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Bearing Fruit: We hear from Fruit Market, who are providing low-energy homes and community-first architecture in Sneinton Market

A once crumbling Sneinton Market has become a thriving new neighbourhood of independent businesses. Providing low-energy homes with considerate, community-first architecture, Fruit Market is the next chapter in a story of local organic regeneration

Festival review: Bearded Theory 2024

Despite the unpredictable British weather, Bearded Theory 2024 proved to be a fantastic weekend of music and merriment. With an excellent line up, which included several of Notts' own talented bands, revellers were not deterred by a bit of mud during the four-day extravaganza...

We speak to dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson ahead of Nottingham Poetry Festival

Pioneer of dub poetry, NME journalist, trailblazing activist, father and grandfather, the first black poet published by Penguin Modern Classics - Linton Kwesi Johnson has worn all these hats and more. Wondering which hat he’ll wear at the Nottingham Poetry Festival on June 14, we gave him a call…

Spoken word, album launches, restaurant week and the Castle Rock Yard Party: Here’s what’s on in Nottingham this week: 3 – 9 June 2024

We chat to Home Counties on the sidelines of Dot To Dot Festival

As Dot To Dot Festival raged around us, LeftLion caught up with Will Harrison and Bill Griffin of Home Counties, to talk about the band's debut album, their sound transformation, and vodka shots...

We talk to Fast Forward, a creative learning outlet that teaches music as an alternative to traditional education

Fast Forward Direction Thru Music is helping transform the lives of students through the power of music. We spoke to founders Stevie Lee and his fellow musicians/co-founders, along with several students, to hear about their important work and the crowdfunder that hopes to help them train more students in music production skills.

Nottingham's most opinionated greengrocers on Lord Byron, fanzines, and JT Soar

Gig review: Kofi Stone & more at Mimm Studios

Kofi Stone, along with a host of different artists from all over the country, represented Big Nature Collective to put on a very special intimate event at Mimm Studios. LeftLion checked out this emerging talent... 

In photos: Take That at The City Ground

This weekend, Take That chose Nottingham Forest's City Ground stadium to host two nights of their This is Life tour. Our photographer Laura Patterson dropped in to get some shots...

Ice skating, Ruby Wax, Gary Numan, Green Hustle and 30 Seconds to Mars: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham: 27 May - 2 June

Lots to be getting on with this week in Nottingham! Check out comedy from Ruby Wax, gigs from the legendary Gary Numan and 30 Seconds to Mars, the wonderful Green Hustle, and a range of ice-skating sessions to get down to.

How local football team Fanzines United FC was created from a conversation in Selectadisc record shop

In 1990 a conversation in Selectadisc record shop led to a group of Notts County and Nottingham Forest fanzine creators putting their rivalries aside to form a football team together. Fanzines United FC was formed and is still going strong to this day. Andy Lowe, founder of the Tricky Tree fanzine explains how it happened…

Pick Six: Matt Gill

This month for our Pick Six we turn to Matt Gill, zine enthusiast and Senior Lecturer in Fashion Communication and Promotion at NTU.

An evening with Thurston Moore at Rough Trade

Earlier this month, Ria Serena dropped in to Rough Trade for a special event with a man who is described by some as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. Best known as a founding member of Sonic Youth, Thurston Moore captivated the audience with his tales of the avant-garde music scene...

Food review: Saltbox X Mollis Takeover

This summer Nottingham's favourite fried chicken masters Mollis are bringing their banging burgers, wings, and tenders to gig-goers and hockey fans with a takeover of the kitchens at live music and sports bar Saltbox in Bolero Square. 

In Photos: Lucy Spraggan at Rock City

Dear Sisters at Lakeside Arts documents the Women’s Liberation Movement in Nottingham feminst history

For the Women’s Liberation Movement of the ‘70s and ‘80s zines were an integral tool of connection and communication. The Dear Sisters exhibition at Lakeside Arts showcases how the movement connected, campaigned, and made waves through an impressive collection of ephemeral documents.

Gig review: The Staves at Rescue Rooms

We went down to Rescue Rooms to watch The Staves serenade Nottingham, and discovered that expressing yourself has never been simpler than watching the sisters on stage...

Concert Review: The Hallé Sir Mark Elder review

Ian C Douglas went to see the Hallé conducted by Sir Mark Elder at the Royal Concert Hall...

Nadia on... sick note culture, disability and mental health

Labour MP Nadia Whittome talks to us about sick benefits and the real problems Britain is facing, with a significant rise in people out of work and those that are left with lasting COVID-19 symptoms

Skate Nottingham tell us about their new exhibition and redefining the urban landscape through skateboarding

With its knack for redefining how the urban landscape is used, skateboarding has always had its place in counterculture, making it a natural topic for zines over the years. We spoke to Tom Quigley and Chris Lawton of Skate Nottingham, who are putting the city on the map as a skateboarding hub, about creativity, community and making international connections through skateboarding.

Could Be Real Tribute Festival Bringing Music to Newstead Abbey this Summer

Get ready to immerse yourself in a night of nostalgia as the Could Be Real Tribute Festival descends upon the serene grounds of Newstead Abbey on Friday 5 July...

Glastonbudget 2024: the Original Tribute Festival returns from Thursday 23 - Sunday 26 May

Glastonbudget - which lays claim to being "the original tribute festival, keeping the music alive since 2005". Acts acting as other acts gracing the stage this year include The Bon Jovi Experience, Flash: A Tribute to Queen, ABBA Revival, Absolute Bowie, The Police Academy and many more. But there's plenty of local talent on offer too.

The Lovely Eggs talk small town rock n roll debauchery

Expect the un-egg-spected: how Holly Ross and David Blackwell are doing what they want, how they want, sunny side up. We speak to The Lovely Eggs ahead of their gig at Rescue Rooms on May 31...

Martin Kemp to Headline Notts' Boho Festival in July, with Tickets Starting at £35 for Adults

You don't have to travel halfway across the country, or blow half your savings, to get that festival feeling - Notts' own Boho Festival is one offer closer to home that hopes to tick all your boxes...

We Speak to Jim Cooke, Co-founder of 1980s-2000s Notts County Football Fanzine The Pie

Merging football, music and real ale, Notts County fanzine The Pie took football back to the community when it ran over 87 issues from the late 80s to the late 00s. We speak to one of the original founders Jim Cooke about the history of the publication...