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Undefeated: Frank Turner talks about his creative processes and affiliation with Nottingham ahead of his Rock City show

There are many ways to describe musician Frank Turner: a songwriting master, a touring machine, a festival season staple. Now back with his latest album, Undefeated, he embarks on the UK leg of his tour this month, with a much-anticipated, sold-out stop at the legendary Rock City. We caught up with him to discuss Undefeated, his affiliation with Nottingham, his creative processes and where he finds his inspirations…

Gig review: ROB.GREEN at Saltbox

We caught Rob Green on the grand opening night of his Jungle Child UK tour. A jaw-dropping show featuring new music, soulful tunes and moving poetry, all the while praising the love for his hometown, Rob continues to prove he is a true Notts showman not to be missed live... 

We meet Emma Moore, the mind behind local tie making business Arsenic and Old Lace

Notts tie maker Emma Moore has been redefining the humble neck tie for almost a decade, with her statement handmade ties serving the perfect eye-catching piece to complete any outfit. Fashion editor Addie Kenogbon-Harley caught up with her to find out more about her business Arsenic and Old Lace, and how she’s putting her spin on this timeless classic with her collections inspired by Midlands towns.

Musicals, markets, gigs and beer: here's what's on this week in Notts 24 - 30 March 2025

With MOBO tributes and Old Market Square filling up with market stalls, to Calamity Jane stopping at Theatre Royal, there is non-stop entertainment in Nottingham this coming week…

We chat with Annie Dressner about touring, writing - and speaking up

Annie Dressner’s latest single, For The Thrill Of It, was released in February. Influenced by her experiences, it addresses misogyny and inappropriate behaviour towards women in the music industry. The New Yorker has been based in Cambridge for the last 13 years after meeting her partner at an open mic night. She recently made a stop in Nottingham as part of a tour supporting Danny & The Champions of The World...

Film Review: Black Bag

Your brief if you choose to read it: Join us as we review the new spy thriller with Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett...

‘Flour everywhere’ and a ‘life-changing’ écliar? We spoke to the founders of Mapperley's Coosh Bakery, Rachel and Tom Egan.

Based in the heart of Mapperley, Coosh Bakery serves up freshly baked artisan delights to the carb loving masses. From perfectly flaky pastries to show-stopping sourdough loaves, each creation is crafted with love and the finest ingredients. We caught up with the co-founders, couple Rachel and Tom Egan, to find out how the project went from their kitchen to a thriving bricks-and-mortar bakery, now a neighbourhood favourite.

Sale of Broad Marsh Site Approved At City Council’s Executive Board

Nottingham City Council has approved a sale of the Broad Marsh site to a buyer with a track record of major development. It is hoped the sale will create  1000+ new homes and up to 20,000 square metres of retail, office and community spaces...

Gig review: Anna Erhard at The Bodega

Beeston’s Lady Plaques: an interview with Tamar Feast

Since 2009, the Beeston and District Civic Society has installed 35 plaques to commemorate figures who are important to the local area. Despite this large number, every single one of these plaques honored a man. In January, this tradition was broken when the first ever plaque honoring a woman was unveiled. We spoke to Tamar Feast to find out the origins of the Beeston’s Lady Plaques initiative and what this could mean for the way we understand and commemorate historical figures in the future.

Ay-Up Market returns to the Old Market Square from Friday 28 March to Sunday 30 March

Bringing communities together, the popular Ay-Up Market returns to Nottingham city centre bigger and better than ever this year, with stalls from local businesses, food, drinks, workshops, music and entertainment for your little ones...

Gig review: bdrmm at Rescue Rooms

Despite some mishaps, and skirting the borders of the Rescue Rooms curfew, vowel-less shoegaze outfit bdrmm performed an impressive, emotional and transcendent set to a patient Nottingham crowd...

Theatre Review: Three Little Vikings at Lakeside Arts

Three brave little Viking girls save the day in this bold and funny adventure story for little rebels...

