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

Sun 02 Jun 2024

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…

LeftLion Issue #172 June 2024

Sat 01 Jun 2024

Featuring Craig Chettle of Confetti, 10 years of Notts TV, Alex Bond, Nadia on the General Election, Summer Festivals and Euro 2024...

Ebenezer Cobham Brewer: The Victorian writer from Notts who created his own dictionary

Mon 27 May 2024

For more than 150 years, Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable has been a prized possession for imaginative authors. In a house near Sherwood Forest, we remember the man who first wrote it…

LeftLion Issue #171 May 2024

Fri 03 May 2024

This month's edition of LeftLion takes a deep dive into the world of fanzines and indie publishing in Nottingham. Read about football fanzines The Pie and Brian, St Ann's anarchist archive Sparrows' Nest, a new exhibition about the Women's Liberation Movement in Nottingham, and hear from the creators of Moan Zine and Queer Zine. We also interview Notts party people Soul Buggin', businessman Brian Butterfield, and Skate Nottingham.

Poetry, Light Displays, and The History of Electronic Music Here's What's On This Week in Nottingham: 15 - 21 April 2024

Sun 14 Apr 2024

There's plenty to keep you entertained this week in Nottingham, from futuristic light displays in the sky to reflective poetry and the history of electronic music. Here's our top picks of what to get up to....

LeftLion issue #170 April 2024

Thu 28 Mar 2024

April's edition of LeftLion features interviews with Notts musicians Holly Humberstone, Juga-Naut and Express Office Portico, Luminarium creators Architects of Air, trentbarton buses and Zippy Puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew. We also take a look back at the Hillsborough disaster 35 years on and hear from a Palestinian in Nottingham about the right to freedom of movement. Plus, find your usual helpings of Nottingham art, literature, film, food and culture.

LeftLion Issue #169 March 2024

Fri 01 Mar 2024

Featuring interviews with Yard Act, Martin Rayment, Rob Green and Sonia Hawkes of Sisters of Sound. We also hear about life on a longboat, a local tree planting scheme Canopy 2050, and present a roundup of Nottingham ladies who have done good in celebration of International Women's Day.

LeftLion Issue #168 February 2024

Fri 02 Feb 2024

A special musically themed issue of LeftLion, in this edition we find out the wonderful stories behind local band names, take a look at the LGBTQI+ events scene and delve into the history of Nottingham music halls. Also featuring interviews with THePETEBOX, Bill Bailey, Parisa East/Rastarella (founders of Acoustickle/Cultural Vibrations) and The Chameleon. This edition was guest-edited by LeftLion Assistant Editor/Music Editor Gemma Cockrell.

Local Cultural Organisations Issue Open Letter Voicing Concern About Nottingham City Council’s Budget Cuts

Tue 16 Jan 2024

With the recent announcement of budget cuts to the cultural and social sectors in Nottingham, over 120 individuals representing at least 75 local organisations have signed an open letter voicing concern about Nottingham City Council’s Section 114 process, and the impact it will have on the Nottingham communities.

We Chat With Oli Nicol to Discuss His Invoke Poetry Workshops

Mon 08 Jan 2024

Oli Nicol is a prominent member of the Nottingham Literary community: he is the host of Invoke Poetry workshops and is also on the Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature Youth Board. We spoke to him about why he started the workshops, which he launched in 2022, his passion for poetry and plans for the future…

LeftLion Issue #167 January 2024

Thu 04 Jan 2024

2024 is here and so is the January DIY-themed issue of LeftLion! With a cover designed by Louis Cypher, inside you will find lots of Nottingham's DIY creatives, including Ricky Jamaraz, Sugar Stealers, Nottingham Hackspace, JT Soar, Studio Leatham and more...

Interview: Nathan Ellis

Thu 21 Dec 2023

A huge opportunity for newly emerging playwrights kicks off in the New Year. Nathan Ellis, from the Playhouse's Amplify programme, talks us through it...

GOBS Launch a Free Programme of Poetry Workshops

Mon 18 Dec 2023

Fancy yourself as a poet and want some training up?

We Meet Some of the Local Champions Who Are Bringing Live Poetry Back to Nottingham

Fri 08 Dec 2023

The legacy of Nottingham’s literary history runs deep, but as poetry collectives have come and gone post-pandemic, it’s important to keep up. We meet some of the local champions who are bringing live poetry back to Nottingham…

Poetry, Exhibitions, Muppets and Santa: Here’s What’s on in Nottingham This Week 4 - 10 December

Sun 03 Dec 2023

December is here, and it ain't half feeling like it! Brave the cold this week in Nottingham and enjoy some poetry, art and film, or get festive with Muppets and Santa...

LeftLion Issue #166 December 2023

Fri 01 Dec 2023

As December rolls around once again, we have a lovely festive themed mag for you. Check out some zero-waste gift ideas, hear about the best cheese in town, and take a look back at the cultural events in Nottingham of 2023. We also delve into the issue of loneliness over the Christmas period, speak to Doctor Who star Karl Collins, Safia Oakley-Green and local band Divorce, plus a brief look at the etymology of some local place names...

Poetry Review: Bad Betty Live at Rough Trade

Wed 29 Nov 2023

Last year Nottingham added a new jewel to its literary crown as Bad Betty, one of the most exciting indie publishers in the country and a finalist at this year’s British Book Awards, upped sticks and relocated here from London. The big smoke’s loss, we’ve been hearing, is our gain, and so even a three-degree evening couldn’t keep us from the latest of their monthly Bad Betty Live shows at Rough Trade. Scarfs on!

Art, Poetry, Music, and the Being Human Festival: Here’s What’s on in Nottingham This Week 6 - 12 November

Sun 05 Nov 2023

Head down to the Being Human Festival, and enjoy some art, poetry or music in between...

LeftLion Issue #165 November 2023

Mon 30 Oct 2023

In Issue #165 we take a dip into the not so distant future to explore A.I., astronomy, and genetic engineering. You can also read about the art of letter writing, the ethics behind good coffee, seasonal affective disorder, and guinea pigs...

We Speak to Poet Ravelle-Sadé Fairman About Performing on Stage and Inspiring Young Writers

Fri 20 Oct 2023

Getting in front of an audience and revealing your innermost thoughts sounds pretty daunting, but the rewards of speaking your truth are many. We spoke to Ravelle-Sadé Fairman about performing on stage, inspiring young writers and the purpose of poetry.

Literature Review: Imagine an Image by Nottingham writer Teo Eve

Wed 11 Oct 2023

Experiments in language and image, meaning and visual form lie at the heart of a new collection of poetry, Imagine an Image, by Nottingham writer Teo Eve.

Poetry Reading: Arlo Parks at Rough Trade

Fri 29 Sep 2023

Celebrating the release of her debut poetry collection The Magic Border, Grammy-nominee and Mercury-prize winner Arlo Parks visits Nottingham’s Rough Trade for an evening of intimate conversation, storytelling, and poetry-reading…

LeftLion Issue #164 October 2023

Wed 27 Sep 2023

Our October Black History Month issue is out now! Guest edited by Addie Kenogbon, with a gorgeous cover by Laura Decorum, this issue features Nottingham's Windrush Generation, Veronica Pickering, Jorja Smith, Melonyx, Jah Digga, Honey Williams, and more...