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A seasonal stocking packed with composers and their Christmas gifts

Kevin Stanley is full of Christmas spirit as he reviews the Hallé's annual festive concert at the Royal Concert Hall...

Gig review: The Damned at Rock City

Despite mellowing a little with age, The Damned ripped through a generous set at Rock City, delighting fans and providing more than a few surprises...

Our December cover artist Marcus Gilmore talks inspirations and staying creative

This month’s cover artist, Beeston-based Marcus Gilmore talks about his mythic and fantastical inspirations as an illustrator and printmaker, staying creative, and capturing the spirit of Christmas in this edition’s magical cover art...

Gig review: Skinny Lister at Rescue Rooms

With an energetic and "free spirited" set at Rescue Rooms, folk-punk group Skinny Lister put us straight into in Christmas mode...

In photos: Been Stellar at The Bodega, with Cardinals

Conscious Closet talk to us about sustainable and festive fashion

With the season of glitter and cheer now well and truly here, Fashion Editor Addie Kenogbon-Harley caught up with Sarah Rockley and Lisa Holland, co-founders of Nottingham sustainable fashion brand and occasion wear rental service, Conscious Closet, to find out how rented looks could be the key to a more sustainable festive party season.

Gig review: Victory Lap at The Bodega

It was a night of diverse sounds and dynamic performances at The Bodega, with relative newcomers Victory Lap headlining an evening that also featured two exceptional support acts: Leeds-based Prima Star Power and well-known local group Grain Mother…

Puppets, songs, dances, jokes, not to mention a duckling on a quest for self-discovery

Gig review: Richard Hawley at The Level

A rare appearance in Nottingham, as part of his annual pre-Christmas mini-tour, saw Richard Hawley play to a sold out crowd at The Level, backed by a five-piece band of tight, but lucid musicians...

Gig review: The Chats at Rock City

It's Wednesday, it's raining hard, it's cold and....Rock City is packed. No one was gonna be put off and at stay home if The Chats were in town. It's time to party..!!

Gig review: Thea Gilmore at Metronome

English shape-shifting singer-songwriter Thea Gilmore delivered a confident, wide-ranging show at Metronome, showing off both her early roots-inspired material and her eye-opening new music…

Gig review: Nilüfer Yanya at Rescue Rooms

It was only a couple of months, back in September, that British singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya played a captivating stripped-back set at Rough Trade to launch her much-acclaimed third studio album, My Method Actor. Now back in Nottingham but this time with a full band, we went along to hear one of the year’s best albums performed live once again…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #12: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Leah Sinead, Divorce, amillionsons and Wizards Can't Be Lawyers...

Comparison, consumerism and Christmas: Nottingham Counselling Service share some tips for the Christmas period

With both emotions and shopping bills running high during the Christmas period, we hear from Nottingham Counselling Service who have a pertinent reminder about avoiding comparison during the festive season.

Gig review: The Snuts at Rock City

After releasing their third studio album, Millennials, earlier this year, indie rock band The Snuts embarked on their UK tour. We caught up with them as they landed in Nottingham's iconic Rock City on Monday night...

Spinning Yarns: The Woolly Tellers talk storytelling in Nottingham

For fifteen years, storytellers Mick Whysall and Dave Brookes have brought history to life. As The Woolly Tellers, their atmospheric performances whip up scenes of misty cobbled streets, mysterious highwaymen, fen giants and deals with the devil. We met them for a chat prior to their event Dark Tales for Dark Nights at the Fox and Grapes, and heard all about the tricks of their trade...

Gig review: Echobelly at Metronome, with Blue Violet

It might have been 30 years since they released their debut album Everyone's Got One, but Echobelly are still going stronger - perhaps stronger than ever. With iconic vocalist Sonya Madan leading, they played to a fully packed Metronome Nottingham, and we were there to see the action...

Framework homelessness charity tells us about their winter appeal and Christmas gift range

As the days get colder and darker, it’s all the more important for people who lack life’s typical comforts and commodities to find help and support. Back in October, Notts homelessness charity Framework launched an urgent winter appeal for funds, alongside an autumn gift range, designed by their very own Iryna Fryner. This Christmas, they’re following that up with another seasonal gift range, released to help support their vital work of aiding Nottingham’s rough sleepers. To mark this occasion, Framework’s Communications Manager Chris Senior told us about where the charity is at and the help that they need.

Gig review: SPRINTS at Rescue Rooms, with Chalk

A pinnacle performance of the year: SPRINTS race for gold in their cathartic celebrations at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms...

Thrills, spills, and non-stop jokes at the Playhouse panto

The much-beloved Nottingham Playhouse pantomime reaches new heights this year with a giant of a show. Yes, it's Jack and the Beanstalk... 

Stanley Middleton's Booker Prize finds a new home in Nottingham

Fifty years after he became the first ever joint winner of the Booker prize, we join a celebration of Stanley Middleton at Nottingham Central Library.

Salt of the Earth: Catching up with musician and Saltbox manager Sam Heaton

There are few people who live and breathe Nottingham’s vibrant music scene quite like Sam Heaton. From his own ambient rock band Eyre Llew being one of the city’s greatest exports, to a stint in charge of Rough Trade’s events, as well as independently booking and promoting local artists for the last two decades too, his fingerprints have been on a lot of the city’s musical successes. Earlier this year though, he took on a tough new challenge – transforming Saltbox from a little-known sports bar into a versatile 500-person capacity music venue and events space. 

To find out more, we sat down with Sam to chat about his first seven months running the venue, the hurdles he’s had to overcome in that time, and what he has planned for the venue and his band in 2025…

Gig review: The Slow Readers Club at Rescue Rooms

Manchester indie outfit The Slow Readers Club are no strangers to Nottingham, having played our city a whopping 10 times in the last eight years. With a strong following in Nottingham as a result, it made sense for them to kick off their current UK run at Rescue Rooms, including several live debuts for tracks off their forthcoming, seventh studio album, Out of A Dream. Here’s what went down…

Festive markets, live music gigs, and awe inspiring drones: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week 2 - 9 December

This week in Notts, highlights include live music, thought-provoking art exhibitions, festive markets, and family-friendly activities.... 

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...