Notts writer Hongwei Bao on the poetics of queer and diasporic experiences

Raised in Inner Mongolia, Dr. Hongwei Bao is now a Director of Research at the University of Nottingham and the industrious community organiser of events like the Queer Chinese Arts Festival, Poetics of Migration, Ode to Notts, plus many more. He’s also one of our most exciting creative writers, so we decided to invite him for a coffee…

Comedy Review: Lou Sanders in No Kissing in the Bingo Hall at the Nottingham Playhouse

Star of Dancing On Ice, a champion of Taskmaster and regular on QI, Lou Sanders brings her unique comedy style to the Nottingham Playhouse...

Gig review: The Bracknall at Rescue Rooms

Essex's finest Britpop revivalists, The Bracknall, arrived at Rescue Rooms in style, performing a beautiful, blissful set drawing heavily from their latest album...

Film Review: Mickey 17

We review Bong Joon-Ho’s latest film which we’ve been eagerly waiting for since 'Parasite' both disturbed and delighted us...

Short Stack From All Angles: We Hear About The Short Film Festival

Last week, we attended Short Stack, the short film festival hosted at Broadway Cinema. For a Sunday evening, the event had a buzzing atmosphere and packed attendance. After it was over, we caught up with the festival’s director, one of the featured filmmakers, and an artist whose music was shown on the big screen…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #18: Notts music we're currently spinning

In our latest edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews a selection of recent new releases. This time it's the turn of ROB.GREEN, Dead Mint, Drew Thomas, Sam Oakley and Stuart Pearce...

Under the limelight: backstage at the volunteer-led Lace Market Theatre

From a dilapidated 1970s paint store in an old chapel to a cornerstone of Nottingham’s independent theatre community, The Lace Market Theatre (LMT) has been staging shows for almost fifty years. Like many creative communities, the LMT has a constant churn in members and recently made an appeal for support from the local community. We spoke to long time volunteer and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Gareth Morris, on the ebb and flow of a creative community, the challenges a volunteer organisation can face, and what keeps a theatre alive.

E-scooters and e-bikes - what do Nottingham people actually think?

Lauren Baker is a Postgraduate Researcher Nottingham Trent University looking at all things 'micromobility' (e-scooters and e-bikes). Here she discusses the impacts, and benefits, they have on the local community and asks for your input to feed into the latest research...

"The power is with the people": standing up to knife violence in Old Market Square

After three tragic spates of knife violence rocked Nottingham, and were subsequently highly publicised, local campaigners organised a demonstration in Old Market Square to draw attention to the underlying, community problems that cause it. LeftLion went down to report...

We chat to Better Joy about her EP, embracing vulnerability and touring the UK

With her debut EP heading into blue out soon, Better Joy (Bria Keely) takes listeners on a journey from the deeply personal waiting on time to the intimate reflection of quiet thing, balancing raw emotion with uplifting melodies. Working alongside legendary producer Mike Hedges, she’s crafted a sound that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly new. As she prepares for her first headline UK tour, including a date at The Bodega in Nottingham, Bria shares insights into her artistic evolution, the magic of live performance, and what’s next on her musical horizon…

Market economy: could stallholder markets revive independent retail in Notts?

The decline of the high street and independent retail is an issue that weighs heavily on the UK, as grassroots traders often lose money and shut shop just as quickly as they open for business.

However, with recent research, and examples available here in Nottingham, there’s a case to be made for stallholder markets as a saviour of independent businesses, providing that reliable sense of community and authenticity in shopping that so many of us look for today. Assistant Editor Caradoc Gayer takes a look at Nottingham’s history of markets, and how it could serve as an example for today.

Gig review: Wille and the Bandits at The Bodega

Wille and the Bandits mesmerised the crowd at The Bodega on Saturday with a stunning display of their unique take on rock music, which is all brought together in a musical tapestry, woven in a way that only this band know how. It's safe to say the show left those who’d ventured out early that evening something to really think about...