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Film Review: Small Things Like These

A delicate and moving portrayal of a specific trauma, the Irish Magdalen Laundries, but one that speaks to the universal conflict between what's right and what's easy.

Gig review: Royal Republic at Rock City

Combine a packed crowd with a contagiously charismatic and high-energy performance and you’ll get a show that’ll leave you saying “wow, wow, wow”! Royal Republic had the whole crowd bouncing, with Dea Matrona perfectly setting the scene for a night that was both fast-paced and fun. Phillippa Walsh enjoyed a true feast for the senses...

Everything Everything: In Conversation with Chris Hawkins at Saltbox

Art-rockers Everything Everything have already performed twice in Nottingham this year, having launched their latest opus Mountainhead at Rough Trade back in March before bringing the album to life at Rock City a month later in April. However, this their third show of the year in Notts was something a bit different, with frontman Jonathan Higgs and guitarist/producer Alex Robertshaw sitting down with BBC 6Music presenter Chris Hawkins, to talk through their career and play acoustic tracks from each of their albums. With the promise of a special night down at Saltbox, we went along to observe this unique event and report back what we learned…

In photos: The Mouse Outfit at Peggy's Skylight

Review: Aren't We Havin' A Good Time (Short film)

A short poignant film about dementia and the toll it takes on both sufferers and the people who love them...

Gig review: Seckou Keita and the Homeland Band at Metronome

Bringing a taste of Senegal to Metronome on a dark October night, Seckou Keita and the Homeland Band performed a rich and blistering set...

Gig review: Sum 41 at Motorpoint Arena

For over 30 years, Sum 41 have remained one of the biggest names in pop punk. For 90s kids like me, the band would soundtrack our adolescence, with their impressive catalogue of hits finding their way into numerous parts of 00s pop culture. Sadly though, all good things must come to an end, with the band announcing these Autumn dates will be their last ever here in the UK. So, to bid a final farewell to a band that many grew up with, we headed over to the arena to catch Sum 41’s last show here in Nottingham…

Gig review: Bloodworm at The Bodega

Bloodworm’s sold-out Halloween gig at The Bodega was nothing short of iconic, packed with humour, heavy riffs, and Halloween energy that Nottingham fans won’t forget anytime soon. With support from the mesmerising Swallowtail, the night was a celebration of raw talent and dedication from both bands…

Gig review: Pale Waves at Rock City

In October, Rock City was graced by indie-rock stars Pale Waves on the third date of their Smitten tour. Supported by rising trio Swim School, it was a captivating night...

Gig review: Uncle Lucius at The Bodega

It's a long road from Texas to The Bodega, but Uncle Lucius made that journey last week, filling the intimate Nottingham venues with tales of whiskey, bar fights and God's own country...

Chapters of history: author Simon Smalley turns the pages on Nottingham’s queer past

The history of St. Ann’s has always been a fascinating one. Today, the idea that the council could bulldoze entire areas of communities separating neighbours and friends is one that is difficult to imagine. However, for those who lived it, it’s still all too real. CJ De Barra speaks to St Ann’s born-and-bred author Simon Smalley about growing up in the area as a young gay man in the 60s and 70s.

Notts County Council Seeks Opinions on New Ten-Year Library Plan

As the County Council launches a consultation on its new ten-year library strategy, Dr David Hindley of Nottingham Trent University wonders what that will mean...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #9: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Luna & The Lime Slices, The Junipers, Jude Forsey and Kelsey & The Embers ...

Gig review: Soft Play and Panic Shack at Rock City

For anyone feeling an impending monotony as the nights creep in, I highly recommend booking yourself a loud, chaotic and crazed gig to look forward to. The mighty Soft Play, supported by Panic Shack at Rock City this week, was just the antidote, shaking the crowd out of a midweek malaise..

Comedian Kiri Pritchard McLean: Fostering a stage show with a difference

Comedian Kiri Pritchard McLean is on her way back to Nottingham and bringing one of her most personal shows to the stage. CJ DeBarra met with Kiri to talk about fostering, stage shows and the dark humour of social workers.

Watch: Road to Tram Line Spot

Road to Tram Line Spot is a new short film by Georgianna Scurfield, which tracks the creation of the city's first (intentional) city centre skate spot, whilst documenting the famous (unintentional) Broadmarsh Banks spot it has replaced. LeftLion are proud to co-present this sixteen and a half minute movie for your viewing pleasure...

Gig review and interview: Stone at Rescue Rooms

STONE are no ordinary band: they are a movement; they are a lifestyle; they are one of the most hotly anticipated bands of this year. Talia Robinson tells of their tales as they performed at Nottingham's very own Rescue Rooms...

The Thompsons on JT Soar, Ratcliffe-on-Soar and Goose Fair

We revisited Nottingham's most opinionated grocers this month to have a chat about Ratcliffe on Soar power station, which turned off its chimneys on 30 September, JT Soar and Goose Fair.

Chris Lawton of Skate Nottingham talks about the new Road to Tram Line Spot film by Georgianna Scurfield

Skate Nottingham's Chris Lawton walks (or should that be skates?) us down the long, sometimes arduous, road to the new Road to Tram Line Spot film by Georgianna Scurfield, now released on LeftLion...

The Last Horror Show at Backlit is a creepy yet curiously dark delight

Backlit Gallery have just launched their new, Halloween-appropriate exhibition The Last Horror Show, we went along to check out its otherwordly appeal...

Review: Hockley Hustle 2024

This time last week, Hockley Hustle was in full swing, filling 50 venues across this beloved quarter of Nottingham with music from an incredibly diverse and talented array of artists, and raising money for local charities. Ignoring genre boundaries, our music team joined the action all day - here we present some highlights in words and pictures...

Gig review: Cast at Rock City

It was Friday night and, for Kevin Stanley, there was nowhere better to be than Rock City in the heart of Nottingham to watch an iconic 90s band play some Scouse tunes...

Theatre Review: Body and Soul at the Nottingham Playhouse

Can Tiktok superstar make it in stand-up comedy?

The Gen-Z internet sensation brings his fast paced stand-up and character sketch comedy to Nottingham. But deprived of his Tiktok medium will he be any good?
 

Gig review: Jake Bugg at Rescue Rooms

Earlier this week, Jake Bugg performed a lively acoustic homecoming set at Rescue Rooms to celebrate the release of his sixth studio album, A Modern Day Distraction...