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Gig Review: Squeeze at the Royal Concert Hall, with Badly Drawn Boy

Squeeze wowed the crowd at the Royal Concert Hall with an epic set spanning the decades, while Badly Drawn Boy provided solid and emotional support...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #8: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's bumper edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our picks of the latest and greatest sounds from all around Nottingham and the Midlands, our team reviews new releases from Gender Envy, Set in Motion, The Chase, Marvin's Revenge, Cracked Hands, John Hardy and Stan Buckroyd...

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #5: Shane Meadows on This Is England, Virtues, Stone Roses, Injuries, Notts County FC and more

For our fifth podcast we are delighted to welcome a true legend of British film and television, the director and screenwriter Shane Meadows...

Harriet Walter & Friends: Shakespeare’s Women Speak!

Dame Harriet Walter is one of Britain's most esteemed Shakespearean actors. She came to the Playhouse to breath fresh life into Shakespeare's words for women...  

Gig Review: Soft Launch at Rough Trade, with Lizzie Esau

But there’s no bad blood 'cause Soft Launch look too good on the Rough Trade stage. LeftLion's Talia Robinson headed to the record store's legendary upstairs stage to find out why the new kids on the block are so hotly anticipated by critics...

Review: An Audience with Sir Paul Smith at Nottingham Playhouse

The Beeston-born fashion guru took time out from his busy schedule to support Nottingham Playhouse with an evening of conversation...

We met local Reggae and Dub royalty Quantro Tone Sound System

One of Notts first sound systems and originally called Iron City, Quantro Tone Sound System started as a hobby for nine bored young friends. They went on to support some iconic names in Reggae and Dub, from Don Sinclair to The Mighty Diamonds, and perform in cities across the country. On the day of their fifty year anniversary celebration at St Ann’s, we heard more from them about that golden era and how they’ve maintained their strong friendships over the decades. 

The original members were Lenny, Robert, Kenneth, Leslie, Colin, Winston, and Eric as Iron City. Later, they were Quantro with Keith and Johnny. The 'box men' and bouncers were Desmond, Brown, Austin, Fisherman and Devon with Mr Brown and Trevor Mitchell acting as the trusty van drivers.

Gig review: Snayx at The Bodega

Hard-working, noisy but relentlessly proficient: Snayx have a fearsome reputation. Their set at The Bodega, partnering with Safe Gigs for Women, was characteristically respectful if very sweaty...

Paul Smith, Horror films, Hockley Hustle, Veggie food and KittyArama: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham: 14-20 October 2024

There's so much happening in Nottingham this week, we couldn't narrow it down! Enjoy some horror movies, gigs galore, hear from Notts fashion legend Paul Smith and lots more.

Concert Review: Steeleye Span at the Playhouse

After fifty-five years of gold discs and international tours, folk rockers Steeleye Span are taking their music back on the road. Andrew McCartney reviews their performance at the Nottingham Playhouse... 

Comfort, colour and joy: we spoke to Megan Crook about her clothing empire

Among the array of shop fronts in Sneinton Market, one you are not likely to miss is the vividly colourful Megan Crook. In addition to The Textile Guru, her separate fabric and haberdashery store, Megan Crook designs, sews and sells her own range of vibrant and quirky clothing, with a focus on inclusivity, sustainability and fun. We went along to chat to Megan to hear more…

Out of Time: The wartime kitchen that sprung up on Broad Street

Broad Street has been the heart of Hockley for several decades since Broadway Cinema opened in 1990. Today its surrounding businesses offer a diverse range of cuisine for those looking for some tasty snap. However, the space itself has played a bigger part in the community for far longer; CJ De Barra takes us back to the Second World War, when the site was a communal kitchen to feed the hungry during difficult times.

"Rough sleeping is the tip of the homelessness iceberg": Framework tell us about their urgent winter appeal on World Homelessness Day

Notts based charity Framework have launched an urgent winter appeal for funds, closely following the premiere of homelessness documentary Someone's Daughter, Someone's Son, by Lorna Tucker, at Broadway Cinema. We heard more from Claire Eden, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Framework, and Sam Lanes, Manager of Street Outreach, about the challenges that the charity are facing and the help that they need to tackle them. 

Seann Walsh moves from stand-up to drama in this new play at the Theatre Royal

Comedian Seann Walsh has made a name for himself in the world of stand-up. But will his move to acting be stand out?

Punks and weirdos: Celebrating 15 Years of studio and performance venue JT Soar

From the headquarters of a fruit and vegetable wholesaler near Sneinton Market to one of Nottingham’s best loved recording studios and truly intimate, DIY music venues - it’s been quite a journey for JT Soar. 

When Phil Booth and his business partner Nick first took over the space at number 2 Aberdeen Street, they saw beyond an empty concrete room with metal grilles and a scooter garage next door. Their vision was to create something truly special: a recording studio, rehearsal and gig space, with a truly barrier-free ethos in all senses of the word.

Now fifteen years later, JT Soar celebrates its decade-and-a-half anniversary since it first opened its doors, marking the occasion with a “two-day, one stage, all killer-no filler line-up” of some of Phil Booth’s favourite bands. Ahead of what is being billed as ‘JT Soar Fest’, we asked staff, promoters, bands and community members to share their favourite memories of JT Soar, and outline what makes it so special.

Gig review: Seas of Mirth at The Old Bus Depot

For one night only, The Old Bus Depot was transformed into a neon-lit sub-aquatic world of wonder, as genre-blending independent band Seas of Mirth made their incomparable mark. LeftLion's Lewis Oxley dived in...

We spoke to 80s post-punk legend Peter Hook, ahead of his gig at Rock City

The term legend can be thrown around a lot in music nowadays, but only a select few truly deserve the tag. From his iconic basslines to his enduring work with Joy Division and New Order,  Peter Hook is one-such artist. As he sets his sights on a return to Nottingham to play New Order’s Substance albums in full, we had a whirlwind chat with Hooky about his life in music.

In photos: Seb Lowe at Rescue Rooms, with The Guest List

Festivals of beer and film, theatre and storytelling - Here's what's on this week in Notts 7 - 13 October 2024

Check out a celebration of short films, sample a huge range of beer and cider, enjoy some human stories, or be entertained by a bit of music and theatre this week in Notts.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #7: Notts music we're currently spinning

This week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team's picks of the latest and greatest sounds from all around Nottingham and the Midlands, features new releases from Bored Marsh, Jake Bugg, Jake Greener, Dorothy Ella & Gordon Parma, and Malin Hill...

Pick Six: Actor, writer and comedian Colin Hoult

This month’s Pick Six is chosen by Nottingham-born actor, writer and comedian Colin Hoult

Classical Music Review: BBC Philharmonic with John Storgårds at the Royal Concert Hall

After critical acclaim at this year's Proms, how will the BBC Philharmonic fare in Nottingham?

Gig review: Night Swimming at The Bodega Bar

Sometimes a gig breaks from the usual mould, and Monday night at The Bodega offered just that: a seated, laid-back atmosphere in the downstairs bar with free entry, where the crowd gathered around small tables in a casual but attentive setting…

In photos: Gaffa Tape Sandy at The Bodega, with Really Big Really Clever and Airport Dad

Our October cover artist Steve Cole talks photographing Ratcliffe-on-Soar

This month’s cover artist Steve Cole tells us more about his stunning photography of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station