful live show to Rescue Rooms for the first stop on their UK tour. We went along to check it out…

Gig review: Alien Ant Farm at Rock City

Supported by US dark rock purveyors Nocturnal Affair and late replacements InMe, the genre-leaping Alien Ant Farm make a triumphant, celebratory – and noisy – return to Rock City. We got in on the action...