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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...

Gig review: FEET at Rescue Rooms, with Otala and L’Objectif

Put away your umbrellas, our English Weather just got a whole lot brighter. Coventry five-piece FEET adorned the Rescue Rooms stage with enough indie-pop to pack a punch, and we headed down to get our fix...

The hidden history behind Nottingham's Express Building

Many people pass by the Tesco Express on Parliament Street in Nottingham every day, unaware of the rich history behind this iconic building. Known simply as the Express Building, this early Gothic-style masterpiece stands as a testament to the brilliant vision of renowned British architect Watson Fothergill. For over a century, it has been a distinctive feature of Nottingham’s cityscape - serving multiple purposes, adapting with time, and telling the story of a city in transition.

Gig review: Bess Atwell at Rescue Rooms, with Pem

Stopping off on her Light Sleeper tour, Bess Atwell enthralled a well-filled Rescue Rooms with a precise but emotive set. With intense and ethereal sounds from Pem in support, it was a memorable evening...

Gig review: Rhoda Dakar at The Bodega

Rhoda Dakar is a legend of the 2-Tone scene with a decades-long career winning her multitudes of fans. Many of those fans gathered at The Bodega for a jubilant and celebratory performance...

Hitchcock meets Lord of the Flies in this exciting comedy-thriller at the Nottingham Playhouse

Rotten is a comedy about the Instagram generation that is as dark as it is funny. Its creator, Josie White, speaks with Leftlion about terrible things and how she came to write them... 

Gig review: Apocalyptica at Rock City

Back in 1996, Finnish metal outfit and classically trained cellists Apocalyptica made a name for themselves by playing Metallica’s music through their revolutionary and mightily impressive string arrangements. Now almost 30 years and 10 albums later, they have returned to play Metallica’s greatest hits once again in their own unique style. To witness this one-of-a-kind event, we headed down to catch their show at Rock City…

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

Gig review: Wunderhorse at Rock City

Nottingham’s Rock City played host to a night of raw energy and exceptional musicianship, headlined by Wunderhorse with support from London-based HighSchool. It’s soon to say, but it might just be a contender for gig of the year…

Gig review: Marseille at Rescue Rooms

Rescue Rooms played host to a mid-week Derbyshire triple bill as Marseille arrived for a huge headline show, joined by The Blooms and Shadows of a Silhouette...

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

Nadia on... the benefits of wealth tax

Nottingham East Labour MP talks about the benefits of wealth tax

Gig review: Bored Marsh at Rough Trade

The hallowed Rough Trade stage hosted an eclectic mix of local music as Bored Marsh celebrated the launch of their debut EP, IDIOT, with support from Hhymn and TRANKS...

Gig review: Lace Thief at Rough Trade

Launching a brand new single at Rough Trade is a great way to celebrate. We watched indie-folk project Lace Thief perform a languid and vibey show, with strong support from Peter Hall and Cracked Hands...

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

Theatre Review: The Long Run at the Nottingham Playhouse

The Long Run, by Katie Arnstein, is a poignant yet humorous exploration of life’s toughest battles, set against the backdrop of her mother’s cancer journey...

From migrant poetry to psychey deepsea disco: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 30 September - 6 October, Pick of Week

Whether you're a poetry fan, a Kate Bush aficionado, a sucker for local alt-folk, or just a pirate at heart, there's plenty to keep you busy this week in Nottingham. 

Gig review: The Dangerous Summer at Rescue Rooms, with Happydaze and Broadside

All the way from Ellicott City, Maryland, The Dangerous Summer graced Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, delivering an unforgettable alternative rock performance. Known for their emotionally raw lyrics and anthemic sound, the band did not disappoint...

Gig review: Divorce at The Bodega with Catmilk

We stopped by The Bodega to catch the first night of a four-date residence for fast-rising local band Divorce. Combining elements of grunge, country and alt-rock, the four piece put on a blazing show...

Gig review: Mad Dog Mcrea at Rescue Rooms, with 5 Hills Out

With heavy storms expected, we headed indoors to the comfortable surroundings of Rescue Rooms to await the visit of Devon folk rockers Mad Dog Mcrea...

We catch up with Lace Thief ahead of her Rough Trade show

Laura Dickinson is the name behind indie-folk project Lace Thief. We spoke with her as she prepared to celebrate the launch of her new single with a show at Rough Trade Nottingham where there will be support from Peter Hall and Cracked Hands, and appearances from artist Gemma Vincent and DJ Jay Sandhu... 

Gig review: Maximo Park at Metronome

For more than 20 years, Geordie heroes Maxïmo Park have been one of the UK’s best manufacturers of certified indie bops. Now back with their eighth studio album Stream of Life, we went down to Metronome to hear the new album played in full before its official release on Friday…

Gig review: Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols at Rock City

Expectations were high as Frank Carter took to the stage at Rock City with one of the most legendary acts of all time - the Sex Pistols - for what proved to be the ultimate punk reunion...

Gig review: Deco at Rough Trade

At what was somewhat of a hometown gig for the band, at a venue they played many times in their early days, Deco gave an intimate performance of songs from their debut album Destination: I Don’t Know, as well as a handful of fan-favourites. We were at Rough Trade to listen in...