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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...

In photos: Robert Jon & The Wreck at Rock City, with Eddie 9V

Nadia on... disability

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome writes about disability rights, recognition and representation.

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.

Locating Lawrence: December 1924

Lawrence encounters the first populist presidential campaign in Mexico’s history and a scorpion...

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…

We chat to Becky Unthank about winter, family and the Northern weather

Ahead of their headline show in Nottingham, Becky Unthank talks with Michael Prince about In Winter, the new album from The Unthanks. Together, they delve into tales as old as time...

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...

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...

We chat to Warren Ireland about life, music and local legends

Dan Bonnington caught up with local artist and ex-busker Warren Ireland, to talk about his musical inspirations, his influences and supporters, and just what makes Nottingham so special...

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